Is your home ready for ‘someday?’

The National Association of Home Builders has prepared a checklist of aging-in-place features to consider as part of any building or remodeling project. You can find them at nahb.org, then search for “aging-in-place remodeling checklist.”

AARP also has a guide for making your house into what it calls a “lifelong home.” Go to aarp.com and do a search for “home fit guide.” Here is a partial list of questions to ask, taken from both sources above, to help determine whether your house will serve your needs for the long run.

Do your doorways have 32 inches of clear width, which requires a 36-inch door? Do you have lever handles on your faucets?

Is your upper kitchen cabinetry three inches lower than conventional height so shelves are easier to reach? Are your base cabinets equipped with roll-out trays and lazy susans? Or, better yet, drawers?

Do you have adequate lighting throughout your home, including appropriate task lighting in work areas?

Do you have a seat in your shower? Do you have smooth, slip-resistant flooring inside and outside your home? Are there a bedroom, full bathroom and kitchen on the main level? Are your home’s address numbers clearly visible from the street to aid emergency personnel?

Are there smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of the home and can they be heard in the bedroom?

Is a telephone easily accessible on each floor of your home?