Aging in Place
As a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), DesignTech’s President Kathy Guyitt understands the value of an accessible home that allows the owners to maintain independence and quality of life as their needs change. What’s more, we believe you do not need to sacrifice great design and attractive features to modify your home for changing needs. A concept called Universal Design guides DesignTech’s remodels for Aging in Place needs. Universal design is the idea that modifications for accessibility can be useful, functional, and stylish at the same time. A home remodel employing features of universal design will look indistinguishable from a conventionally designed home. Every year, manufacturers bring new and innovative products to the market that help Universal Design elements be more integrated, more subtle, and more stylish.
Here is why you should think about Aging in Place and Universal Design elements now:
- When well designed and executed, Universal Design modifications are a selling point that add visual and functional appeal to your home.
- Incorporating small design changes during your home remodel now can save you thousands of dollars down the road, and give you peace of mind knowing that your home can accommodate your future needs.
- Many of the tenets of Universal Design provide functional benefits to everyone regardless of physical health or mobility: our clients find comfort height toilets, thermostatic plumbing controls, seated work areas in the kitchen, and zero-threshold showers are all more functional and pleasant to use.
- From a Green Building and Design perspective, incorporating Universal Design and Aging in Place elements into your remodel now is creates less waste and consumers fewer resources than remodeling now and then having to add modifications five, ten, or more years in the future.
Click here to learn how techniques and ideas from the Aging in Place philosophy can help you and your family live better and remain independent longer.
DesignTech’s Aging in Place assistance can include:
- Evaluation of your living space
- Evaluation of present and future needs
- Consultation and recommendations for improved accessibility
- Complete remodeling and design services
- Assistance in finding additional service providers to help with changing needs and life transitions
Some modifications that can be easily and seamlessly incorporated into a home remodel include:
- Changing door knobs to lever handles, which are easier to operate with arthritic hands or limited dexterity
- Removing shower thresholds and doors to make a roll in/walk in shower
- Electrical switch and outlet placement for ease of use
- Lowering counters or sections of counter to accommodate seated use or wheelchair access
- Eliminating sections of lower cabinets in kitchens and baths to accommodate seated use or wheelchair access
- Using non-slip flooring materials, especially on stair treads or high traffic areas
- Space planning for maximum utility and ease of movement throughout your home
- Using new technologies to make your home safer and more enjoyable to live in: touch controlled kitchen faucets, LED lighting, and thermostatic controls for bath and shower faucets
- Installing user-friendly appliances like induction cook tops (which stay cool to the touch) and microwaves at counter height (to minimize an awkward reach for hot items)
Kathy has developed a simple home assessment tool to help you determine changes that you may need to make to your home safer and more useable. Download the DesignTech Home Assessment here.