A few weeks ago, a family member had an accident which resulted in two broken ankles. His house is roughly 20 years old, but generously sized (although not a large house). Fortunately, he’s got a first floor master suite, and when he returned home with a walker and a wheelchair, it was easily adapted to his needs.
Meanwhile, I went on an initial consult with a family for a whole house renovation and addition. While there are only two at home right now, both adults have elderly parents, and are looking toward a time when they may be living under the same roof.
Which brings me to the notion of Universal Design. While everyone doesn’t need a full ADA workup on their residence, aging (and possible disability) is something we all have to look forward to. Standard’s don’t have to slap us in the face, but given the opportunity, I think it’s worth a review. Maybe that downstairs bath has an oversized shower in it – great for washing the dog now, and at ground level for future elderly parents. Maybe the back entrance has a series of low terraces that could easily be ramped in spots.
