By: Steve Johnson AIA, CGP Southern Evergreen
Purchasing or renovating a home is usually one of the largest investments you will ever make, financially and emotionally. Many memories and special moments occur in your home, and in return it offers you years of service and function. Often, the thought of leaving your home because it no longer meets your needs can be overwhelming. The good news is that modern design and construction techniques can help you renovate or modify your existing home, making it as barrier free as possible.
Designing a home that will assist you in your everyday life, requires addressing basic needs:
- providing space to maneuver assistive technologies such as wheeled chairs, scooters, walkers, crutches, etc.
- provide structure that will supply support
- spaces or technology that offer medical support, security, and emergency response
- offers bright and well ventilated rooms
- and surfaces that allow ease of access from different elevations (ramps, stairs, elevators).
Countertops: Keep them low and shallow with “soft” curved edges that allow you to reach beyond the leading edge to items in the rear. Keeping them shallow allows you to reach items that may be beyond your reach.
Cabinetry: Ideally, cabinetry would not have doors, which would allow complete access to all of their contents without having to open the doors. However, that may not be the most sanitary solution. Select base cabinetry that offers pairs of narrow doors with no center support. The narrow doors may open all the way allowing full access to the inside of the cabinet without interfering with assistive technologies. And why a pair? When both doors are open and with no center support, you will have complete access to the entire cabinet. Additionally, you can install trays that can be rolled out so that items stored deep in the cabinet can easily be brought within reach.
No matter what your needs, there is always a solution to every problem, and you can make your renovations for aging in place as attractive as you wish. I recommend consulting with a licensed Architect that is experienced with A.D.A.