Two more increasingly popular topics in the design world are “Aging in Place” and “Universal Design.” It’s all about accessibility and functionality for everyone in the home. Here are a few things to think about for you and your extended family.
When my parents moved into their “retirement” home in their mid-60s, they chose a house that has a first floor master bedroom and easy entry from the driveway and garage. They knew that while they were both still healthy and spry at that time, they might not always be so and they wanted to be prepared. Good thing. At 75, still healthy and spry, my father had a stroke that left him permanently disabled. Suddenly, a house that was easy to enter and a master bedroom on the first floor became the reason why he was able to spend the rest of his life, until he was nearly 84, enjoying his own home and sleeping in his own bed with his wife of almost 55 years. And now my mother, in her 80s, is also able to live there comfortably, without her family worrying about stairs and falling issues.
The National Association of Home Builders recently commissioned a study of Aging in Place remodeling. Their survey found that:
• 78 percent added grab bars
• 71 percent installed higher toilets
• 60 percent upgraded to a curb-less shower
• 57 percent widened doorways
• 45 percent constructed ramps or lower thresholds
• 45 percent enhanced lighting and task lighting
There are so many ways to improve the accessibility and functionality of our homes. And, the good news is that these improvements can be both aesthetically pleasing as well as good for everyone (regardless of current age or ability) in the home. Have you heard of Universal Design? Per the Center for Universal Design: “The intent of Universal Design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal Design benefits people of all ages and abilities.”
