Universal Design for Your Home
You don't have to be over 50 to benefit from universal design changes.
Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to open a door with a lever rather than a knob? Have you ever wished you didn't have to bend over so much to reach items on the bottom cupboards or to unload the dishwasher? Do you have enough light to read food labels and recipes?
These are all issues that universal design seeks to solve. The basic idea is to make homes more accessible to all people, regardless of ability or disability. But secondarily, universal design works to provide that accessibility without being obvious or, quite frankly, ugly.
You've probably heard of universal design if you have been reading about how baby boomers are influencing new home design as they age. And it's big business, involving everyone from builders to designers to manufacturers.
Builders of housing for people 50 and older say most universal design features aren't even noticeable to the average buyer. Or, if they do notice, they think about the design feature's convenience, not how down the road they might need the wider doors or hallways to accommodate a wheelchair or walker.
One reason many universal design features seem to blend into a home could be that the push is coming as people adopt a more casual lifestyle. In a new home, that often means open floor plans that make it easier to get around. You might be less likely to notice that, for example, hallways are 36 inches to 42 inches and doorways are 32 inches to 36 inches wide - other than being pleasantly surprised that it's easier to move your furniture in.
With universal design, you'll find light switches and electrical outlets higher on the wall, and thermostats lower. There won't be steps going into the house, and the master bedroom will be on the ground floor.
Interested? Here are some other universal design features to look for as you shop for a home, according to the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University:
--Rocker light switches.
--Task lighting throughout the home.
--Loop handle pulls, not knobs, on cabinets.
--Levers, not knobs, on doors.
--Pull-out shelving and corner-cabinet Lazy Susans.
--Windows that can be opened or closed easily with one hand.
--Dishwashers placed on pedestals.
You also can search for homes with taller toilets, sometimes called handicapped toilets. They are 16.5 inches to 18 inches tall, compared with 14 inches to 16 inches for standard toilets. The taller seats are easier on knees, legs and backs, but don't look out of place in the average bathroom.
Builders also are putting in curbless showers and showers with built-in seats. Plumbers can install scald protection systems that keep water from getting too hot if someone falls and hits the hot water control.
To learn more about universal design, go to Center for Universal Design's Web site: www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/. The AARP also has a number of articles about universal design available on its Web site at www.aarp.org/families/home_design/universaldesign/.
