After a lifetime of work, retirement should be a time for relaxing: slow mornings, new hobbies, travel and quality time with loved ones. One thing that can add stress? Struggling to go about your daily tasks in your own home.

Influenced by the farmhouse buildings found scattered throughout the Mediterranean, Tuscan architecture strikes a balance between rustic and ornate elements. It's a reimagined style that draws upon historical architecture, inspired by the simplistic, hearty design of Italian houses dating back to the Roman period.

Good design makes our life easier. That’s why it’s important for the creators to try and imagine themselves in other people’s shoes when sketching things for their use. Whether it’s a playground or an office building, those responsible for the design have to consider the needs of different groups of people, for instance, those with disabilities, seniors, or children, just to name a few; and that might not be easy. However, some people excel at the task and provide exemplary results.

A home elevator may seem like a big-ticket splurge, but it can make a huge difference in the accessibility of your home and allow greater freedom for those with mobility limitations. This is especially important for those who want to remain in their homes as they get older.

Some cities and the architecture there can make your jaw drop because of how impressive they look. But some others… Well, let's just say your jaw might drop because of a reaction far less positive than that. In the latter, you might be met with dirty streets, overcrowded neighborhoods, and buildings that resemble the set of an apocalypse-based movie more than it does someone’s home.

When you daydream about your retirement, you may be picturing traveling, volunteering and spending time with grandkids. One thing that’s likely absent from the dream? Struggling to move around your own home.

Home is the place where you're supposed to feel safest. But as you get older, fall risks lurk everywhere: on loose stairs, in cluttered hallways, and especially in the bathroom. Falls are the number one cause of injury in adults ages 65 and over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thanks to an abundance of slippery surfaces, the bathroom is the most common place for falls to happen.

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: older Americans overwhelmingly support aging in place in their own homes, with some recent survey data indicating at or over 90% of seniors supporting retirement living in their own homes.