Designing Homes for CILifetimeWritten by Mary-Lane Kamberg Photographs provided by Eddie Tapper

Paul Levy's house has four bathrooms, but he can A home built using this concept includes such features

enter only one of them because he uses a wheelchair. as no-step entry, slip-resistant flooring, 48-inch-wide halls,

Doorways to the others are too narrow. And he can't interior doorways between 32 and 36 inches, and other

visit 90 percent of his friends and family, because their improvements to "standard" home building. These

ho

Paul is working to change all that

He

live there,"

F;lousing Paul says. "A ttniversal

in design more

safer

for _HJ

of people who work in

tended f~ily members,

friends and others who

usly was operatedTapper,project manager for Rosemann and Associates,

Kansas City, Mo., says this kitchen in a Sunderland Universal DesignHouse shows that universal design homes are inviting.

may want isit.

"Univer, esign sets up

The Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City (Mo.).

Their purpose is to positively affect the public's r physical capacity and e to function

knowledge, awareness, attitudes and overall acceptance as well," Paul says.

of universal design in home construction and to Not surprisingly, a recent survey by the American

promote construction of more homes using universal

design concepts.

that 83

of to live at

Universal design ensures that products and home as they age. Unfortunately, as the natural aging

environments are usable by as many people as process takes its toll on strength, endurance, dexterity and

possible. In housing, that means including modifications flexibility, many find that their homes no longer

that make life simpler, safer and more comfortable for accommodate them. And 53 percent of those surveyed

all household members, regardless of age, size or said they have modified their homes to help them "age

physical ability. in place.".. July-August/WIB

To eliminate built-in barriers in traditional housing, adults, in the United States those older than 65

they have added lighting, confined living quarters to one outnumber teenagers. And nearly two-thirds of all

floor, replaced doorknobs and faucet handles with lever people who ever lived to be 65 are alive today.

devices, installed water temperature controls and added "In 10 years one-third of the population will be

hand rails and grab bars. In so doing, they have considered elderly," Paul says. "And there's a shortage

Too, a home built according to

now ofminimized opportunities for accidents and injuries. In

fact, research cited by AARP shows that such housing that

modifications and repairs could prevent a full third of will

home accidents. accommodate

them.

Universal

Design is the

answer to

that. "

"A home for a lifetime means

Some features of the SunderlandUniversal Design House include(clockwise from upper right)pull-out counter adjacent to theoven for pans and a full-accesspantry for dry goods; wider doorsand no-step entry for wheelchairand baby stroller passage; loweredupper cabinets and storage thatpulls down to remove possibilitiesof falling off step stools; andshallow sinks with a removable

base cabinet front to allow forseated use, as well as raised, frontloading washer and dryer.

universal design principles is

attractive, with a luxurious feel of

open space, ease of movement

and simplicity of design.

one you can live in and grow old

in," Paul says. "The home adapts

to you. In standard homes, you Helping older Americans

have to adapt to it." and those with disabilities

An estimated 53 million stay independent is one

Americans have mental or goal of community groups

physical limitations of one or like Paul's.

more major life function, Paul says. In addition, the Baby "Life can be so easy, if

Boomers are aging. According to Senior Resource you live in a house without

Group, a provider of living environments for older obstacles," he says.

WIB/July-August..