Recent data gathered by the National Association of Home
Builders (NAHB) indicates that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of
aging-in-place options for their housing needs.
Whether remodeling or building new, consumers are planning ahead and
opting to remodel or design their homes so as to make them more comfortable as
they age and allow for continued independence.
There does seem to be, however, a bit of confusion over some of the
terminology used in regards to designing changes for aging in place. In recent articles I’ve seen the terms aging
in place modifications and universal design used
interchangeably. There are important
differences between the two. Aging in place modifications refer to altering an existing
home so as to make it more comfortable, safe and accessible as we age. It’s
most often done reactively to
accommodate some physical disability that has arisen. Stairs,
narrow doorways, low toilets, inadequate lighting, and deep sided bathtubs all
become safety hazards when you are physically challenged. Not surprisingly then, the types of
modification most frequently requested include:
Add grab bars 78% Install higher toilets 71% Change a tub or existing shower to a curb-less shower 60% Widen doorways 57% Build ramps or removing thresholds 45% Enhance lighting or adding task lighting 45%
Universal Design, on the other hand, is not about adding
grab bars and ramps so that we can continue to care for ourselves and remain at
home once we’re disabled. It’s much more
proactive and forward thinking that
that. Many existing homes include features that at
best are inconvenient: thermostats placed
at a height that can only be reached when standing, outlets set low on the walls
making it necessary to bend to reach them, narrow bedroom and bath doors,
microwaves that are unreachable when seated, entrances requiring steps for
access, cupboard shelves that can’t be reached without step stools, toilets
that become too low for aching joints.
These are features that that we never think about until we develop some
physical disability – either temporary or permanent – at which point we are faced
with a dilemma. And because we are often forced to adapt our
homes quickly as a result of an injury, we wind up relying on equipment as a
quick fix rather than spending the time planning quality renovations that will
maintain the beauty of our home environment and last a lifetime. Universal design refers to how you address your entire home while
you’re still healthy, using products that are designed to be intuitive and functional
as well as beautiful and adaptable to change, if and when the need arises. When space is designed using the principles of
universal design, no one could ever guess your home was designed for aging
because it’s not. Universal design does
not mean design for seniors. It means
design for everyone – young and old, physically challenged or not. Space does not need to be adapted for anyone
because it’s suited to everyone. So for
example, rather than having to install a ramp for someone needing to manage the
steps to a front entrance, what if entrances were built without any steps at
all? What if walkways were sloped from
the driveway to the front door so ramps were unnecessary? Or, what if we did not install bathtubs as a
standard feature in every bathroom? What
if the new standard was a well-equipped walk-in shower with built in seats? What
about including touch free faucets, cabinets and lights with touch controls,
refrigerators with shallow shelves, temperature read out controls for faucets
so as to prevent scalding, varying height counters, wireless thermostat
controls, microwaves that fit into drawers, and slip resistant flooring? The
beauty is that, while these features and products all fit into the principles
of universal design and are of benefit to everyone, they also anticipate a time
when climbing over a tub wall, reaching a shelf, or walking up stairs becomes
too difficult. The difference between aging-in-place modifications and
universal design is significant and can impact your home environment
drastically. Smart Boomers will grab on
to the principles of universal design to create beautiful homes for their
lifetimes.
 Susan LuxenbergPresident HomeSmart LLC |
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