Apr
15
5 Senior Housing Design Trends
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As baby boomers continue to age, and the economy as a whole moves forward, we’re beginning to see a new way of looking at our housing options. Seniors don’t need the space they did when they had families at home, and are demanding a whole different look at the way they live. Here are 8 senior housing design trends to watch for in the coming decade.
1. Universal Design. Universal design is synonymous with making a house livable through the many stages of life. They have the beauty and uniqueness of a custom home, yet are much easier to use as the residents’ physical abilities change. A universally designed home will come with one story living, wider hallways and doorways, ample lighting, flexible storage spaces, and non-slip surfaces.
2. Technology Driven. Love your iPhone and iPad? We’re seeing the future of technology change every day. Homes will be wired to make everything easy to use, and have applications that connect you within the home, and with family members and health services throughout the world.
3. Green technology. Why not make your home more efficient and energy conscious? From appliances that save water and energy, to windows and solar panels that help heat or cool a home, the newest designs will offer you many ways to stay at the top of being green.
4. Flexibility and customization. Instead of redesigning a home or room for one purpose, its now possible to remodel for flexibility. Companies are coming up with great options that work within your life today, yet have the ability to be altered in the future. Remember the cribs that converted to toddler beds? Almost anything is possible today. From rooms, to storage options, to appliances, there are many ways to satisfy your needs throughout the years.
5. At Home Services. More people are choosing to stay in their home for as long as possible. A good design looks at the possibility of aging gracefully, and providing enough room for adequate help along the way. 24 hour care may mean providing living quarters for in home help – why not incorporate that into your current design plans? A separate studio area is great today for a teenager, and will be flexible for a variety of options along the way.
Apr
8
A Safety Checklist To Help You Design With Accessibility In Mind
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How well is your current home designed to keep you safe as you age? As a
person ages, their accessibility changes. What used to seem simple can suddenly become a chore. But there are ways to change your current design, and make things easier now and as you age. Take a look at this home design checklist. How many questions can you answer with a yes?
Storage
- I can reach things in my closets, even from a sitting position.
- My clothing rods are all located between 20 to 44 inches from the floor.
- I have a closet organization system to make things more accessible.
- I clean my closet regularly to keep the most used items in easy reach.
- My lower drawers are deep and open all the way. Upper drawers are shallow.
- I have adequate light in my closets.
- Light switches are easy to reach.
- The door to the closet is at least 32 inches wide.
Electrical
- Electrical outlets are at least 27 inches from the floor.
- All rooms can be adequately lit by using a switch as you enter a room.
- All rooms have an ample number of outlets, and I rarely need to use extension cords.
- I have enough light in each room, either through natural or electric light, to live normally.
- Hallways, walkways and pathways are all well lit.
- I have automatic lights to welcome me as I come home, and to allow me to get safely into my home.
Safety
- I have a smoke detector on each floor.
- I have a smoke detector in each bedroom.
- I have at least one battery-operated detector that isn’t dependent on electricity.
- All smoke detectors are located on the ceiling.
- I test my smoke detector regularly, and replace the batteries on a regular schedule.
- I have a carbon monoxide detector on each floor.
- I test my carbon monoxide detector on a regular basis.
- I keep a fire extinguisher on each floor of my home, and make them easy to access.
The more yeses, the safer your current living arrangements are. Even a few no’s leave room for improvement. When you are ready for a home redesign, don’t just plan on the comforts of home, plan for safety too.
Feb
19
Will universal design become a design standard in the future? Possibly. With the population 65 and older expected to double over the next 20 years, the need will definitely be there.
So how do you find a universal design company in Colorado?
Start by understanding the concept of universal design. Designing living space for the disabled or elderly doesn’t have to be cold and sterile. Instead there are things you can incorporate into every home that give it a warm look, and fully functional for many different circumstances.
While universal design is almost always associated with elderly or disabled, there are many times throughout our lives where we have trouble living in our homes.
Pregnancy
After surgery
Broken arms and legs
If you’ve ever tried to climb the stairs with your leg in a cast, you know how truly difficult it can be.
Incorporating universal design into your home remodel doesn’t take a lot of extra money; it just takes a little extra planning.
1. Start with someone who has universal design skills. When interviewing design contractors, ask what recommendations they have. Do they have any experience integrating special features into the design?
2. Make choices that grow with you. How about countertops that can be adjusted to different heights? Or widening doorways to allow for any situation?
3. Integrate slowly. If you are planning on living in your home for many years to come, incorporate ideas that will help you no matter what the situation. Work with your designer and talk about ways to upgrade now, and use ideas that will make upgrading easy in the future.
Things will only improve in the area of universal design. More products are coming out every day – things that will look great, and make life easier too.
Jan
23
Aging In Place Home Design
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Aging In Place is the newest buzzword within the home design industry. As baby boomers continue to age, and more people are faced with the decision of having help to maintain a daily lifestyle, aging in place will become synonymous with offer options when you need it the most.
