By the year 2030 there will be 70 million baby boomers over the age of 65, more than all age groups put together.
It’s the primary driver behind Congress’ struggle to reinvent health insurance. But closer to home, families we all know are quietly seeking solutions from what is being called the Aging-In-Place Initiative.
Aging in Place can best be described as home redesign for the elderly and the people who care for them. And it’s a design movement that’s gaining traction because of the current stressed economic conditions.
Most of our grandparents grew up living with a grandparent–and they didn’t question the tradition. But our generation has always had assisted care facilities and nursing homes to take care of our elderly loved ones while we went off to work and cared for our offspring. The 90’s term “sandwhich generation” describes the phenomenon that many baby boomers are all too familiar with: our kids are not yet out of the house, but now mom and dad want to move in with us, too.
Aging in Place is a fast-growing trend, and like all trends, entire industries are springing up to accommodate this niche. For example, the NAHB Research Center has an entire room-by-room checklist of modifications homeowners should incorporate when creating a comfortable space for an older person. First, there’s such a demand on senior living spaces, especially those with dementia-related illnesses. Alzheimer’s facilities, for example, are building long waiting lists because the illness now affects and kills those as young as those in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
Here are just a few of their Aging in Place suggestions for the bathroom:
- Contrasting color edge border at countertops
- At least one wheelchair maneuverable bath on main level with 60-inch turning radius or acceptable T-turn space and 36″ x 36″ or 30″ x 48″ clear space
- Bracing in walls around tub, shower, shower seat and toilet for installation of grab bars to support 250 – 300 pounds
- Fold down seat in the shower
- Adjustable/ handheld showerheads, 6′ hose
- Tub/Shower controls offset from center
- Shower stall with built-in antibacterial protection
- Light in shower stall
- Toilet 2 ½” higher than standard toilet (17″ – 19″) or height-adjustable
- Design of the toilet paper holder allows rolls to be changed with one hand
- Wall-hung sink with knee space and panel to protect user from pipes
- Slip-resistant flooring in bathroom and shower
Myra Katz, a long-time interior designer who used to apply her talent to bank interiors, is now certified to offer Aging in Place design services in St. Louis, MO. This year she launched Alzheimer’s & Dementia Home Solutions in response to changes in the economy and the growing demand for health care applications at home. It was a natural fit.
“Aging in Place design is not design as we think of it,” she said. “Instead, we apply our health care and senior living design experience to the residences of patients with dementia-related illnesses, allowing them to be safer and more independent in the supportive environment of their own home for as long as possible.”
Myra said focusing her new business on aging in place design is like coming full circle for her. Her father was a builder of multi-family developments in St. Louis County, and he felt strongly that the elderly should never feel displaced. So even before there were senior living communities, his properties were designed so seniors could live as independently as possible.
“There were always party rooms and guest apartments for visiting family members, Myra said. “One high-rise property even had a restaurant on site and has since been converted to an upscale senior living facility. We always had grandparents living with us when I was growing up, as did many of my friends.
“Designing healthcare and senior living facilities, along with starting Alzheimer’s & Dementia Home Solutions, is my way of making a difference. It’s like a calling.”
Myra believes it’s important to stay a step ahead of Alzheimer’s Disease, so as the condition progresses, design companies like Alzheimer’s & Dementia Home Solutions are able to address the new needs and suggest additional solutions to lengthen the older person’s golden years at home. For example, falls are the number one cause of death for seniors, Myra said, so caregivers must also pay attention to safety as it pertains to:
- Memory Impairment
- Mental & Visual Perception
- ADL (Activities of Daily Living)
- Incontinence
- Loss of Motor Skills
- Wandering
Myra’s recommendations can range from the simplest safety and security devices, lighting and finish changes to addressing accessibility issues or preparing drawings for a first floor room addition.
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. In preparation for the largest number of seniors ever, an Aging-In-Place Initiative is expanding in cities across the country with plans for communities to become more “senior friendly.” For more information, check out the National Aging in Place Council and the Aging-In-Place Design Checklists from NAHB’s Toolbase Services.
Link to this page
Comments on this entry are closed.