Universal design solutions focus on safety, lighting and usability
By Mike Kruse, President
Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia
One of the most important rooms in the house to design correctly in order to allow homeowners to age-in-place is the bathroom. Falls in the bathroom or on the stairs are the second leading cause of accidents for seniors, just behind automobile accidents.
Architect and member of the National Association of Home Builders Kim Beasley, of the Beasley Architectural Group LLC in Alexandria, VA, said, "This is where the day begins and ends. It absolutely has to function properly."
Beasley, an architect who focuses on accessibility and universal design, came to the home building industry from a background in medical care. He also co-wrote a textbook about accessible home design for the wheelchair user and one about accessible design for the hospitality industry.
• Limit stepovers in the bathroom. In older homes, the bathtub/shower combination is the most difficult and dangerous part of the bathroom in which to maneuver. Those lucky enough to have a toilet adjacent to the tub can lower the lid and use that to transfer into the tub. But, especially when there is one-wall plumbing, homeowners still have to worry about banging into the plumbing when getting in.
It wasn’t always like this. Many upscale properties at the turn of the last century were elegantly equipped with bathroom grab bars. That changed with the post-World War II housing boom.
Today, many homeowners seeking universal design features in their homes are looking for larger bathrooms for their renovations or new homes. Popular design features include separate tubs and showers with tub surrounds or ledges for clients to sit on when getting into their tubs.
Strategically placed grab bars are making their way back into bathrooms. Some are disguised as towel bars. Others are decorative. At least one manufacturer offers them in about 30 colors to match tiles, fixtures and paint.
• Proper stairway lighting is important. Because stairway falls are a leading cause of home injuries, proper stairway lighting is very important. With seniors, lighting is extremely critical. Most homes are not well lit because home owners were expected to bring in their own lighting. That’s changing. Architects are adding more recessed lighting, decorative lighting and more lighting in general.
Contact the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia for a list of architects, builders and/or remodelers that specialize in universal design. For information on the NAHB’s Certified Aging In Place Specialists designation, visit the CAPS section on the NAHB Web site.
(Mike Kruse, who is owner and president of Mike Kruse Contractors Inc., is president of the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, which serves a membership of approximately 615 builders and associate members in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Meriwether, Heard, Pike, Upson, Lamar, Butts and Jasper counties.)
