Wentworth

Remodeling
Christine R., Washington, DC
“ We like your bold vision for our home. ”
Aging-in-Place Design & Remodeling
in Maryland, Northern Virginia & Washington, DC

If you’re ready to discuss your age-in-place remodeling project in MD, DC, or VA, contact our team!

Many people wish to stay at home throughout their maturing years, and with age-in-place design, staying at home as long as possible is an easy reality. Aging in place refers to living in your home safely, comfortably, and independently no matter your age or ability level. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the majority of homeowners want to age in place.

Staying in your home is not only a practical and cost-effective path for retirement, but it’s also comfortable and more enjoyable—and Wentworth can help with your universal design and remodeling project in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Age-in-Place Design Requirements

The three keys to aging-in-place home design are safety, comfort, and customization.

01

Safety

Over the years, the Wentworth design-build team has built — and converted — garages for many homeowners in the DC metropolitan area. Garage remodeling or addition projects have ranged from attached to detached garages and from two-car brick garages to simple one-car vinyl siding units. No matter the type of garage, construction requires zoning approvals and building permits, and all must be built on a proper masonry foundation with a concrete slab for parking.
  • Grab bars (in bathrooms, showers, kitchens, and bedrooms)
  • Curbless shower stalls
  • Shower stalls with integrated benches
  • Placement of essential rooms—the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom—on the first level
Special care is taken to avoid the common features of everyday living that can be dangerous to folks who are aging in place—such as loose throw rugs and obstructed pathways.

02

Comfort

Comfort is also important but is sometimes more synonymous with luxury than safety. As long as appropriate safety measures are taken, there is nothing wrong with some comfort and indulgence! Many homeowners who are staying in their home wish to add features solely for comfort, such as:
  • Heated floors
  • Heated towel racks for the bathroom
  • Soaking tubs with steps and grab bars
  • And more
There are plenty of ways to improve livability in unobtrusive ways, and the Wentworth design-build team has created universal home designs that are both safe and luxurious.

03

Customization

Wentworth never creates two homes that are exactly alike—your home is all about you, and aging in place is the same way. Your home is personal and how you live in it should be too, especially if it’s for the next 10, 20, or more years! Give it some personal touches. We’ve had clients request hobby rooms, a TV room with exhaust fans for cigar smoking, glassed-in porch sides at the front door for extra protection from inclement weather, and more.

Disability & Universal Design Features

Universal design is about making a home comfortable, livable, and accessible to everyone, including those who are aging in place and may have special needs or physical limitations. Our Chevy Chase design-build team can customize your living space to suit your unique requirements. With the right design features in place, your home will function equally as well for able-bodied visitors as it will for those who use mobility devices such as a walker or wheelchair; we create our designs to fulfill both your current and future needs. Options include:

Doorway Widening

Narrow doorways, hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms can make it difficult for those in a wheelchair to maneuver through or turn around without assistance. By increasing the width of these areas, those who are aging in place have the freedom to access all areas of their home, regardless of physical limitations or disabilities.

Lower Level Remodeling & Design

Stairs present a unique challenge to those with sleeping quarters on the upper level of their home. Our design experts can reconfigure your main floor layout to include a master suite complete with a bedroom and accessible bathroom.

Bathroom Safety

No handicap bathroom is complete without the installation of bathroom grab bars and rails around the toilet and inside the bathtub or shower. Handheld, flexible shower heads, shower seating, and curbless entry allow greater independence for bathing or showering.

Entryway Access

It is imperative that at least one entry point into the home is designed with a wheelchair ramp and low threshold for easy access, safety, and security.

Reduced Height for Cabinetry

Kitchen and bathroom cabinetry may need to be at two different heights to accommodate wheelchair access while sliding doors reduce the need for additional clearance. Recessed or open areas beneath the countertops provide a space for a chair or wheelchair to rest during food preparation, cooking, dishwashing, or grooming.

Open Floor Plan

You should consider an open floor plan design, which can increase sight lines while providing ample room for access and maneuverability of all mobility devices.

Maryland

Age-in-Place Designers

Wentworth’s design-build team can help you customize your home and ensure it’s as safe and comfortable as possible so you can age in place in the most dignified and graceful way possible. If you need aging-in-place design and remodeling services in Maryland, DC, or Northern Virginia, we are the company to call.

Browse our photo gallery to see past remodels we’ve done in the area—and contact us if you’re ready to begin your new aging-in-place design in Maryland, Washington, DC, or Northern Virginia!