We have had a number of clients recently that needed to modify their home in order to be able to continue to live there. Our goal for all of our projects is for the design not only to work for our clients today, it also needs to accommodate, if possible, future health changes.
We have good news for you. There are many things that can be incorporated into a home design or renovation that will make it easier to navigate if there is a short term injury or a long term diagnosis for the home owner. A lot of them are features you may not even notice as making your home more accessible. Many of the changes listed below could allow you to stay in your home to recover from an injury, age in place or host guests who are experiencing health issues.
General changes to the home:
Providing access to all of the essential spaces on the main level - sleeping space, full bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities. This is not always possible.
Widening openings to 2'-8" to accommodate wheelchair access.
Installing rocker switches that are easier to use if hands are full or fingers don't work as well as they used to.
Hard surface flooring for wheelchairs and walkers - this reduces trip hazards.
Lever door hardware is easier to use than a knob that turns.
A handrail on both sides of the stairs and stair lighting to improve stability on the stairs.
Having 1 "zero entry"/no step entry into the home. This could be the front door or the entrance from the garage into the house.
Bathroom
A 36" high counter requires less bending over to use.
Roll-in showers with no curb reduces the risk of tripping and allows for a wheelchair.
A bench in the shower allows for sitting if needed.
An adjustable hand-held shower head allows someone to use the shower in a wheelchair or sit on the bench during a shower. Its also great for cleaning the shower.
Grab bars in the shower and by the toilet to reduce the risk of falling. Blocking can be installed during a remodel - grab bars can be installed later as needed.
Lever style faucets are easier to use for those with arthritis.
Non-slip floor material - especially in the shower reduces the chance of a fall.
Ideally, an accessible full bathroom would be on the main level of a multi-level home.
Kitchen
"D" shaped hardware - easier to use for those with arthritis
Drawers for lower cabinets - drawers provide easier access to items that are down low.
Ranges with controls on the front - this avoids the risk of reaching across hot burners
Incorporate some open shelving - to make it easy to see often used items
A lower location for the microwave - an over the range location is not ideal for taking heavy or hot items out of the microwave.
Laundry
A laundry room on the main level allows for access when stairs become difficult for the owner. This could be a closet with hookups for the future or a room dedicated to the task.
Bedroom
A bedroom or flex room that could turn into a bedroom on the main level if needed allows for flexible living in a 2 story home.
If there is also a full bathroom on the main level you now have the ability to stay in your home longer.
You might be asking yourself, "Why does this matter?"
Life happens. Having a home that accommodates a range of abilities is a way to ensure you can live there longer and not be forced move before you are ready. It also will widen the pool of buyers when you are ready to sell.
Our team has a wealth of experience in designing and building accessible and beautiful homes that will stand the test of time. Are you feeling overwhelmed when you think about renovating your home? We can take care of all the details and you can enjoy the results.
“Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent.” Joe Soprano
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