Remodeling for the second half of life

Universal Design concepts create beautiful, functional, living spaces that fit changing needs By Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor Maybe you've been planning it for years. Maybe you've been inspired by one of those home-makeover shows or just a walk through the kitchen or bath section of your local home improvement store. Or, maybe it was simply that irresistible picture in an issue of Better Homes and Gardens. Either way, you've decided it's time to tackle that kitchen bathroom master bedroom living/rec room remodel. Well, you're not alone. According to a 2005 report released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, Baby Boomers and their parents, the World War II Generation, accounted for approximately 77 percent of the annual home-remodeling spending from 1995 to 2003, and the trend doesn't seem to be abating. What are you fixing up? Kitchens remain top among the remodeling projects people undertake, followed by bathrooms and living rooms, according to remarks given by Bruce Carbonai, President of Fortune Brands Home & Hardware, at the January 2006 International Builder's Show in Orlando, Florida. But before you go out and order that stainless steel gourmet stove or artisan-designed bathroom sink, take a moment to think about your plans for the future. Do you see yourself staying in this home for the next 10 years? The next 20 years? Will today's remodel still fit your lifestyle as your needs change? Will it still work for you? Sure, lots of us dream about buying a retirement home and moving someplace warm when our work lives end. My aunt and uncle did. But as they got older, and their health became more tenuous, they moved back to Massachusetts to be closer to family and old friends. Familiarity, it seems, becomes more important as we age. And now, they are working on making their home fit their needs. Enter the concept of Universal Design floor plans, hardware and room designs that are not only stylish, but comfortable and functional for people of all levels of abilities. And it's not a new concept. Making homes more accessible was approached in a small way following World War II, when many serviceman returned with life-changing injuries. But the real push for Universal Design in living spaces and products began, according to North Carolina State University's Center for Universal Design, with kitchen tool maker OXO International's introduction of the attractive "Good Grips" utensils for arthritis sufferers about 10 years ago. And, as our population is aging, the concept of beautifully functional spaces and components is gaining in popularity. What exactly is Universal Design? As explained in the Universal Design section of the AARP website www.aarp.org, a universally-designed home is one that is barrier-free, allowing easy and equal access to persons with all range of abilities. And that range of abilities doesn't just apply to people who have age-related problems such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and other limiting illnesses. It could be a young, healthy person injured in an accident such as my 23-year-old nephew who severely damaged his knee doing Tae Kwon Do who needs Universal Design-style adaptations to his living space either on a temporary or permanent basis. For example, in my nephew's case, he'll need to keep that repaired knee straight for at least a month, and will be restricted to using crutches for many months after that. And, in the bathroom in his home, he's got barely enough room between the wall and toilet to keep that leg straight for the time necessary. If he were confined to a wheelchair either temporarily or permanently, that situation would be more serious. In a Universally Designed house, he wouldn't have to worry about bathroom space, or manipulating his crutches to go up and down the few steps into and out of the house for doctor's and physical therapy appointments. There would be no steps or raised thresholds on any entryway or doorway. Right now, he's lucky. His bedroom and the bathroom are on the first floor of the family's two-story house, as are the kitchen and living room. That's a Universal Design concept right there all living spaces are on one level. Adapting existing spaces But doorway thresholds and one level floor plans are the big things. Universal design also looks at little things in a living space, such as ensuring that every area of a home has adequate lighting. That doors and cabinets have easier-to-operate lever hardware instead of traditional round doorknobs and pulls. That closets have adjustable hanging bars, so even someone in a wheelchair can reach his or her clothing. That all bathroom surfaces floors, shower floors and tub bottoms are non- skid. That work surfaces in the kitchen are at varying heights accommodating children and people in wheelchairs as well as adults. That doors can swing wide, giving maximum room for a person to move through (and you to move furniture through, too!). Universal Design is essentially about creating comfort and a home that works for a person at every stage of life. Is anybody really doing this? Yes. In fact, if you've ever adjusted the height of a shelf to make it easier to reach, changed a doorknob to one with a more comfortable grip, or moved a lamp to put more light where you need it, in a minor way you have, too. And you're not alone in making these kinds of simple modifications to your living space. An AARP-sponsored telephone survey of 2,000 mid-life and older Americans in Nov.-Dec. of 1999 showed that 85 percent of the respondents had already made simple changes to their homes to make them easier to live in. Planning a smarter remodel Incorporating elements of Universal Design concepts into your dream bathroom remodel can be as simple as choosing faucets with a lever rather than knob controls. Or one of those sleek-looking new models with a single handle to control both hot and cold water. It might mean thinking ahead and choosing a walk-in shower with one of those fancy European-style, hand-held, adjustable shower heads instead of a whirlpool-style tub. And making sure the bathroom has enough room around the toilet in case you need knee or leg surgery or grab bars, a walker or wheelchair some time in the future. In that kitchen remodel, you might want to consider adding a pull-out workspace from one of the countertops something that someone could easily access if they needed a to work sitting in a chair or wheelchair. And maybe it's time to pop for that heat-resistant granite countertop something that you could set and slide hot pots on if you injured a hand, arm or shoulder. For more ideas on how to incorporate Universal Design concepts into your home, check out books such as The Accessible Home: Updating Your Home for Changing Physical Needs, which is available through Barnes & Noble Bookstores. To find an architect who specializes in Aging in Place designs, check out the Certified Aging in Place Specialists section of the AARP website www.aarp.org. At present, the site lists firms in Worcester and Boston. The AARP website also offers a wealth of information on how to evaluate your existing living spaces, update specific areas of your home to accommodate varying abilities, and how to talk to a builder or remodeling contractor to ensure you get what you want or need.