Washington post Reports: Stairs can pose a problem as you get older, so take steps now to ease the climb

Options for Aging Homeowners In Homes With Lots of Steps

By Maryann Haggerty

Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, August 14, 2010

Eventually, the 17 steps became too much for Karl Schwengel.
Schwengel, 79, a retired business manager for a D.C. nonprofit association, has lived in his two-story Capitol Hill townhouse since 1969. Over time, his health has deteriorated, so about two years ago, he had a stair lift installed.
"It's marvelous," he said. "I couldn't imagine going down those 17 steps or up those 17 steps. It's not fast, thank goodness, but it does get between floors."
As the U.S. population ages -- or just thinks about how the knees can be the first thing to go -- more homeowners may need to contemplate what steps to take about steps.
Buyer preferences vary by region. While ranch houses are popular in many parts of the Sun Belt, the default in the D.C. region is a two-story Colonial. Some buyers, especially those with children, prefer two-story houses because they separate public and private areas. However, older buyers overwhelmingly would choose one-story living, according to a consumer preference survey by the National Association of Home Builders. While 52 percent of all buyers said they would prefer a single-story house, that number climbs to 79 percent among buyers 55 and older.CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE