Aging is a word many don't want to hear. Most of us want to leave that kind of conversation at bay, sometimes until it is too late. While some may want to think of themselves as eternally young, the fact is that with each passing page of the almanac, we do age, and our day-to-day activities change, and even the simplest tasks become harder to accomplish. Some may choose to downsize, and others may choose to live their golden years in the home they have lived in for decades. Whatever your choice, now or in the future, there are design solutions to make your Aging in Place design easy, convenient and stylish.

One of the body's natural and gradual deteriorations is sight. Making sure spaces are adequately lit is of the utmost importance in Aging in Place design. Allow for as much natural light as possible to light a room, which means minimal or restrained window treatments. When spaces are under-lit, supplement them with lamps. A dark room makes tasks such as reading a book or reading prescriptions nearly impossible. Lamps and lighting fixtures need to be outfitted with easy and accessible switches and dimmers.

Accessibility throughout a home or condo is crucial. Keeping a clean and clutter-free floor plan ensures mobility for anyone, including those in wheelchairs. An advisable dimension is 32 inches to 36 inches for doorways, and halls with a 5-foot by 5-foot space for turning radius. Accessibility for people of a certain age may also mean living on one level, with no steps or staircases, and even in certain circumstances requiring the installation of ramps or elevators.

Flooring needs to be flat, non-slip and as maintenance-free as possible. Wood, tile, linoleum and carpets are advisable solutions. Myriad beautiful materials are available, but I would suggest selecting flooring that has a co-efficient of friction equal to that required for a commercial project. This will minimize the possibility of a fall due to the installation of a slippery floor material. If you choose a soft material such as carpet, make sure it is installed with a firm pad and wall-to-wall, in order to avoid carpet edges that are a tripping hazard.

Another accessibility issue to address is door and cabinetry hardware. Opening and closing doors can be done easily with a lever-type fixture rather than a standard round doorknob. Loop handles for cabinets are recommended, as they are easy to grab. Some cabinet space could be designed, altered or modified to create some clear space in the base cabinetry to accommodate wheelchair accessibility. Upper cabinets could be lowered a few inches to make them more accessible.

Finally, favorite furniture that cannot be parted with can be reupholstered. There are new microfiber fabrics — polyesters, ultra-suede, trevira — that are engineered to repel stains from spills and to be easily cleaned. They are available in every decorative style, including prints, and are available in every imaginable color.

Next time you think about aging, drop the thoughts and visions of sensible taupe shoes and plastic-covered furniture. At this stage in life, your home should be warm, comfortable and reflective of your many accumulated memories.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Unsplash