Like many western and even some eastern countries today, Britain has an aging population. Not only are aged care facilities limited, both private and government run, but waiting lists can be long and the cost for families, or the elderly or disabled person without family support, can be prohibitive.

Thus many older people choose to remain in their own homes for as long as possible and increasingly until the time of their deaths. Not only does this allow a feeling of independence, it provides and a continued connection with the community the aged person has lived in sometimes for most of their lives.

Similarly, for those who have some degree of physical disability, be it from birth or through some type of accident or disease, being able to live independently is important for happiness and mental health.

If building, thought should be given to house design to accommodate such disabilities, even for those who are relatively young and fit, as we never know when we may be glad of a user friendly house. Some features to consider are wide doors and hallways, generously sized bathrooms, good kitchen access, no-sill entries, wheelchair ramps , and large covered porches. Such design elements can be incorporated into plans to allow homeowners the opportunity to remain active and healthy in their own homes long into their senior years.

All of this can obviously take a lot of money but also add to the value of your home. If building plans are a future plan creating a savings account is a wise choice, with many to choose from it is worth spending time to find the right account for you. We found that abbey saving accounts offered a good rate and special deals for the over 50s.

When work is completed your home insurance must be notified of the changes to be sure you are covered for your new additions. If you do not have home insurance it is wise to find some to cover your home and its contents from burglary, damage and accidents. Saga insurance offer great rates for the elderly and have good experience with home renovations with disability in mind.