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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n None of us is getting any younger. But the way we age \u2013 and the quality of life we enjoy as the years tick by \u2013 depends on a number of factors.<\/p>\n While some may have won the genetic lottery for long life, lifestyle factors<\/a> such as diet can play a key role in reducing the risk of certain cancers, as well as diseases such as dementia and Parkinson\u2019s. Exercise can also minimise the risk of falls and diseases such as osteoporosis.<\/p>\n But in an effort to keep ourselves in prime health with gym memberships and dietary overhauls, are we overlooking the asset hidden in plain sight? Could our homes be the secret weapon in supporting our physical and mental wellbeing as we age?<\/p>\n Whenever the topic of designing for ageing comes up, talk naturally turns to creating safe home environments, particularly to reduce the risk of falls<\/a>. So, start with clearing pathways, removing clutter and smoothing out trip hazards such as rugs, as well as thresholds between transition spaces, say, from a living room to an outdoor deck. Good artificial and natural lighting can also improve safety while supporting circadian rhythms and promoting healthy sleep patterns.<\/p>\n Related Article If the opportunity to renovate or build is available, the key is to future-proof as much as possible, without sacrificing aesthetics.<\/p>\n Architect Richard Cole says all this and more came up when he spoke to his parents, Terence and Tina, about designing their home on Sydney\u2019s lower north shore more than a decade ago.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had lots of conversations about things, like if they ended up in a wheelchair and their needs would be about accessibility,\u201d he says. \u201cA lot of the things like allowing for corridors to be a bit wider and clearances around bathrooms can improve the quality of the spaces as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The couple also enjoys hosting family and friends, so the house has an open-plan kitchen and living space that can open up to the deck or close down as required.<\/p>\n \u201cMy parents love living there,\u201d Cole says.<\/p>\n Staying connected …<\/p>\n Research reveals that almost one-third of Australians over the age of 60 experience loneliness<\/a>, and rates increase the older we become. The health impacts can be significant. Studies have linked loneliness to an increased risk of dementia and even premature death<\/a>.<\/p>\n A home that is \u201cfriendly\u201d can reduce the barriers to receiving visitors. This could include a clear path from the front gate to your door, or a spot in your house to enjoy a coffee with a relative or neighbour. This also offers the ability to leave the house and reconnect with your network in the wider neighbourhood.<\/p>\n Architect Vanessa Wegner says some families take it a step further. A few years ago, she completed a multi-storey house in Epping for three generations of the same family.<\/p>\n \u201cThe older couple have their kids and grandkids onsite, and it benefits both parties because of the social interaction,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Most of us still value a little space to ourselves, though. The grandparents Wegner designed for also have their own apartment within the floor plan for a little separation.<\/p>\n \u201cBut every Friday everyone gets together for drinks,\u201d says Wegner.<\/p>\n Cole says his parents\u2019 house also works well when it is just the two of them. A separate study was high on his father\u2019s list of priorities for the new house.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has an outlook over the garden and the rock face is exposed, and Dad has spent a lot of time in there managing his super and keeping up with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n For those still in the family home, newly available bedrooms can allow space for pursuing other interests, says Bruce Judd, emeritus professor from the School of the Built Environment at the University of NSW.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cPeople need space for hobbies, and some of those bedrooms that would appear surplus are used for study or an exercise room,\u201d he says. \u201cYou need space for all kinds of things.\u201d<\/p>\n Professor Antony Moulis, deputy head of the School of Architecture, Design, and Planning at the University of Queensland, says houses with flexible rooms that can be put to multiple uses over time are desirable.<\/p>\n \u201cThink of a media room \u2013 it\u2019s not flexible or connected to the outside and cannot be used for anything else,\u201d he says. \u201cHouses need to be more flexible and adaptive in the way they are set up so they are ready for the changes and needs of the people who live there over time.\u201d<\/p>\n Walter Burfitt-Williams, sales agent for Ray White Touma Taylor Real Estate, says that built-in flexibility can have broader appeal than you might expect.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cWhere my mother lived, the previous owner had modified the hallway to make it wider [providing a view of the water]. The other apartments [in the building] didn\u2019t have that, and it felt so different \u2013 buyers loved that sense of space,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n … healthy body<\/p>\n While it can appear to make sense to opt for single-level living to eliminate stairs, removing all activity from the floor plan may be counterproductive for a longer, healthier life.<\/p>\n Architect James McNally has extensive experience designing for aged care and has noticed a shift in objectives for residents in recent years.<\/p>\n \u201cThey used to wrap people in cotton wool, but now it is about encouraging [activity] through simple design,\u201d he says. \u201cIt is simple things around the house to provide that support to encourage people to get up and move around, like an outdoor area.\u201d<\/p>\n In some cases, stairs may even be beneficial. A 2018 study in Japan<\/a> indicated that women over 65 living in walk-up residences showed a lower risk of decline in instrumental activities of daily living or IADLs, the complex, cognitive-heavy tasks that support our overall wellbeing.<\/p>\n For Cole, the proof is in his parents\u2019 enjoyment of the house and their overall wellbeing. Sometimes, the hard part is keeping up.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mother has a busier social life than I do,\u201d Cole says.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"Terence](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cc6f842cea03a7dfe4e2044485fbdca398ccb01c.jpeg\")
Terence and Tina Cole on the balcony of the house their son Richard Cole designed for them 10 years ago. The couple love living in the house, which has a lift, room for entertaining and is close to public transport.James BrickwoodFuture ready<\/p>\n![\"Warm](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778745733_775_c7b267214d52558a869376300b1b08c2a8736a78.jpeg\")
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Architect Vanessa Wegner designed this multi-generational house providing separate spaces for everyone.Tom Ferguson… but separate<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2a5230f0c6cac448266c5b24ee4431542710b5bc.jpeg\")
A spacious home office was high on Terence Cole\u2019s list for the home he shares with his wife, Tina. It includes ample storage built into the bare rock face.James BrickwoodHealthy mind …<\/p>\n![\"Trees](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a9a92fee6e232f0e655d3786e0b5f1b78ad8cd06.jpeg\")
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