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:
- An entry without steps makes 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.
While some developers, builders, architects, designers, and even homeowners have resisted incorporating universal design from fear that it will increase costs, most in the field say the expenses are fairly small, compared with overall housing costs and paybacks.