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UNIVERSAL DESIGN – INVISIBLY BEAUTIFUL

By Janice Berg, Berg Residential Construction, Inc., Roseville, CA

The residential building and remodeling industries are embarking on new and exciting territory. The demand is high for innovative design and new products to make homes more convenient for multiple cooks of varying heights, for those gracefully aging in place, or for those encountering new health challenges. This is brought on by the 77 million baby-boomers reaching their sixties and their parents reaching their eighties. It’s spurred by our desire to age “in place” and by the skyrocketing cost of organizations, businesses, and facilities providing varying degrees of care - medical or otherwise.

Statisticians estimate that in 2006 the number of people in the U.S. over 65 will exceed the population in Canada. The California Registry has forecasted that the number of people 65 years and older will grow by 50 percent during the next 20 years. Bringing the numbers home (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo, and Yuba Counties), there are over 3.6 million people age 65 or over in the Greater Sacramento area. Not surprisingly, in our area there are nearly 200,000 veterans, half of which are age 65 and over.

And, according to the 2000 Census, of the nearly 50 million people living in the U.S., over 19 percent had some level of disability and over 12 percent had severe disabilities. Over 84 percent of the baby-boomer members surveyed by AARP said their homes will not meet their future needs. The National Association for Injury and Prevention Control estimated, in 2000 alone, 4 percent of the people age 55 to 85 received injuries from accidental falls.

We could go on and on, providing the number of people of all ages suffering from disease, auto injuries, etc. We could also provide numbers for people who are shorter or taller than average and the youths who love to cook. However, the picture is clear - there is an ever-increasing need for innovative design and products to make our homes more comfortable and more functional for all family members. Such design is often referred to as universal, lifespan, trans-generational, barrier-free, accessible, adaptable, or visit-ability design. And, just think of the greater resale market for homes which incorporate universal design in at least the entrance, the kitchen, one bedroom and a bath! That’s because, when done well, universal design is beautifully invisible.

With more and more products introduced all the time, you “can have your cake and eat it, too,” and at an affordable price. That’s especially true because there are services with a full-range of resources available to assist family members with locating the kind of and level of service needed for their loved one. For example, a service might place a loved one in an assisted living or residential care facility or assist in securing in-home care. In-home care services are available for short or long periods and provide a full range of services, including meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, errands, shopping, incidental transportation, grooming/dressing supervision, medication reminders, companionship/support, or 24-7 care.

Services, such as Lifetime Solutions, provide assessment of individual needs; provide options for living life independently or with various levels of needed assistance; identify state licensed facility in the preferred geographic area or an in-home care professional; and consider the budget. They may also offer suggestions which will help to defer the cost of such services, such as veteran’s benefits.

Assuming arrangements can be made for the loved one to stay in the family member’s home or his or her own home, universal design will make the home more comfortable and functional. The cost for a universal design may be no more than any other custom designed home or remodel. The cost will, however, depend on the products selected and the degree of customization. “Providing your designer and/or contractor with a budget in which to work is essential to any design project,” says Van Berg of Berg Residential Construction, Inc., in Roseville. Suggested modifications may include, but are not limited to:

For maneuverability, eliminate or reduce barriers both inside and outside the home - Install an automatic garage door opener. Increase doorway clearances to 36 inches or install pocket doors. Create smooth transitions from one area to another by installing a ramp, replacing raised thresholds with beveled ones, and installing uniform floor coverings. If carpeting, install high-density, low-pile for ease of movement.

For the bedroom and bath, if not available on the first floor, consider remodeling a den or guest bath. If that’s not feasible, consider adding a separate in-law quarters, an addition, or installing a chairlift or elevator. Providing your loved one with a small kitchenette and sitting area provides privacy. Within the bath, consider lowering the counter, knee access under the sink, an accessible tub or shower with a seat, single-lever handle plumbing fixtures and a scald guard, grab bars, non-skid surfaces, good lighting, a raised toilet, and a vanity cabinet with pullout drawers.

In the kitchen, consider counters of varying heights for different cooks or tasks. Raise appliances, such as dishwashers, off the floor. Lower appliances, such as microwaves. Allow a knee area under the sink and cook top. Install pullout drawers in lieu of stationary shelves in the lower cabinets. Allow ample clearance for maneuverability and watch which way cabinet and appliance doors swing.

The bathroom shown in the photo has a beautiful roll-in shower and great accessibility to the cherry vanity and the toilet.

With some modification, the bathroom could be fully-accessible via wheelchair. The toilet could be raised, if needed. Grab bars could be installed in the shower and toilet areas. There are several options for the vanity. A new countertop could be installed which extends over the counter. A lower profile bowl could be installed to provide access. The second option would entail modifying the left counter‘s height to provide knee space and installing a under-mount or lower profile bowl and faucet. In either case, the hidden pullout drawers will provide readily-accessible storage. A three-dimensional drawing of the latter alternative is depicted here.

Various tubs are available with a variety of features and price ranges. Shown below are two styles. Another style, not pictured, provides a wide area to sit on while entering the tub, with a cut out area for the comfort and accessibility of the caregiver.

Only two of the many options available for a custom in-law structure are depicted in the floor plans and drawings. One serves as a small home, ready for entertaining small groups (635 square feet). A three-dimensional drawing of the kitchen shows varying counter heights. The left counter has been lowered and knee areas have been provided for the sink and range. The right cabinet is standard height and includes a built-in microwave/convection oven.

The second floor plan is an in-law suite addition to an existing structure (439 square feet). It is a functional and private retreat, allowing for only light cooking. In each design, the floor plans are open to make the rooms appear larger and to provide ample area for maneuverability.

For assistance with design, remodeling, or new construction, refer to www.bergrescon.com, the website of Berg Residential Construction, Inc.

For assistance with health care, refer to www.lifetimesolutions.org, the website of Lifetime Solutions.

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