Consumer Connection: Universal Design Can Help Homeowners Age in Place

Share this article with potential consumers in your community. Consider using this article or excerpts to explain aging in place and promote your designation in marketing and media materials. When reprinting, please add the following statement at the end of the article: “Provided by the NAHB Remodelors Council.  For additional information contact the Council at 800-368-5242 x8216.

Aging in Place has become the ultimate “it” term today and can be seen everywhere from local newspapers to AARP’s Modern Maturity magazine to the NAHB newsletters.

Consumers are encouraged to take proactive steps to modify their homes as they age. Basic alterations can make it easier and more affordable to carry out daily activities, such as bathing, cooking or climbing stairs, and can improve a home’s overall safety.

What are aging-in-place features?  These alterations can include:

• Bedroom and bathroom on the first floor — First-floor living remains a high priority for many consumers, especially older adults. Having a full bath and a master bedroom on the main floor makes it easier for those who have troubling climbing stairs.
• Conveniently located and easy-to-use controls and handles — Raised electrical outlets, electrical switches positioned slightly lower and easily usable thermostats, especially those with large, easy-to-read numbers, are perfect for older people. Lever handles make it easier to open the door, whether a person has arthritis or is carrying a sack of groceries or a small child.
• No-step entrances — Having at least one entry without steps creates easier access for everyone, regardless of their ability.
• Extra maneuvering space throughout the home — Wider doors and hallways can make a home more accessible to all.
• Larger bathrooms with safety features — Bigger bathrooms makes maneuvering easier for people with walkers, crutches and wheelchairs or a caregiver. Grab bars, instead of towel bars, are more stable and can prevent falls.
• Improved lighting all over — Because eyesight changes as people age, the importance of lighting should not be downplayed. Multiple controls can help limit the number of trips needed to turn lights on and off. Adjustable controls, or dimmers, can help prevent glare and ensure proper lighting. Task lighting also is preferred for cooking, reading and shaving, while softer light is appropriate for night trips to the bathroom.

If you have made the decision that you want to age in place. The next step is hiring a professional who is trained to help people age in place. You want to contact a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), a professional who has invested time to learn the strategies and techniques for designing and building aesthetically enriching, barrier-free living environments.

A CAPS professional can help explain the different ways you can incorporate aging in place features into to your home without having the “institutional” look. Today’s manufacturers are catching on to this idea and producing beautifully crafted products to help you live in your home as independently as possible: you no longer have to have chrome grab bars everywhere in the house!

Whether the home requires simple modifications or more complex ones, aging in place modifications allow people to remain in the home. Aging in place elements can be used to make the home more accessible and friendly to all users. If you want to stay in your home, modifications and assistive devices can bring long-term independence and confidence to you and your family.

For more information about universal design or to find a professional remodeler with the CAPS designation in your area, visit www.nahb.org/CAPS. [ return to top ]