Making a House a ‘Home for Life’

Meet John and Jane Doe. An active couple in their mid- to late 50s with two married children and four grandchildren, this pair loves their home, community and neighbors. Although they’re still in good health, John is having knee problems and will likely need surgery, which has prompted the duo to starting thinking about the future.

Any of this sound familiar?

The imaginary Doe family represents the millions of boomers now age 50 and older. It was around their needs that Hanley Wood, publisher of Remodeling magazine and other housing publications, designed the Home for Life.

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Created as a photorealistic “virtual home,” the Home for Life is packed with a wealth of information tailored to the needs of active boomers who want to ensure that their home is as comfortable, accessible, efficient and durable as possible throughout their older years.

Based on the designs of typical homes built in the late 1970s, the Home for Life received a full remodel from a team of designers, universal design specialists and high-performance pros. Their tips for transforming an existing house into the ideal home for every stage of life can be found throughout the project’s online tour, from which visitors can find inspiration for their own projects and pick and choose the best practices that fit their needs and desires.

To learn more, visit the AARP Livable Communities slideshow “A House That Can Be a Home for Life” and then take the information- and product-packed virtual tour at the Hanley Wood website HomeForLife2014.com.

Claire Easley is a writer and project manager for Hanley Wood.

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