Aging in Place: Home Design First Steps

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• Aging in Place Home Design First Steps
• LaVona Traywick, PhD
• Jessica Vincent, CHES

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Aging in Place

• Not having to move from one's present residence
  in order to secure necessary support services in
  response to changing needs.

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Changing Needs
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Definition

• Universal Designan approach to the design of
  products, services and environments to be usable
  by as many people as possible regardless of age,
  ability or circumstance.

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Principals of Universal Design

1. Equitable Use
2. Flexibility in Use
3. Simple and Intuitive Use
4. Perceptible Information
5. Tolerance for Error
6. Low Physical Effort
7. Size and Space for Approach and Use

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Example of Universal Design

• Equitable Use
• Flexibility
• Simple/Intuitive
• Perceptible Information
• Error Tolerance
• Low Physical Effort
• Size/Space

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Examples of Universal Design

• Smooth ground surfaces of entranceways, without
  stairs
• Wide interior doors and hallways
• Lever handles for opening doors rather than
  twisting knobs
• Light switches with large flat panels rather than
  small toggle switches
• Buttons on control panels that can be
  distinguished by touch

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Definition

• Assistive TechnologyAny item, piece of
  equipment, or product system whether acquired
  commercially, off the shelf, modified or
  customized that is used to increase, maintain or
  improve individuals functional capabilities

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Buttons and Zippers
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Sip and Puff Switch
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Universal Design with Retirement in MindThe
First Steps
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Start with the Basics (Easy-Visiting or
Visit-ability)

• Can visitors get in the house?
• Can visitors get through the doorways?
• Can visitors use the bathroom?

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Easy-visiting entrance
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A ramp is not always the best solution
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A home with a no-step entrance can be beautiful
(And look like any other home in the neighborhood)
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No-step entrance
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Lighting above address
Lever door hardware
Doorbell with light
ZERO STEP ENTRY
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Threshold transition less than ½
Non-slip flooring
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What about no-step entrances on challenging sites?
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Let car climb steep driveway to no-step porch
entry
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A bridge can stretch across a ditch
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What about remodeling an older home?
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Before 1870s house with steps
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After1870s house with no-step entrance
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Low-cost access in rural Iowa
After No steps
Before Steps
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Full-sized bath on main level
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An Easy-Visiting Bathroom

• This

• Not this

Impossible for wheelchair users
Spacious for family guests
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• To learn more about universal design
  easy-visiting see the full
• Aging in Place
• program series