Design & Decor
Barrier-Free Living
Universal design is coming to the forefront as it prepares a home for aging residents.
BY
Kathleen Leighton
PHOTOGRAPHY
iStockphoto

Something for Everyone

Even with limited physical ability, planning for the present and/or future is easy with new in-home inventions in universal design.

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As an interior designer, Barbara Bishop, ASID, was certainly familiar with the concept of universal design, which creates space that works for everyone regardless of age or physical limitations. But when she had rotator cuff surgery last April, the issue suddenly gained new importance.

“I’ve always been aware of universal design,” says Barbara, owner of Transitions II. “But now it’s personal.”

An 85-percent tear in her left rotator cuff prompted the surgery, and unfortunately, she’s left-handed. “With my arm in a sling, it was easy to do things at a lower level, but reaching at waist level or higher was difficult,” she says. “My kitchen counters are 36 inches high, which wasn’t a problem before the surgery. Now I’m thinking about lower counter levels. It would just be easier.”

There are two reasons universal design is becoming more popular. First, there is a greater demand for universal housing because the current ways of designing a home don’t work for everyone. People live longer than they used to, and many live with disabilities. Everyone deserves a home in which to grow old comfortably.

Second, universal design has become attractive — no one wants to have a home that looks like “old people” live there.

“The new trend right now is decorative grab bars that match the towel bars,” says Rose Middleton, co-owner and head designer of RARE Construction. “They no longer have to be ugly stainless steel because the aging population has opened the eyes of many companies.”

RARE Construction keeps an eye on the future when doing remodeling projects. For example, if a bathroom is being re-done, framing wood strategically placed around showers and toilets in the studs of walls allows grab bars to be installed at a later date.
“More and more older people and their families are discovering the high cost of nursing-home care,” Rose says. “The difference between living in the comfort of your home and going to a nursing home makes universal design appealing to many people.”

Ron Sobanek of HISCO Design/Build, who specializes in remodels and new builds featuring universal design, says the most common renovations involve bathrooms or master suites. “I sit down and talk with customers about their concerns,” he explains. “It’s best to talk with someone who is familiar with universal design, or aging in place. A typical remodeler might not know what’s out there, what the options are.”

The Center for Universal Design lists the seven principles of universal design. They are: equitable use, which means the design is useful and marketable to all people; flexibility in use, meaning the design can be used by a wide range of people; simple and intuitive use, or the design is simple to understand; perceptible information, meaning those with fewer sensory abilities will be able to use it; low physical effort; tolerance for error; and size and space for approach and use, which means adequate space is provided regardless of physical mobility.

The National Association of Home Builders has a program called Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) that’s been in place for about five years. Part of the CAPS certification program involves incorporating universal design principles into an environment in an attractive and natural way.

“Universal design is much larger than people think,” says Rose, who is CAPS certified (Ron is, too) and offers some examples. “The ‘undo’ button on your computer is universal design because it makes the product more usable by correcting your mistakes. Closed-captioning on newer television sets is universal design because it makes that product useful for someone who has a disability.”

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is currently going through a universal design revival, as evidenced by wheelchair ramps that are now manufactured with raised bumps or depressed lines running through them so they are noticeable even to those with sight issues. Child-proof prescription bottles, difficult to open for those with arthritis, are available with a regular cap at the customer’s request.

“The most popular universal design trends we see in homes are grab bars, door sizes and circumference issues,” Rose says. “There should be a five-foot turning radius in bathrooms, just like the handicapped stall in a public restroom. We just finished remodeling a bathroom for a grandfather and granddaughter who live together and installed a whirlpool tub that lowers him in. There are so many products available now for universal design.”

Barbara, who has lived in her spacious ranch-and-a-half home for 32 years, is seriously considering re-grading the front of her home. “There are two steps that lead into the house, and after this surgery, it started me thinking,” she says. “What if I ever had to be in a wheelchair? If I choose to remain in my home, I could live another 20 years, so I would have to make some changes.”

Other changes she’s considering are remodeling the bathroom and installing a walk-in tub, or at least grab bars in the shower area; replacing her 40-year-old kitchen cabinets with deeper, pull-out drawers to hold pots and pans; and lowering a section of the counter for easier access.

“This is something that should be on everyone’s radar,” Barbara says. “As people age, one of the hardest things to do is move out of your home. Universal design allows people to stay in familiar surroundings for as long as possible.”