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Pull-out and pull-down shelving.ĭeep shelving units are especially difficult for older people to use. Finally, a seat in the shower is a blessing for the elderly – but also useful for shaving legs. Corridors should be as wide as possible – at least 40 inches, unobstructed. Ideally, all open spaces should be at least 60 inches by 60 inches this is the area needed for turning. Additionally, all transitional spaces must be wide enough to accommodate wheelchair movement. Showers shouldn’t have a curb, and walk-in tubs are best suited for the aged. Wheelchair access throughout – especially in the bathrooms.
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If a multi-story design is required, the home should include an elevator. Walking up and down stairs becomes challenging as a person ages – ever try to go up a set of stairs using a walker? – and it’s impossible for those in wheelchairs. What to Look for in Aging-In-Place Home Plans Single-level designs. If you’d like your house plans to double as house plans for seniors, consider the following list of age-in-place design elements. The icing on the cake is that multi-generational house plans are also eco-friendly, since their design will be relevant for longer, meaning there will be less need for remodeling, or moving. Universal design is also universally appealing, it seems. (Few among us actually look forward to the prospect of entering a live-in nursing facility.) Moreover, multi-generational home designs fetch an increased price on the housing market because more and more people want their homes to incorporate space for extended family, which may not be available in universal retirement house plans. First, if you have a universally designed home, the functional spaces of the house are able to adapt with your changing lifestyle, so you can stay in your home longer. Those who select multi-generational house plans enjoy a few additional benefits. A few thoughtful features throughout the home create universal access for all individuals. With this approach, “ retirement house plans may also be perfect for younger generations and can prevent you from having to move home later on. Rather than designing a home for different stages in your life, such as drafting house plans for seniors separately from house plans for young couples, today’s designers attempt to accommodate all stages and possible changes in lifestyle in the same design. Universally designed multi-generational house plans are gaining popularity because today’s long life expectancy means more of us will be around longer, and we often have living parents even when we are old ourselves. However, universal design principles also support those who would like to age in place. It is partially rooted in design for handicapped individuals one of the grandfathers of universal design, Selwyn Goldsmith, was the first to create a dropped curb for wheelchairs. The principle of universal design aims to create a built environment that is accessible for as much of the population as possible, and for as much of their lives as possible.
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