With the population aging, universal design has become a hot topic. Seniors want to stay in their homes and age in place rather than be segregated in older adult communities or assisted living centers. How does universal design help them do so? By creating a home environment, both inside and outside a home, as well as a host of products, which make it more possible for everyone to use their home comfortably and safely. Examples abound:
- Stepless entries make it easier and safer to gain access, whether the person is in a wheelchair or using a walker or cane.
- A kitchen with mostly undercounter cabinets helps someone short and frail avoid having to step on a stool to reach high cabinets.
- Lighting along a hallway floor can provide a clear path to a bathroom in the dead of night when eyesight is failing.
- Curbless showers with a bench allow someone to roll a wheelchair in and bathe.
Room-by-Room Assessment
Almost every room and area of a house can be adapted for universal design. Certain features should be used throughout the home such as light switches no higher than 48 inches so everyone can reach them, at least a 32 to 36-inch clearance for doors so wheelchairs can maneuver fully, and outlets no less than 18 inches from the floor, says Nanette Overly, vice president of sales and marketing for Epcon Communities in Dublin, Ohio, which focuses on condo communities in 32 states.