Universal Design:
Remodeling for Safety and Accessibility
by Stephanie Kadel-Taras
When Willow Building recently remodeled a home for a wheelchair user, the company incorporated many design innovations that were specific to the homeowner's needs, such as lowered counters and a wheelchair-sized electric lift to go up and down the stairs. However, many of the changes they made would enhance daily living in any home, for persons of any age or ability. Shower heads that can be moved to accommodate different heights, wider doorways, and door levers instead of knobs are features we all can appreciate.
Willow Building is one of several area builders who are Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS), trained through a partnership between AARP and the National Association of Home Builders to meet the needs of people who want to grow old at home. But aging-in-place design is part of a more general trend toward "universal design"-principles that make a home safe for every resident from children and older adults to temporarily or permanently disabled family members.
"It has become almost commonplace to include a lot of these features in just about every building project we do," says Nancy Clay, founder and president of Willow Building. "It is about living healthy, safely, and comfortably in your house."
Common Sense Design
Simply put, universal design is in tune with basic ergonomic and safety principles. Many of the suggestions in universal design are now required building codes for new construction, such as anti-scald plumbing and graspable stair handrails (that are not too big to get your fingers around).
Others are so obvious, like higher counters and sinks so you don't have to bend down so far, that one wonders why we haven't always done them that way. Whatever your age or ability-and especially if you are embarking on a remodeling project-it only makes sense to implement universal design principles.
For example, allergies can afflict residents of any age, and home designs can help to minimize allergic reactions. "We are using more hard surfaces rather than carpeting," says Clay. Many newer homes have ventilation systems for better air quality and reduced moisture.
And what about an entrance to your house that doesn't require climbing stairs? You may never be wheelchair bound, but there's a good chance someone in your family may break a leg or need a knee replacement or otherwise have trouble walking for a while. And if you plan to live in your house into old age, aching joints may simply protest about those stairs. We've all seen add-on ramps that don't really fit the design of the house.
In their accessible home project, Willow Building raised the landscaping to create a gradually rising sidewalk entrance to the front door. It is a natural and clean design. "We figured that one out in the field," says Clay.
She admits that on-site adjustments are not unusual for these kinds of projects. "As you get into it, you realize that some things in the drawing don't work in the field." For their client in the wheelchair, they planned the design with him, so they could see, for instance, which way the refrigerator door should open and what height to position the counter. "We learned that spacing things too wide apart is inefficient," says Nancy. "We designed the kitchen so he could access the sink, fridge, dishwasher, and counter by turning his chair almost in a circle."
Interior Design for Safety
Peg Trimble is a local interior designer who specializes in aging-in-place strategies, but her concepts also speak to safety at any age. "I emphasize two big concerns: lighting and flooring."
Trimble says the best light is diffuse light. Fluorescent bulbs mimic diffuse daylight and are preferable to the hot light of incandescent bulbs. Fluorescents also use less electricity. You can increase the diffuse light in your house by reflecting lamplight off the ceiling or by installing a lighting cove around the ceiling of the room. For task lighting, try fluorescent drop pendants or under-counter lights in the kitchen. To make the most of natural light, use sheer window treatments to let in light but reduce glare.
When it comes to flooring, plush carpeting can be dangerous. As many people age, they don't pick their feet up as high when they walk. Too much pile and too much padding can get in the way and cause a fall. Better carpet choices are dense with low-cut or uncut, level loops. Think wool or Berber. And avoid a pattern on the floor or borderlines that do not coincide with a step or a new room. Unpolished hardwood floors are safer than carpet, but only if throw rugs are well-anchored with double-sided tape.
Avoid carpet on stairs as well. Hardwood stairs with handrails on both sides are safer. Even better is a rubber or vinyl stair covering with a raised pattern. The idea is to make sure your feet have a firm grip but won't get stuck in the process of walking. A good idea for basement stairs is to paint a contrasting color on the edge of each stair.
Minor Modifications Using Universal Design
Whether you want to age in place, meet the needs of a disabled person, or simply make your house more safe and convenient, here are some simple changes to consider:
- Replace knobs on doors, cabinets, and faucets with lever handles that are easier to grasp and turn.
- Install rocker light switches that you don't have to grab with fingers but can just bump with an elbow or side of the hand.
- Re-work plumbing to bring the washer and dryer up from the basement.
- Install grab bars in the shower and beside the toilet.
- Install a comfort-height toilet.
- Put handrails on both sides of a set of stairs.
- Re-hang doors with breakaway hinges to widen openings.
- Make sure that areas where the floor changes elevation or flooring materials (such as wood into carpeting) are well-lit and smooth.
- Remodel a first-floor living room into a bedroom.
- Add light inside closets and cabinets.
- Increase outdoor lighting around porch steps and curbs.
- Install motion-sensor lighting outside the house for added safety.
None of us knows what the future has in store. Universal design allows a more functional home now and ensures accessibility and safety for all stages of life. Even if you never need these features, many will add to the resale value of your home. Now that's a universal desire.