The only bad thing about Mom staying in her house is it is a split level house. The living room and kitchen are on the single level. All the bedrooms upstairs with two bathrooms or the downstairs which is only a huge den and a handicap bathroom we built in when dad was there and the wash room for clothes. My Mom has trouble, not not too terrible yet with one knee. I have some issues with one knee and my older sister has some troubles too. If Mom comes to a time she can't do steps or needs someone to stay there, some of her girls will be out on extended stays with the constant need to do stairs. If it were a one level house, no one would think she would need to change at all, although she is only convenient to one sibling and if she moved closer in, there would be more close helpers.
Although my think-outside-the box ideas aren't too popular, I actually threw out the idea of building a big bedroom, bath and washroom out the back, so everything that was absolutely a must, could be on one level. I mean, I don't care if she borrows against the house and leaves nothing as an inheritance if it meant she could stay there longer. I'm sure that may not be financially the most popular idea, but why not? We all have all that we need.
She hasn't taken my wild suggestions yet though. 😂
That squash vine might be an alien...LOL
A good contractor might have ideas for a design that would work for her. I'm so happy that I thought ahead 20 years ago and bought a one level house with bathrooms big enough to accommodate my mobility scooter.
That's wonderful that you did that.
My Mom has been so spry into her much later years, that I almost think she didn't picture herself not being able to get around. I'm sure it is hard to fathom, but after one fall and some other things, she has gone through a few months here and there where she thought she was broken for good ! Fortunately she wasn't, but still. I would never live in anything but a one level (by choice) again. I get around fine and do steps decent when I have to come and go, but every day, multiple times a day? No Thanks !
My mom will be 91 this year. She is living alone in a very rural tiny mobile home and claims to love it. She is near one grandson, who looks out for her, but far from the rest of the family, a few of who try to make yearly visits. I see it as far from ideal, but she has raised beds for gardening and a riding mower and mows her large average herself. She won't hear of having it any other way!