Modular Homes Built for Handicapped or Senior Citizens

Everyone deserves to meet old age in maximum comfort and coziness. As part of achieving this goal, modern social structures offer a wide variety of services; however, no nursing home or elder cottage can cope with this task, and neither can a personal living space. Among the many possible options, a modular home is the most priority option.

Today, you will find out what senior-friendly features modular homes have, why such a project is much safer than the existing home, and what custom design has to do with it. This, in addition to other benefits, provides a property value boost.

Modular Home for Seniors: Key Principles

When people hear about the possibility of placing elderly parents or relatives in a modular home, the very first question they ask is: “What is it?” A manufactured home is a small additional residential unit that builders make 90% at the factory, and then deliver to the site and quickly assemble it like a LEGO set.

However, standard site-built homes have nothing to do with specialized elder cottages, so before putting them into operation for seniors, it is necessary to carry out various scale changes, which we will discuss below.

Modular Homes for Handicap or Senior Citizens: Large-Scale Design Changes

In this review, we are talking about modular homes, living in which seniors should comfortably enjoy all the features of the residential area. This fact means only one thing: such living projects should be specifically designed for a certain contingent, so it is important for specialists to resort to exceptional methods during their construction.

First, let’s focus on the global changes in the house configuration for senior citizens:

• Floor plans consideration

The key point at the development stage of floor plans is to create comfortable conditions for the moments when residents will climb stairs. Here, you have several customizable options, in particular, steps with anti-slip coating, special railings, or an elevator, which, thanks to high-tech developments, can fit even into a limited space.

• Maneuverable spaces

With age, each of us begins to face physical limitations, mainly of a musculoskeletal nature. In turn, limited mobility makes it impossible to move comfortably in a standard space because of the necessity of additional square feet for maneuvering. For this reason, when designing a modular home, it is necessary to take into account, among other things, the possibility of providing wheelchair-radius access.

• Bathrooms transformation

For any senior citizen, the most dangerous place in the house is the bathroom. Realizing this, many architects follow particular requirements in advance when creating modular homes for older people. In particular, they make bathrooms large to provide wheelchair access to the shower cabin, install grab bars, lower the height of bathroom cabinets, and integrate adjustable shower heads.

• Handicap ramp installation

Entry and exit doors are one of the main obstacles in the way of older adults. On par with this, high entries are also very dangerous and can cause injuries incompatible with life. To avoid such a scenario, building specially manufactured homes is impossible without installing ramps with grab rails.

• Additional safety features

Safety is the main factor associated with modular homes. Of course, you can not predict all possible events, but to reduce the risks during the stay of seniors, you can at least install a backup power supply in case of a power outage. Also, lighting should be improved, and a direct mobile/radio connection should be provided to the living space.

Overall, we have described only the basic elements, and you can always resort to other alternatives to improve interior wheelchair mobility and security in modular homes.

Modular Homes for Handicap or Senior Citizens: Minor Design Changes

Mobile homes are very complex structures, and to provide one hundred 100 comforts for seniors, you need to think through all the details, both at the macro and micro levels. We have already discussed the first part of this level in detail; now, let’s move on to the second.

The following features will help you bring safe design to perfection:

• Installing walk-in showers will be a great addition to a safe bath. This design is gaining great popularity not only among the elderly but also among other segments of the population, as the bathroom is the most traumatic place in the house, and there is no need for steps in this room.
• Increasing the opening of the entrance and exit doors is the default, so it makes sense to focus on other passage doors. You can also widen their openings, smooth out the corners, and cover the jambs with anti-shock pads made of foam rubber and the same materials to improve movement safety.
• Lower countertops in the kitchen will significantly improve the quality of life of pensioners, since it is difficult for everyone to spend several hours of the day in a standing position, not only for older people. Consider the option of self-regulating countertops because it is also a cost-effective solution in case you or someone else in the family decides to cook breakfast or dinner.
• Kneehole access in various furniture elements is one of the latest developments of designers. By analogy with the other points, it is crucial to note that the knees are one of the most problematic places on the body, which causes a lot of discomfort. Therefore, furniture with kneeholes is ideal for anyone who is experiencing similar difficulties.

As with any other construction changes, there is only one drawback, namely the coordination of these transformations with the local construction department. To save money and funds, we recommend consulting a specialist who knows all the building codes in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ

What is the main feature of modular homes for seniors?

Any modular home has two main differences from any other standard house. Firstly, the specialists build the manufactured home not on the site but at the factory and deliver the finished structure to your property. Secondly, a modular home, thanks to its special design, can meet any existing and potential future handicap needs, which makes it the number one choice for any senior citizen.

What are the main principles of a modular home’s safe design?

There are many features that comply with the principles of safe design for seniors. However, we highlight five. Specifically, the expansion of floor plans, the creation of safe conditions in the bathroom, ramp installation for improving wheelchair accessibility, the purchase of anti-slip coating, and the introduction of grab bars around the perimeter of the house.

Can you name the non-obvious advantages of manufactured homes for seniors?

This will be very easy to do because modular homes bring both social and economic benefits. In particular, if your aged parents or relatives will live next to the whole family, then you can leave the children with them for upbringing. In addition, if residents decide to move out, then they can generate a fixed income by renting out this unit, which is also energy efficient.

In what ways can a homeowner improve modular homes for seniors?

A quality modular home with a controlled factory setting is not the limit to perfection, and you can always make the necessary changes. For example, add a porch landing for outdoor gatherings, build a small elevator at the entrance for people with mobility handicaps, or equip the space with a smart home system.