Because not all seniors want to end their life in a retirement home, it is of course possible to adapt their accommodation to their age or to move into a so-called “evolving” house.

The goal?

Maintain autonomy for as long as possible while being safe.

In fact, every year, 450,000 people over the age of 65 fall at home because of unsuitable infrastructure.

Here are some tips for aging well in place.

Adapt an existing home

For seniors in great shape, who do not particularly need to be assisted on a daily basis, it is quite possible to redevelop the accommodation with small jobs.

You can first transform the furniture to make movements easier, by opting for a bed with a remote control bed base, by installing a grab bar fixed to the wall in strategic places, by placing the handles at the right height or by changing space furniture to make circulation more fluid.

For seniors who suffer from visual or cognitive impairment, it is also possible to associate a color with each type of furniture, as well as for household appliances.

Watch out for low furniture, rugs and electrical wires that can cause falls.

Likewise, the lighting must be optimal to avoid shadows and reduce the risk of accidents.

It is better to place the switches at each entrance to each room and at the right height for the resident.

If finances allow, the ideal is to motorize most of the equipment in the house (shutters, heating, gate, etc.).

But the most secure room must inevitably be the bathroom.

It is better to equip it with fall arrest accessories and facilitate access to sanitary facilities, whether it is the shower, the bathtub or the toilets.

There are non-slip floors, grab bars or even anti-splash shower curtains to prevent slipping.

The boom in scalable homes

If it is not possible to redevelop the dwelling because its configuration does not allow it, be aware that more and more dwellings adapted to the needs of seniors are being built.

These evolving houses are fully customizable.

Indeed, they are built to measure and meet the new standards in force.

In particular, they provide for adapted toilets, but also facilitate circulation in the rooms by providing wider passages and erasing the angles.

There are also sliding doors and high-tech accessories that respond to sensory deficits, such as light flashes or guidance equipment.

These new houses also take into account the health needs of the residents.

They anticipate the loss of autonomy over the years, adapt to people with reduced mobility and those who need to be accompanied daily by health auxiliaries.

In short, these scalable homes are a comfortable and individualized solution for aging well independently, at very affordable prices.

Help to renovate your home

Owners who wish to carry out adaptation work in their home can apply for aid from several organisations.

The conditions and amounts of coverage are specific to each organization.


First, there is the Anah (National Housing Agency) for improvement works.

It grants financial assistance to homeowners with modest incomes as part of its “Living easy” program.

Do not forget either, the APA (personal autonomy allowance) and the PCH (disability compensation benefit) which can allow you to finance your stay at home.

It is also possible to benefit from subsidies from the Retirement Insurance or from certain local authorities (region, department, municipality) which grant assistance and loans according to locally defined conditions.

Finally, a tax credit of 25% of the amount of expenses is also granted to seniors and disabled people who carry out certain work to adapt or make their home accessible.

More information on the official reference portal: Pour-les-personnes-agees.gouv.fr.

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