Aging In Place
and Universal Design

Demand is growing for home designs that incorporate Aging In Place ideas, also known as Universal Design. As the population ages and baby boomers begin retiring, being able to remain in their own homes as long as possible is at the forefront of retirees demands and with the right designs factored into their homes they can. The primary concerns are safety and accessibility, so utilizing grab bars in the shower to protect against slips, and planning for wider hallways and doorways to enable a wheelchair to be used comfortably are key ingredients.

The idea of aging in place or universal design is especially important when building a log home that you envision as being a part of your legacy, a homestead to hand down to the next generation and not a temporary shelter en route to a retirement home.

Some useful ideas include:

• Build showers without curbs so that there is nothing to trip over.

• Install support bars in bath area.

• Install extra wide doorways to accommodate wheelchairs.

• Lay out wider hallways for wheelchairs or walkers.

• Set kitchen counter tops lower to enable food preparation at a comfortable height.

• Put master suites on the main level with full baths.

• Install laundry facilities on main level.

• Plan for future elevator by designing an interior wall closet or storage area that can be converted later.

• Install higher toilets to make sitting and rising easier.

• Build a single-level home.

• Use lever-type door handles.

• Install large cabinet and drawer pulls for arthritic hands.

• Use extra bright cabin lighting for tired eyes.

• An attached garage or breezeway makes the transition from the car to the house easier.

• Ensure smooth transitions between rooms or cabin flooring materials to reduce tripping hazards.

• Use drawers or roll-out shelves in kitchen to make retrieving items easier.

With careful thought and preparation, sensible design elements can be incorporated with little effort. The payoff will be when you are able to continue living comfortably and safely in your log home for a long time to come.

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