Garage Doors for Seniors Who Choose to Age in Place

If you are a senior who has chosen to age in place rather than spend their later years in an assisted living facility, being able to drive yourself from place to place can be a tremendous boon to your independence.

However, the ability to drive isn't worth much if you can't easily and safely access the garage you store your vehicle in, and you may find that your existing garage door becomes more difficult to operate as you get older.

Fortunately, there is a wide range of garage doors that are easy and simple to use for elderly drivers. If you are finding your garage door difficult to use in later life and are looking for a replacement, keep the following key guidelines in mind:

Choose a Garage Door Compatible With Automatic Door Openers

Most modern garages are fitted with automatic garage doors as standard, but if you own an older home you may still be using a manually-operated door. Even if you are still capable of operating a manual door yourself, it's a good idea to invest in a door that can be used with automatic door openers, just in case your strength or mobility fails you in the future.

Most popular garage door models can be easily adapted for use with automated openers, or come pre-fitted with automated openers. However, this does rule out most timber garage doors, which tend to be too heavy.

Opt for a High-Security Door

Robust home security is a top priority for most seniors. Investing in a high-security garage door will give independently-living seniors valuable peace of mind, especially if your garage is attached to your home.

Generally, garage doors made of steel are the most secure and will resist intruders that attempt to access your garage with cutting torches or other tools. Your garage door should also be fitted with a sturdy lock that cannot be picked or broken easily. If you have the budget, invest in a garage door with an electronic combination lock, which will make your garage extremely secure.

Make Sure Your Door Is Properly Insulated

Increased sensitivity to extremes of heat and cold is another natural consequence of aging, and during the baking, humid summer months a poorly insulated garage can become dangerously hot. If you own an attached garage, poor garage insulation can also make it more difficult and expensive to keep the rest of your home cool, which puts a big dent in your pension budget.

Fitting a properly insulated garage door will make controlling the temperature in your garage much easier, and will also help to reduce ambient noise levels if you live in an urban area or are adjacent to a busy road. Look for garage doors with insulated cores made from high-density foam or fiberglass, which are highly effective at preventing heat transfer between your garage and the outdoors.

Attached garage owners might also want to consider investing in thicker, insulated access doors, to prevent heat from passing into your home from your garage.

Ensure You Have Enough Ceiling Clearance

Stiff joints and other age-related mobility issues can make it more difficult to enter and exit vehicles that ride close to the ground, especially if you rely on a cane, walker or wheelchair for much of your mobility. Many seniors who age in place trade out their vehicles for taller SUVs and minivans. If you choose to do the same, you should make sure your garage has enough ceiling clearance to accommodate a taller vehicle.

This can be a problem if you currently use a tilt-up garage door, which sits flush against the ceiling when opened and can dramatically reduce garage ceiling clearance. Roller garage doors are a much better option if your garage has a relatively low ceiling. These garage doors are wrapped around a spool located above the doorway when opened, and take up very little ceiling space.

Hopefully, these guidelines will help you make the right decision when choosing a suitable garage door, and keep you on the road and in your own home for as long as possible. If you need more advice, contact the garage door specialists at Zumwalt Corporation, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.