It is a refreshing sight to see some of the home sites that have been on the market for oh-so long finally purchased with new homes soon to be in place. I have had a number of my clients contact me this year regarding their new home plans, asking for any tips and recommendations on home construction.
Perhaps the best advice is for one to determine how long you plan to be in the house and then design accordingly. For those of us over 50 years of age, sustainability is a key element in home design. After all, we are not getting any younger and we all would like a home that is designed to allow us to age gracefully and comfortably in it. With the massive population of Baby Boomers hitting retirement age, we are seeing a new generation of products and home designs specifically geared for aging-in-place. With that, you will likely be hearing some new terms now in the building industry: Universal Design and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS).
Universal Design is incorporated in building design by architects and the building industry, while the CAPS program is utilized mostly by remodelers and health care consultants. The CAPS program was developed by the National Association of Home Builders in corroboration with Home Innovation Research Labs and AARP.
While there are a multitude of features that are addressed in Universal Design, below are a few of the changes you might want to consider in creating a home that you can age comfortably in over a sustainable period of time. Remember, ideally you want to home to reduce maintenance costs, both inside and out, and offer both comfort and convenience to your lifestyle. Aging often involves issues with arthritic hands, back and knee issues, and diminished eyesight and hearing.
While we may be free of these now, they may creep into your lifestyle before you know it. These considerations are addressed in Universal Design.
- The No. 1 feature is one-level living, or at least, all of the main living on one floor.
- No-step entries from both the front door and the garage.
- Wheelchair accessible doorways of 32 to 36 inches in width. With that, also consider turnaround areas throughout the home.
- Well lit large walk-in showers with a built-in seat and hand-held or pole-adjusting shower wands and grab bars. (Step-in bathtubs are one of the main sources of slipping accidents.)
- Use lever-type of door knobs instead of the ball-type for poor hand strength. Consider loop style cabinet pulls in bathrooms and kitchens, and lever style faucets.
- Non-slip surfaces not only for bathrooms, but for outside walkways. As attractive as stamped concrete walkways and driveways are, they tend to be slippery and they are higher maintenance. You might want to consider aggregate walkways that offer better traction in poor weather conditions.
- Good lighting is important, especially important for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and closets. Don’t forget about the importance of good natural lighting from windows as well. Motion-triggered lighting outside garages that can light up walkways are a great benefit.
- Think also about easier access to controls throughout the home from light switches, outlets, heating and A/C controls, and access panels for air filter changes. In fact, I am seeing the return of medicine cabinets in bathrooms as they offer eye level shelving for easy to read and find medications.
- Heights have changed as well. Microwaves at counter height; washers and dryers elevated a good 12 to 15 inches from floor; counter and cabinetry heights, toilets seats 19 to 22 inches from floor base.
- Lawn maintenance and landscaping are also areas that can be altered or planned for more convenient living. Less lawn to mow, lower maintenance plants such as perennials or slow growing plants.
None of us wants to age. In fact, have you noticed all these new “anti-aging” crèmes, pills, vitamins and treatments out there? As much as we may be fighting the aging process, let’s be smart about the fact that aging is inevitable and having a home designed to keep you comfortable and safe in it will extend your lifestyle for many more years and is a great way to face our future.
Joyce Mitchell is the Broker/owner for Mitchell and Associates Real Estate.