Planning to Age in Place

I love hearing from you about the ways you are using The Perfect Home For a Long Life to plan your housing for the future. Here's Drew's story.

 We applaud your new book and have found it interesting reading. Moreover, we are integrating much of what we learned from it in the design for a new house that we are in the process of buying. Your book came out at exactly the right time.

 After considering that my father-in-law was able to stay in his home, on his own until he was almost 99, (except for an occasional housekeeper and in the last few years some 'Nurse Next Door' help), we decided we wanted to create our own 'old age' home. We figured this is the time to take these decisions and your chapter regarding your parents reinforced that decision.

 We did not want to move from our neighbourhood. Fortunately, our elderly neighbours decided to move into an apartment. We had asked them to speak with us first if they were interested in selling. They did and we are proceeding with a private deal. The house is directly across the street from us and has a large pond with the park at the back.

 After the sale closes, we'll begin renovations to make it into a home we can live in until we are 100. We have a great architect who is very sympathetic to our needs.  We're opening up the back with more light and French doors to the garden, as well as new kitchen, baths, etc. We'll be integrating a suite on the top floor for eventual live-in help. We are considering the design of an elevator and having the doorways and bathrooms easy access regardless of mode of transportation.

 It is a year-long project and we will live in our existing house while it is undertaken. So we are taking what we think to be the right steps.

 Thanks for your inspiration.