There’s no getting around the fact that the baby boomer generation is collectively getting older. With the youngest boomers having turned 50 in 2014, it is projected that 20 percent of U.S. residents will be 65 or older by the year 2030. Active aging is the new mentality among baby boomers as they seek to continue living rich and engaged lives. This has brought the subject of “aging in place” to the forefront.

As the boomer generation gets older, more and more people are focusing on aging in place. This is a relatively straightforward concept that most people can understand — some prefer to grow old in the comfort of their own home rather than move to an assisted living facility. It’s also something that seems simple enough at face value, yet the aging-in-place model can lead to a number of complications.

Many of the headaches associated with growing older while remaining in one’s home can be attributed to the residence itself. For example, it would be difficult if not impossible for those who have mobility issues to get up and down a flight of stairs by themselves each day. Many people take this ability for granted and don’t realize that they will likely run into trouble later in life. For a person to age in place, the home must be designed in such a way that it accommodates lack of mobility and other issues.

AGING IN PLACE: WHAT TODAY’S BUILDERS, CONTRACTORS, AND DESIGNERS NEED TO KNOW

Aging-in-Place Design and Construction: What to ConsiderThere’s inherent value in learning how to design and construct homes that can help aging individuals retain their freedom and sense of self. That being said, it’s not uncommon for those in the home performance and design industries to make costly mistakes as they approach an aging-in-place project. Problems typically arise when the proper amount of time hasn’t gone into researching and understanding how to approach these types of projects.

There are a number of common factors that need to be considered with regard to any aging-in-place project. Fortunately, gaining a solid base of knowledge for handling this type of work doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some of the most important aspects of aging-in-place construction and design —all of which should be studied thoroughly before approaching a job.continued on page 2

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While those who have aging family members often believe that it’s their job to ensure that a home is ready for aging in place, those who truly have to make the right decisions are today’s builders, contractors, and designers. Whether it’s a new construction project or a retrofit, a number of factors must be taken into consideration to get a home ready for the aging-in-place process.

Stair glides – A stair glide is a common piece of equipment that is included in aging-in-place homes to help individuals get up and down the stairs via a motorized seat. Though popular, stair glides come along with a number of disadvantages that must be considered. First, they’re expensive, often costing around $3,000 after installation. Second, they don’t work well for those who are recovering from hip surgery or suffer from mobility issues that make sitting in specific positions difficult. Stair glides can be avoided during new construction by keeping the home to a single floor. Retrofits must be approached carefully.

ADA compliant toilets and faucets – Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is an essential part of building and designing for those who are aging in place, and toilets and faucets are the best place to start. ADA-compliant toilets, such as a Gerber Ergo height toilet, are just slightly taller than normal toilets, but the height difference makes it easier for those who are aging to comfortably use the facilities on their own. The same can be said for ADA-compliant faucets since the combination makes for a smartly designed bathroom that properly facilitates aging at home. Gerber offers a variety of bathroom and kitchen faucets that are ADA compliant.

Curbless showers – Walk-in tubs are a popular choice among those who are building or retrofit ting a home for those who are aging in place. Like stair glides, however, this type of equipment comes with many problems. Chief among them is the fact that individuals must carefully maneuver through tight spaces to enter and leave the tub. A curbless shower will always be a better option.

Shower seats – While going with a curbless shower is an excellent idea when creating a bathroom to suit some one who wants to age in place, it’s smart to take things one step further by incorporating shower seats into the design. Built-in shower seats are popular in aging-in-place homes for good reason. To further improve the shower’s functionality, it’s important to ensure that a handheld shower handle is mounted on an adjustable grab bar.

The entryway – The entryway is likely the first point of contact with the home for most people, so it’s one that needs to be considered carefully when attempting to design for aging-in-place residents. The most important factor is to ensure that the entryway itself does not feature a step that would prevent wheelchair access. You should also make sure that the home’s entrance is covered to protect residents from the elements as they come and go. Finally, consider drainage, which is essential when designing and constructing the entryway of a home, especially for aging-in-place individuals.

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Aging-in-Place Design and Construction: What to ConsiderContinued

Overall size and layout – Having to downsize to a smaller home is one of the hardest things for a baby boomer to accept when trying to age in place. This is particularly true of those who have always lived in a large home because downsizing can make the person feel cramped and uncomfortable. A smaller layout can make it less tricky for a person who’s aging in place to maneuver throughout the home. Keeping size and layout minimalistic will also allow for more expensive flourishes to be incorporated into the design since smaller living doesn’t have to be plain or ordinary.

Property location – For an individual to be able to age comfortably without the need for assisted living, property location is everything. It’s important for family or friends to be located nearby in case of an emergency. It is also essential for the area to have options for shopping, dining, and professional services. This is one of the major reasons why aging-in-place homes aren’t commonly built in rural areas unless family lives nearby. Many contractors and designers may want to consider in-law apartment design, too, which further emphasizes the safety of the individual by ensuring that family members are within a moments notice should an emergency occur.

Costs – Designing and building an aging-in-place home means considering a number of factors that wouldn’t otherwise need to be thought about. Naturally, this can result in an increase in overall costs to the client. These should be handled carefully. It’s important to take the individual’s budget into consideration and ensure that unwanted or hidden costs are avoided whenever possible. Costs will inevitably fluctuate from original estimates as projects progress, but the closer they can be kept to what’s expected, the better.

Understanding aging-in-place design and construction is critical for today’s builders, contractors and designers. As the baby boomer generation continues to grow older and millennials enter the housing market, these considerations will be important guide posts for creating forever homes.

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Shower doors – A glass sliding door can be attractive, but many people don’t realize that they can cause issues for those who are aging in place. This is especially true of swinging doors, which can block access for some residents. The smartest way to avoid this problem is to forgo shower doors completely and stick with an inexpensive shower curtain instead. This not only helps cut down costs, it allows those who live in the home to access the shower with ease.

Widened Doorways – It’s easy to let the bathroom take up most of one’s attention when designing an aging-in-place home, but the rest of the residence is just as important to take into consideration. All doorways should be widened to enable wheelchair access and prevent restrained mobility issues. This is easier if the project is new construction, of course, but doorways can often be widened during retrofits.

Additional Considerations

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