Accessible House Plans for Retirement: Single-Level Designs You Can Age In
TL;DR: A good retirement house plan does more than skip the stairs. It's one level on a slab, with a zero-step entry, 36-inch doors, hallways 42 inches or wider, a curbless shower and laundry near the bedroom. That's what "accessible," "universal design" and "aging in place" all come down to. Below are seven single-level DreamStart designs from 1,553 to 2,814 square feet, and what to look for in any plan.
Accessible, universal design or retirement plans: what's the difference?
You'll see a few names for the same idea:
- Accessible house plans usually mean a home that works for someone using a walker or wheelchair.
- Universal design means a home that works for everyone, at every age and ability, without looking "medical."
- Retirement home plans usually mean a home sized and laid out for the years after the kids are gone.
The best plan is all three: a home that looks like a normal, beautiful house and still works if you need a walker at 80.
The checklist: what every plan should have
| Feature | What to look for | Why |
|---|
| One level | Bedroom, bath, kitchen and laundry on the main floor | No stairs between you and your bed |
|---|
| Zero-step entry | No steps at the front or garage door | Walkers, wheelchairs and tired feet (more) |
|---|
| Doors | 36 inches wide (about 32 inches clear) | Room for a walker or wheelchair (more) |
|---|
| Hallways | 42 inches or wider | Room to pass and turn |
|---|
| Shower | Curbless, with a seat and grab-bar blocking | No lip to step over (more) |
|---|
| Turning space | A 5-foot circle in the bath, kitchen and bedroom | A wheelchair can turn around |
|---|
| Laundry | On the main floor, near the bedroom | No basement stairs |
|---|
| A second bedroom | For family visits now, a caregiver later | Help can stay close |
|---|
Seven single-level designs
Every DreamStart design is one level on a slab with no stairs. These seven fit the checklist from day one:
| Design | Living space | Bedrooms | Baths | Notes |
|---|
| Landon | 1,553 sq ft | 3 | 2 | Separate main suite, open kitchen and dining |
|---|
| Taylor | 1,680 sq ft | 1 | 1½ | Made for empty nesters; large main bedroom |
|---|
| Kaitlyn Raye | 1,780 sq ft | 3 | 2½ | |
|---|
| Rose Mount | 1,800 sq ft | 3 | 2½ | Plus a 3,820 sq ft shop |
|---|
| Manning | 2,140 sq ft | 3 | 2 | |
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| Oak | 2,210 sq ft | 3 | 2½ | Plus a 3,059 sq ft shop |
|---|
| Jackson | 2,814 sq ft | 3 | 2½ | Includes a safe room |
|---|
See all designs →
Each design is a starting point. Your design package adapts it to your land and the way you'll live: door widths, the shower, where the laundry goes and where a caregiver would sleep.
Why we build plans around slabs and SIP walls
- A slab sits close to the ground, which is what makes a zero-step entry easy, and there's no basement to need stairs.
- Solid-core SIP walls keep every room an even temperature and keep energy bills low on a fixed income.
The full picture is on our aging-in-place homes page.
Walk it before it's built
Every DreamStart design package includes a Walk Your Plans visit: your full-size floor plan laid out so you can walk the halls, try the doorways and stand in the shower space before anything is ordered. Bring a walker or a wheelchair if you want to test it. You make final changes right there.
How to start
- Get your free estimate for a single-level home on your land.
- Book a free 30-minute planning call.
- Reserve your design. Your $9,000 design package includes Walk Your Plans, and the plans are yours to keep, no matter what.
We're only taking on 10 new design clients through December. Reserve your spot →