The Art of Universal Design
Designing a home to meet the needs of an aging population, whether to accommodate elderly parents or to anticipate your own potential needs, means considering features that will create a safe and comfortable home for everyone. Many of today’s homebuilders are incorporating the following design elements:
- One-level living that includes both a bedroom and full bathroom
- Lower front doorbell
- Hallways and doorways that are 3’ wide or wider, plus enough turnaround space in a bathroom to accommodate a wheelchair
- Sliding rather than hinged doors into a bathroom and bedroom
- Door levers instead of knobs for easier gripping and opening
- Handrails or grab bars in the bathroom or at least support behind the walls so they can be added later
- Molded seat and textured floor for the bathtub or shower
- Lower countertops, cabinets and wall outlets in the kitchen
- Kitchen cabinets that have slide-out shelves
- Non-skid flooring
- Higher wall outlets, lower light switches
- Extra lights for improved visibility throughout the home
Talk to your builder about considering these sensible modifications.
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