You’re looking for a home for your grandparents, but you want to make sure it’s the right choice for their needs. Maybe they need to downsize, move to a different town, or enter the market for a new place. No matter the reason, you’re now in a position where you need to find a home that works for your grandparent’s wants and needs. Please keep reading to explore four things you should keep in mind as you buy their home and navigate through this transition.
1. Check the air quality.
When buying a home for your grandparents, make sure to have the indoor air and ventilation checked. Indoor air quality is something that should never be dismissed. This is especially the case for your grandparents, who likely spend a lot of time indoors. There are, unfortunately, many short-term health effects like headaches and fatigue when there’s poor indoor air quality. Still, there are also long-term health risks from certain pollutants from their HVAC systems, including carbon monoxide and radon. These long-term health effects include things like heart disease and respiratory diseases. You can avoid these potential health effects and complications to seniors’ life expectancy by simply getting the air quality checked by professionals. Be sure to reach out to professionals to have your grandparent’s HVAC system, and indoor ventilation checked. This way, you will find out if there’s an indoor air quality problem. If so, you will help them remain happier and healthier.
2. Take a look at the yard.
As your grandparent’s age, likely, they can’t maintain a large yard the way they would like to. Large yards require a lot of maintenance and upkeep. If your grandparents have the money to pay other lawn care workers or people in your family to do the yard work, then there’s no need to limit their yard size. However, for many seniors, this work is laborious and close to impossible. This doesn’t mean that your grandparents shouldn’t have a yard. It’s just a safer option to search for homes with enough outdoor space to sit outside, get some fresh air, enjoy themselves, and have room for plants and flowers. This is a stark difference compared to purchasing them home with five acres of land. As you dive deeper into the home search, make sure to keep the yard as a deciding factor.
3. Make sure the home is accessible.
A common reason that many seniors move is that they need to downsize. Your grandparents no longer need a large two-story home that they can’t keep up with. For their new home, try to find one with an accessible layout. This accessibility means a full bathroom on the first floor, and preferably an entirely one-story home. If you purchase a one-story home like a ranch, you ensure that they’ll be able to get to any area of the home without as much stress on their bodies. Plus, a smaller home is also better for both of your wallets as you will lessen the financial burden by opting for a modest home.
4. Understand how to proceed with the unexpected.
One thing is certain, as time goes on, your grandparents are getting older. This means learning how to prepare for any unexpected experiences or terminal illnesses that may arise. If your family has to face this reality, try to keep in mind all of the options available. To make educated choices, you need to understand the difference between viatical settlements and life settlements. Both of these might be options for your grandparents in varied circumstances. A viatical settlement is different because it’s usually for those who find out they’re suffering from a terminal illness. When it comes to a viatical settlement, you sell your policy to a third party to get a lump sum of cash. This is commonly done to lessen the financial burden of family members after their death. By planning ahead of time, your family will prepare for the unexpected beyond the home’s cost.
