AARP 'Recession Remodel' Room Makeover
Meet our interior design expert, Cynthia Leibrock, get low- to no-cost fix-it tips, the dos and don'ts for pets at home, and more. Find more helpful tips now!
Voices
Home Safe Home
AARP independent living expert Elinor Ginzler lists low- to no-cost safety upgrades you can make to your or a loved one's home.
Mutlimedia Resources
Watch these videos to learn how home owners have remodeled to accommodate a parent moving in or organized community resources to help someone age in place.
Did You Know?
Here are some home owner facts to help make your abode more user-friendly:
- Stackable washer-dryer units take up to half the space of standard ones and can be small enough to fit into a closet.
- It only takes a quarter-inch change in elevation to be a tripping hazard, so make sure bath mats and rugs are secured to the floor.
- Not only do lever door handles accommodate young children or people suffering from arthritis, but they also come in handy for a mom carrying too much laundry or a dad weighed down by several grocery bags.
The Mission: Find a bathroom and a kitchen that have not aged as well as their owners.
The Result: Hundreds of home owners tell us about their physical challenges and limitations with their current kitchen or bathroom.
The Prize: Significant improvements to each room, with common sense design, keeping in mind a budget for the average American home owner. Read more.
Our Winners
A Carolina Kitchen
Jamie Hammill lives with her husband in Richfield, N.C., about 50 miles outside of Charlotte. Her mother, Judy Hammill, a young, 60+ year old, lives with the couple on the farm that's been in the family since the late 1800s. See why Jamie won.
A Washington Washroom
Mary Waggoner, a single woman living in Snohomish, Wash., gets hardly a break from her full-time job with the Everett School District, as she cares for her parents, Clarence and Louise, when they visit her at her home on most weekends. See photos of Mary's bathroom.
From the Online Community
Group: Tactics for Aging-in-Place
Lean on others to get or share stories about staying safe, preventing falls, and remaining independent.
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Group: Household Tips
Does your inner Heloise have a nifty household hint to share? This is the group for you!
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Find a Special Needs Contractor
Find a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), an expert who helps caregivers and home owners remodel their homes to accommodate loved ones with special needs.
All Under One Roof
Would-be empty-nesters are finding their nests fuller these days. The gloomy economy has created unusual living arrangements in households nationwide.
The Revolution in Design
Grab bars, lever door handles, and curbless showers—products and tools originally developed for people with disabilities—are now going mainstream.
More Than Architecture
Innovative designer Michael Graves talks to AARP Radio about architecture and design, and the status of today's homes.
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AARP is calling on its members to Create the Good in their neighborhoods. Get involved.
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Find out what public or private benefits are available for older adults and families with children.
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