Innovative Building and Remodeling Solutions
for Independent Living

Today many families, couples, and individuals find themselves or someone they love in a situation where they would have to make design changes to their homes to accommodate their living situation. 

For instance, this could include a wheelchair-bound spouse unable to navigate a set of stairs in her house, or a senior who has osteoporosis in his knees that makes climbing stairs unbearable. In these situations, these individuals would have to live on the first floor of their home. Many first floors of homes include a powder room or a small bathroom, not nearly large enough to accommodate a wheelchair or more frequent use.

With the help of a knowledgeable contractor, universal design changes could be made. According to North Carolina State University's Center for Universal Design, universal design is the design of products and environments to be useable by all people, taking into consideration varying physical differences and capabilities of people.

One recent example was the home of Arthur and Mariam Eisenberg, whose Jericho, NY home underwent some drastic changes following Arthur’s spinal surgery last year. Now bound to a wheelchair, Arthur could no longer use the stairs of their two-story home, so a contractor converted a bathroom into a fully accessible bathroom by eliminating a laundry room and taking space from the garage.

In this article in the Dallas Morning News, Mariam said she wanted something that was attractive to her husband. She didn't want it to look like a hospital bathroom. The finished product: an elegant bathroom that could star in an interior design magazine. It doubles as the guest bathroom and visitors have no idea it's universally designed.

Universal design can improve the lives of all people regardless of age or ability, and be designed so that it can still look good. Universal design can create a home with features that give independence to a wide range of people in a household, even as a family grows. For example, a young married couple should consider who will be coming in and out of their home as time wears on: young children, teenage children with sports injuries, grandparents and others.

Last Year, an American Institute of Architects survey found that nearly three-quarters of 500 architecture firms said that homeowners were asking for greater accessibility within the home through wider hallways, fewer steps and single-floor design. That was an increase from 66 percent the year before.

The National Association of Home Builders also reported that 63 percent of upscale builders and 56 percent of average home builders believe they'll see a growing trend toward universal design over the next decade as Baby Boomers advance in age and decline in health. While many homeowners start taking universal design elements into consideration as retirement nears, AARP suggests making these changes as soon as possible.

The article states that a homeowner can start with quick, do-it-yourself fixes.

• Replace round doorknobs with lever handles ($15-$70 each).
• Swap out cabinet knobs in the kitchen and bathrooms with pull handles ($2-$30 each), which are easier to grip.
• Add under-cabinet lighting ($10-$50) to brighten countertops in the kitchen and office.
• Add handle bars ($40-$60) in the bathrooms that can double as towel racks and install toilets that are at seat height ($108-$400).
• Swap out the regular showerhead ($10-$75) for a handheld one, so anyone regardless of age, height or ability, can maneuver it.
• Install adjustable rods and pullout shelving in closets ($100-$300 for closet systems) and cabinets ($30-$80) so anyone of any height can use them.
• To avoid slip-and-falls, eliminate area rugs or secure them with double-sided rug tape ($12).
• Put railings ($11-$15) on both sides of the staircase
• Replace old windows that require lifting to open with ones that can open with a crank or slide to the side.
• Arrange furniture and belongings, so there are no obstructed pathways.
• Place a bench in your shower (shower bench $39-$75) and inside and outside of your entryway.
• Grade the yard to slope up to the house, so there's no need for steps.
• Gardeners should build raised flower beds so they can be reached easily.

For heavy duty renovations like building wider doorways and halls or renovating a bathroom or kitchen, call an expert, like Home Evolutions.

By making these changes now, if you have an unfortunate accident, you won't have a problem getting around your house.