The Secret to Creating
An Age-Friendly Home

By GLENN RUFFENACH
Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Do you plan to stay in your current home as you get older? Most people do. And have you thought about how you might change your home as you age?

Here, most people seem to put the cart before the house, thinking about creature comforts they would like now rather than the necessities of later life.

The American Society of Interior Designers, based in Washington, D.C., recently surveyed homeowners across the country and asked them whether they plan to move in later life and what changes, if any, they would make to their homes if they decided to stay put. The majority, not surprisingly, said they intend to stay right where they are. But the changes they wish to make typically involve upgrades or add-ons: new appliances, new fixtures -- even hot tubs. All of which are nice, but none of which address the realties of aging.

"Lifestyle and luxury really have nothing to do with being able to stay in your home," says Peggy Arbaugh, a spokeswoman for the society. "Let's say you want a new kitchen. That sounds good. But what about things like storage? Are pots and pans accessible? Do you have to lean down to get them? Or what about the dishwasher. Is it raised [off the floor] so it's easier to load?

"There's a whole practical side of how you make your residence age-friendly that people don't ever think about."

To view the society's study, titled "Aging in Place," click here. Here's a look at some of the findings:

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