Staying Home for the Long Haul
For many Kamloops homeowners, the goal isn't to move into a smaller place or a retirement community when the time comes—it's to stay in the home they love, in the neighbourhood they've been part of for decades. This is the essence of "aging in place": designing and modifying your home so it supports your independence, safety, and comfort as your needs evolve over time.
The good news is that the right renovations can make almost any home more liveable for the long term—and many of the changes that help older adults also make a home more comfortable and functional for everyone in it. At Hodder Construction, we've helped many Kamloops families think through these projects, and we've seen firsthand how thoughtful modifications can transform a home.
Here's what you need to know.
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Why Plan Ahead?
The most cost-effective time to incorporate aging-in-place features is before you need them. Retrofitting a bathroom for accessibility after a fall or injury is significantly more expensive and disruptive than planning those features during a renovation you'd be doing anyway.
Many homeowners in their 50s and 60s are now asking us to incorporate accessibility features into kitchen and bathroom renovations, home additions, or new builds—not because they need them today, but because they're thinking 10 or 20 years ahead. This is smart planning.
BC's aging demographics reinforce the trend. The province's baby boomer population is large, and housing that supports independent living is increasingly in demand. A home with well-executed aging-in-place features also appeals to a broader range of buyers at resale—including buyers with disabilities, parents of young children (who often share similar accessibility needs), and multigenerational families.
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The Bathroom: Where Safety Matters Most
The bathroom is the room where falls are most common, and where the right modifications make the biggest difference. Key changes to consider:
Walk-in or roll-in shower: Replacing a standard tub-shower combo with a curbless, walk-in shower eliminates the trip hazard of stepping over a tub edge. A roll-in shower (wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or shower chair) future-proofs the space entirely. Large-format tiles with flush grout lines, a handheld showerhead on a slide bar, and a built-in bench are all practical additions.
Grab bars: Properly installed grab bars—anchored into wall studs or blocking, not just drywall—are one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost modifications you can make. Place them at the toilet, in the shower, and at the tub entry. Modern grab bars are available in attractive finishes that look like intentional design rather than medical equipment.
Walk-in tub: For homeowners who love soaking baths and aren't ready to give that up, a walk-in tub with a door eliminates the need to step over the tub wall. These come with optional jet systems and heated surfaces.
Comfort-height toilet: Standard toilet seats are around 15 inches. Comfort-height or ADA-compliant toilets sit at 17–19 inches, making sitting down and standing up significantly easier for people with limited mobility or joint pain.
Non-slip flooring: Polished tile is beautiful but slippery when wet. Matte-finish porcelain, textured stone, or luxury vinyl plank all provide better grip underfoot without sacrificing style.
Wider doorways: A standard 28–30 inch doorway is too narrow for a walker or wheelchair. Widening to 36 inches (or 32 inches minimum) opens the space significantly. This is best done during a broader bathroom renovation when walls are open.
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The Kitchen: Accessibility Without Compromise
Kitchen modifications for aging in place often align perfectly with what makes a kitchen more functional for everyone.
Counter height variation: Installing at least one section of countertop at a lower height (around 32 inches rather than the standard 36) allows for seated work—whether that's using a stool, wheelchair, or just taking a break from standing. This is a natural feature of good kitchen design.
Pull-out shelves and drawers: Reaching into deep lower cabinets is difficult for people with back problems, limited mobility, or balance issues. Pull-out shelves, drawer inserts, and lazy Susans in corner cabinets bring contents to you rather than requiring you to reach in.
D-pull hardware: Lever-style cabinet pulls and D-ring handles are far easier to use than round knobs for people with arthritis or reduced hand strength. This is a simple, inexpensive upgrade with outsized impact.
Touchless or single-lever faucets: Single-lever faucets are easy to operate with one hand or limited dexterity. Touchless sensor faucets eliminate the need to grip entirely.
Adequate lighting: As vision changes with age, bright, even task lighting in the kitchen becomes more important. Under-cabinet LED lighting, improved overhead fixtures, and dimmable switches all help.
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Main Floor Living: Eliminating the Stair Problem
For many homeowners, stairs are the single biggest barrier to aging in place. Options vary depending on your home's layout:
Main floor bedroom and bathroom: If your home has a room on the main floor that could be converted to a bedroom, ensuring a full bathroom is also accessible on that level means you could live comfortably without using the stairs at all. We've helped several Kamloops homeowners convert a main-floor den or office to create this configuration.
Stair lift: A mechanical stair lift allows continued access to upper levels without climbing. They can be installed on straight or curved staircases and are a relatively low-disruption solution.
Home elevator or lift: For more extensive renovations or new builds, a compact residential elevator or vertical platform lift provides full accessibility between floors. Elevators are increasingly available in space-efficient, design-forward configurations that don't dominate a home's interior.
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Entryways and Thresholds
Getting in and out of the house comfortably is foundational to independence.
Zero-step entry: At least one entrance to your home should be step-free—either the front door, side door, or garage entry. If steps exist, a well-designed ramp or graded walkway can provide an alternative. This also makes everyday tasks like bringing in groceries significantly easier.
Lever door handles: Round doorknobs require a twisting grip that's difficult for many people. Lever handles operate with a simple push-down motion and are a straightforward swap.
Widened exterior doorways: If your front or garage entry is narrow, widening it during a renovation creates a more welcoming, accessible entry for everyone.
Good lighting at entries: Motion-activated exterior lighting, illuminated house numbers, and well-lit thresholds reduce the risk of trips and falls when entering or leaving in the dark.
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Planning Your Aging-in-Place Renovation
The best approach is to assess your home holistically rather than making isolated changes. A walkthrough with an experienced contractor—ideally alongside an occupational therapist who specializes in home assessment—can identify the modifications that will have the most impact for your specific situation.
At Hodder Construction, we work with Kamloops homeowners to incorporate accessibility features into planned renovations, ensuring the changes are practical, well-built, and integrated thoughtfully into the home's design. Whether you're updating a bathroom, renovating your main floor, or planning a new build with the future in mind, we can help you think through the options.
Contact Hodder Construction at (250) 828-8760 or visit hodder.ca to schedule a consultation. Building a home that works for you today—and for years to come—is one of the most worthwhile investments you can make.