QUESTION: How do I find contractors who specialize in renovations for senior living? What questions should I be asking?
"YOUR NEST" RESPONDS: There are 9 areas of one’s home that can be renovated to make the home more comfortable, accessible, and convenient for someone who is aging or someone with a handicap or disability. Those 9 areas are: Audio/Visual, Bathrooms, Doorways, Electrical, Elevators and Lifts, Flooring, Kitchens, Ramps and Walkways, and Walls. You may be interested in one, several or all of these issues.
Finding a contractor is a challenge. I suggest you start by finding an architect who specializes in this field. Visit the website of the American Institute of Architects at www.aia.org. Within the section of the homepage that’s entitled, Working with an architect, select Find an Architect. In the search box which opens, input your zip code and within the Building Type criteria, select Senior/Assisted Living. Then select Search.
The AIA website also provides a list of 20 questions to ask your potential architect. The most important of these, in our opinion, is the 20th. That question tells you to get a list of references of customers who have had work done which is similar to your intended project. Good luck “ and happy building!
