Why I think people moving in middle age should seek accessible housing
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Anonymous
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I am that person who keeps coming into threads suggesting that anyone in late middle age or later contemplating a move choose a place where they can live stair-free when and if they have to. And I am always swarmed by people telling me only lazy people avoid stairs, their grandmother runs marathons at age 105, etc. etc. etc.
Let me tell you about close friends currently wishing they had an accessible home. The triathaloning 40-year-old who needs hip replacement surgery. The very active 60-year-old whose spine has rather suddenly become a debilitating problem. The 65-year-old accustomed to walking everywhere at a rapid pace who fell off a kitchen ladder and shattered her ankle, requiring multiple surgeries. Two friends in their 60s with compromised lung function, one from cancer and one from long covid, otherwise well enough to live independently. The 82-year-old who is fully mentally with-it and able to walk easily on level ground and care for herself who had to move prematurely from her beloved home because it was all too vertical for her. The 84-year-old who leads an active life in the city and travels regularly and can do everything she wants to do with her rollator except get that rollator up the stairs to where her bedroom and bathroom are. The 88-year-old who until last month used to walk everywhere with her 89-year-old husband, striding faster than I can go all around the neighborhood, until he fell down the stairs in their home and died. That’s just a sample. Stairs are HARD in ways that walking is not—especially going down. We underestimate the balance required until we don’t have it. And stairs can cause significant pain when level walking does not, because of the flexion and load on the joints. Joint deterioration and injuries that severely impair mobility can come on seemingly out of the blue, even and sometimes especially on fit, more active people. None of this is to say that most people do not benefit from using stairs if they are able or that everyone should flee their multi-level homes. But I’ll repeat: if you are going to the trouble of a major move as empty-nesters or downsizers and want to find a place you love and can stay in for the long haul, try to make it a place you can live in until you need a nursing home. |
Anonymous
| Having stairs and climbing them everyday prevents many accidents as it keeps people limber. I would not suggest an accessible home until needed. |
Anonymous
| This is basic common sense. Just because someone's grandma is shooting hoops at 120, doesn't mean they are going to be equally blessed. Its no different than saying grandma chugged liquor, chain smoked cigarettes and ate 12 donuts twice a day, only to die healthy at 38 in a car accident so I too should avoid card but feel free to flirt with liver cirrhosis, lung cancer and diabetic coma. |
Anonymous
| Maybe, but we still need to house for our children. Most middle aged people still have teens/young adults. Then after that, I'd like to have a place for grandchildren to stay. I guess ideally, a larger one story house, but those are kind of unusual. |
Anonymous
There are innumerable ways to stay lumber, buying a house with stairs isn't the only one. Between a 55+ husband and wife, at least one is bound to have some issued with stairs sooner or later. Also, they are likely to have one or two elderly parents (out of 4 between them) visiting from time to time. Taking card of grandkids is also much easier if house/condo is single story and/or on ground floor. |
Anonymous
| Garden condos in urban areas are the most manageable size and level for retirement. Save money, less space to clean and maintain, lower bills, more walkable, some gardening possible. |
Anonymous
| I had the opposite issue. Could not do lots of stairs on my 30s due to multiple surgeries and nerve issues on my legs. Finally feel better in my 40s and ready for a two story home. I do t know what the future will hold but it’s been really hard so I’m ready to enjoy at least some of my years in a 2 story beg up re I get older and/or things take a turn |
Anonymous
This is for empty nesters. You cant plan life around occasionally visiting kids or grandkids, you already did that for first half of the life, now find ways to make your life less costly/ less uncomfortable and more relaxed/enjoyable. |
Anonymous
I'm sorry but you need to be more mindful to avoid wear and tear on joints to keep them functioning for longer. |
Anonymous
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Yes, of course.
These concepts are called Visitability and more specifically/intensely, aging in place. Great to consider, but unfortunately, cost prohibitive for many and harder to do in more urban areas with denser more vertical housing/older housing stock. |
Anonymous
| If not accessible, at least one story and ground floor. |
Anonymous
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Stairs keep you healthy.
And people can just stay ground floor when old. Both my FIL, Mother and Father last few months of life lived in Dining Room we converted to a hospital room with aids. |
Anonymous
| Put in elevator. Problem solved. |
Anonymous
| Totally agree with OP. We bought our forever home at age 52/53 and it's one story. We get plenty of walking in thanks to our dog and our love of hiking, and stairs aren't a problem for us now. But every family member I've watched age hit a point where they had difficulty with stairs and/or simply stopped using them. Why choose a house when at some point you may only be able to live on one floor? |
Anonymous
Agreed. My 80 year old parents live in a 3 story house with elevator. |