Universal Design and Why it is Important.

By 2030 there will be over 70 million people over the age of 65 living in the United States.
This is over 20 percent of the United States population! With improvements in medicine and positive lifestyle changes, people are living longer than at any other time in history. That being said, it is becoming increasingly logical to build houses that can sustain us even if our mobility decreases with age, debilitating disease, or injury.
Universal design is a concept developed by a wheelchair bound architect, Ronald Mace, who felt that all buildings should be designed for everyone regardless of age or ability. Building with access and comfort for all in mind, means a space is useable for anyone; young, old, able bodied, disabled and/ or in a wheelchair alike.
Take for instance the “baby boomers”, or the 75 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964, in a recent survey conducted by AARP, 75 percent say that they strongly agree that they want to grow old in their homes as opposed to assisted living housing. They like anyone, want to “age in place” with their familiar surroundings and not in an institutionalized nursing home. The fact is that approximately 65 percent of older people that are in nursing homes today, are there because their own homes have been deemed unsafe for them to live in anymore. Their home is just not accessible. Maybe the home has steps leading up to the door or maybe the doors are not wide enough for the wheelchair they are now dependent on. In any case, their only solution is to live in an assisted living facility or nursing home.
It is not just the old who end up in nursing homes, I have seen young people who have had accidents which leave them disabled in some way, not able to go home because their home can no longer accommodate them. Could you imagine living in a nursing home at the age of 40?
What if we designed homes with all these factors in mind, from the start? Not only would the home be useful for the family living there, but could be sold easily to anyone.
Some features of universal design are: Equitable Use (all can use it), Flexibility in use (can be adjusted for all to use), Simple and intuitive (you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to use it), and appropriate size and space for all to use (able to get around with ease and be able to reach whether you are seated or standing).
Features of a house with universal designs could include: step-less entry ways, lever door handles, wide hallways and doors (for wheelchairs or walker. Most living space should be on the first floor (kitchen, bathroom, and master bedroom). The floor plan should be open and free of obstacles. Floors should be of hardwood or tile, and there should be plenty of room to navigate a wheelchair around furniture and obstacles. Light switches, thermostats and faucets should be in easy reach regardless if you are standing or in a wheelchair. Bathrooms should be bigger, toilets higher, and there should be a walk / roll in shower. There should be counters that can adjust height or counter space that accommodates a wheelchair and /or a standing person.
Most people think that all this is a big undertaking and probably costs an arm and leg, but this is not true, especially if you are building. The average cost of universal design upgrades is less than an extra 5 percent. It is a little more costly to retro-fit a house for accessibility. (Approximately 20 percent more). I think we can agree that the best time to think about universal design is before you build or need it. If we adapted all design to include universal design, including businesses, the cost would be even lower. Weigh the extra 5 percent against the cost of an assisted living facility or nursing home, and the loss of your house.
In conclusion, the baby boomers are paving the way to mandated universal design in all new building. Many states have already started making some facets of universal design part of building codes. Perhaps, because they have witnessed their own parents lose their homes due to non-accessibility, “boomers” are making better design choices for themselves. Many “boomers” are already retro fitting or building totally accessible living accommodations for themselves. The demand for universally designed homes is on the rise and to me that is a very good thing!

References:
AARP.COM Universal design and the baby boomer
Accessiblesociety.org
Realtytimes.com “baby boomers boosting universal design”