Buying
Aging in Place Home Features to Look For in Colorado
The aging in place features that matter: zero-step entry, main-floor primary, wide doors, curbless shower, lever handles and Colorado snow and ice planning.
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Look for a zero-step entry, a main-floor primary suite, wide doors and halls, a curbless shower, lever handles and good lighting. 75% of adults 50 and older want to stay in their current homes and 73% want to stay in their communities (AARP 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey). Buying a home with these built in skips a remodel later.
What should the entry look like?
- Zero-step entry from the garage or front door.
- A covered entry so snow does not build up at the door. Exterior lighting on the walk and driveway.
- A handrail on any step from the garage into the house, even a single step.
- A garage wide enough to open car doors all the way.
What belongs on the main level?
- Primary bedroom and bath. Laundry.
- Kitchen with a pull-out shelf or two, and counters at a reachable height.
- A main-floor office that can become a caregiver's room or guest room later.
- Drawers instead of low cabinets.
What makes a bathroom work for the long run?
- A curbless shower with a bench.
- Blocking in the walls for grab bars, even before you install them.
- A comfort-height toilet and a lever faucet. Non-slip tile and a handheld shower head.
- A second full bath on the main floor for guests.
What about doors, halls and switches?
- Doorways 36 inches wide and hallways wide enough to turn.
- Lever handles instead of knobs.
- Rocker light switches and bright, even lighting.
- Smart locks and a video doorbell you can answer from a phone.
Which Colorado homes have these built in?
- New ranch plans in 55+ communities like Heritage Eagle Bend and Heritage Todd Creek.
- Villas and patio homes at Heron Lakes in Berthoud.
- Elevator townhomes in Cherry Creek North.
- Custom ranches in Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village.
What is different in Colorado?
- Snow and ice: a north-facing driveway holds ice. Ask who clears it.
- An HOA that handles snow removal takes the shovel out of your hands.
- Heated driveways and walks show up in some luxury listings. Ask the seller for utility bills.
- A mudroom bench at the garage entry for snow boots.
Quick answers
Questions, answered.
What percent of older adults want to age in place?
75% of adults 50 and older want to stay in their current homes (AARP, 2024).
What is the most important aging in place feature?
A main-floor primary suite with a zero-step entry. Those two are the hardest to add later.
Can we find homes with these features already built in?
Yes. We search listing remarks and floor plans for main-level primary suites, curbless showers and elevators.
Sources
Where the numbers come from.
Free playbook
The Colorado Luxury Downsizing Playbook.
Sell the estate, buy the right home, move once. The 12-week plan, the tax and cash questions, the ranch, patio, 55+ and golf communities, and the checklist. 8 pages, free.
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Kenna Luxury Real Estate is a division of the Kenna Real Estate Group at Keller Williams DTC (KWDTC).