Innovative Building and Remodeling Solutions
for Independent Living

Currently, our country’s general awareness of green practices is growing at an almost fever-pitched rate. This is a result of the now more accepted reality of the dangers and undeniable negative effects that global warming can have on our future. In addition, there has been an expansion of political and social pressures on us to modify our overall consumption behaviors.

In a recent article by Michael Chandler for Green Building Advisor (GBA), he discusses a design trend that combines green or environmentally conscious and sustainable considerations with aging-in-place inspired modifications. He explains, “I see a trend toward working with what we have come to call ‘empty-nesters.’ These are usually couples with older children who are ready to make a fresh start with a smaller, more energy-efficient, ‘green’ and low-maintenance home to which their kids only visit for family reunions.” He adds that these empty-nesters are also considering the fact that older grandparents may come to stay for extended periods.

Chandler believes that when designing a sustainable home, it is arguably more important to focus on aging-in-place and handicap “visitable” design than payback or resale value. For example, visitable design may include a sheltered, step-free entry, and guest rooms that can accommodate a children’s play area or a study, as well as a mother-in-law suite plus a walker-friendly master suite. “Our goal is to present all the potential lifestyle options they may need in their home in the future. An aging-in-place design can accommodate all age groups.”

In addition to the many benefits of aging-in-place design, combining it with green or sustainable modifications offers another bonus—long-term financial savings. Chandler explains, “When clients question us about green payback calculations, we ask them to consider the probable cost of fuel in five or ten years and also what they picture their lifestyle will be at that time. We do this to drive home the advantage of knowing they will have more financial security in the future by minimizing their energy costs now, as well as to open the conversation to how their needs will evolve over time.” He adds that looking at the “big picture” during the design process can help identify low- or no-cost options that will save big in the years to come.

John P. S. Salmen agrees in his recent article for the Universal Design Newsletter, where he discusses the greenness or eco-friendly possibilities of universal design.

Salmen also believes that students and implementers of universal design see green universal design as a natural result of the growing movement of green design practices. His article considers how green design and universal design can ultimately and effectively relate to one another. Valerie Fletcher and Elaine Ostroff of the Institute for Human Centered Design, along with Eric Mikiten, AIA, of the Bay Area Committee on the Environment (COTE), all believe that the two concepts of universal design and green design are both directly connected to the sustainability movement.

Offering even more support of this contention, the Department of Public Works of Queensland, Australia (DPW) designed a logo for its “Smart House” program that communicates how these three universal design leaders actually visualize the “three–legged stool of sustainable design.”

The DPW’s educational logo is divided into three triangles of sustainability:  environmental, economic, and social. It illustrates how universal design is a basic element of sustainable design as it relates to resource efficiency and economic empowerment under the umbrella of these three areas (triangles):

• Environmental Sustainability relates to the green movement, natural resource conservation, and efficiency.

 

• Economic Sustainability relates to concepts of life-cycle costing, equity, and fair-trade value of products and services.

• Social Sustainability relates to systems that support people by creating safe, secure, and independent communities.

 

Utilizing a model such as this, home modification specialists can add aging-in-place sensibilities to the green design process by considering resource efficiency, durability, and indoor air quality standards in their design criteria.

Chalmers offers some standard aging-in-place design suggestions. “Start with the thought that arthritis sufferers should be able to get out of bed in the morning and make it through the day operating everything with oven mitts on. Doorknobs and faucets can be lever types; cabinet pulls can accommodate a four-finger grip and visually contrast with the woodwork; and the edges of counters and wall cabinets can stand out visually to accommodate failing vision.” He notes that lighting can be very important as vision fades, so providing both adequate natural lighting and well-designed and energy-efficient task lighting is essential.

Here are Chalmers’ additional aging-in-place design suggestions:

• Bathrooms and kitchens can have seated workstations with offset sink traps and supplies to allow knee room.
• Dishwashers and laundry equipment can be raised 12 to 18 inches off the floor to ease back strain.
• “Comfort-height” toilets can have blocking preinstalled for future grab bars and a 5-foot clear turning radius in front with walker parking adjacent to the throne.
• Showers generally need not be roll-in, but can accommodate transferring from a walker to a shower chair.
• All doors should be 32 inches with the most commonly used exterior doors at 36 inches to allow wheelchair access and prevent busted knuckles when using a walker or even just a laundry basket.
• The transition zone into and out of the car in front of the home can have a roof to protect it from the weather and easy, smooth, and non-slip access to the front door.
• Trip hazards and slippery floors can be minimized, as many health crises are precipitated by a fall.
• The main entry lock can have a wireless key-fob operator like a car.
• Wireless operators can also activate curtains, ventilation, and lighting.

 

Salmen also states that aging-in-place independence can be naturally extended by universal design. “The obvious example is aging-in-place, which is facilitated by universally designed homes and communities.” Chalmers adds that a big part of aging-in-place design is helping people feel the emotional security that they are still in control of their lives and can continue living at home.

Here are a few home-security modification suggestions:

• A burglar alarm system can allay the feeling of vulnerability with panic buttons in the bedrooms and bathrooms.
• Creating a strong room in the master closet with a deadbolt on the door and buttons inside to call hospital or police.
• Positioning the alarm panel so that occupants can check door and alarm status from the bed (but not from the front door).

 

Most importantly, Chalmers believes that design can help people who are aging-in-place resist the feeling of isolation by making it easy to get away from the television or computer and out onto a front porch or screened patio and by providing “family shrines” to showcase photos of family and happy memories. “As we age, our friends are aging too—living in a home that is easy to get in and out of and one that accommodates our friends with disabilities and allows them to visit will keep our social network alive.”

Salmen adds to this consideration by explaining that human ability is arguably the most precious resource of all and that universal design can help to preserve it longer. “Human ability is enabled, supported, and encouraged by a universally designed environment that gives everyone the opportunity to participate with a minimum of outside support. Just as we must conserve our natural resources, we must also conserve our human resources. It is a waste of human potential to create environments that demand dependence when a simple change in the design of the path, space, or other elements could allow unassisted use.”

In other words, Salmen believes that just like green design, universal design must also be an integral part of design programming and the imaginative design process. It cannot simply be left as a minimal add-on for compliance or as an afterthought. He concludes, “As we struggle to make the most of limited resources, the value of universal design as a tool to conserve human resources will become increasingly apparent, and its relationship to the broader goal of sustainability will become clear.”