As people age and are faced with difficult decisions surrounding poor health, they typically decide from several options.
Once their homes become the wrong environment to live in on a daily basis without help, many seek out assisted living as an alternative. While assisted living is an option for many, assisted living provides a core set of assistance, and you pay for the entire core set whether you use the services or not. Assisted living is also only available for certain types of assistance. Once you move beyond their core services, you must be moved to nursing care for full time help.
Instead, more and more people are discovering aging in place home design, and are creating an environment in the comforts of their home that allow them to live in their own environment for as long as possible, and in many cases through the end of their lives.
The key to a great design is to have the ability to make quick changes as your needs change. It’s having the infrastructure already in our homes that allow modification depending on our needs.
Aging in place home design, or universal design, doesn’t mean giving a home a cold, sterile look and feel. It doesn’t mean settling on an ugly house. It means having a home that works for you no matter if you are 30 and navigating your home with a broken leg, or 80 and navigating your home with a permanent disability.
Designing a home with universal design in place can include everything from basic features, to complex systems. Today we’re seeing things like:
- One story living – everything required for living on a daily basis is on one level of the home, including bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living space.
- Stair-free living. No steps to enter the home through any of the doors, including access from the garage.
- Wide doorways and hallways to make it easy to move in a wheelchair, or with help from a caregiver.
- Flush flooring from room to room. Thresholds that change in grade can make it difficult to pass in a wheelchair – flush access means moving freely.
- Lighting throughout the home and at all levels of the room.
It can also mean making more of your home adjustable to move as you have different needs. Closet systems are designed to have low shelves and clothing rods for small children, and the ability to move them up higher as the child ages. They can also be adjusted back down to a level acceptable for someone in a wheelchair.
The key is building for what you need now, and what will be able to keep you in your home for the long run.
image source
Jan
15
Thousands of Coloradoans are helping their parents deal with daily living with new and increasingly more difficult aging issues. From decreasing vision, to lower balance and flexibility issues, one of the most common reasons for moving into an assisted living facility is lack of proper tools within their own homes.
If you are making decisions about your own parents, or if you are facing issues yourself, there are ways to make your 
home more accessible. And the best place to start is with the bathroom where large portions of accidents occur.
Start with the bathroom door
Most family homes have a 24” door on the bathrooms. Wheelchairs need a minimum 32” door for a straight in approach, and a 36” door in a hallway where you’ll need to turn the wheelchair to get through the door.
Replace a standard toilet
Toilets come in many sizes and heights. By raising a toilet several inches higher, its easer to use, and is easier to access from a wheelchair.
Add grab bars in the toilet, shower and tub areas
Many falling accidents occur because of misjudging the distance while moving from a standing to sitting position. Grab bars are now available in a variety of styles and finishes, and can match your décor perfectly.
Adjust faucets and showerheads
Instead of knob style faucets, replace them with easier to use lever handles. Make sure temperatures are set correctly to avoid accidental scalding. And replace shower heads with hand held models, or with flexible models that slide up and down to varying heights.
Add sitting areas
Add a bench in the shower stall. People often avoid chores that are difficult; the easier it is, the more likely your loved ones will stick with the routine. Benches aren’t just easier for the elderly; they also make it easier for things like shaving legs in the shower.
Increase lighting
Installing brighter lights, and adding lighting to different areas of the bathroom can add safety features to the bathroom.
Jan
8
Independent Living Checklist
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Over the holidays, did you notice a change in your parents? Now that 
you’re back home, do you worry how well they are managing on their own? Do they seem in need of a few changes, but still a ways away from moving to a care facility?
Use this independent living checklist to find ways to improve your parents’ current living arrangement, and making the space they are living in more functional and usable.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
· Are kitchen and bathroom countertops at a comfortable height and depth?
· Are faucets easy to use?
· Are there places to sit down while working?
· Is it easy to get in and out of the bathtub?
· Are frequently used items, appliances and utensils in a convenient and safe place?
· Are appliances such as the stove easy to use and clearly marked?
· Would convenience items, such as handheld showerheads, make daily life easier?
Closets and Storage
· Are closets and storage rooms easily accessible?
· Would shelves, cabinets, and other storage devices make it easier to get to important items?
· Is there enough storage space in the main living areas?
Safety
· Are doors and windows easy to open and close?
· Are door locks sturdy, yet still easy to use?
· Are peepholes at a comfortable height to use?
· Are handles and grab bars available at entrances/exists, and down hallways and other areas they may use regularly?
· Are steps placed in appropriate positions, and at the proper height/locations?
· Are light switches easy to turn off and on?
· Are electrical outlets properly grounded?
· Are doorbells, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors located on every floor, and clearly audible?
Floors
· Are all major living areas located on one level? (i.e. bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living area)
· Are steps and changes in floor height clearly visible, and as smooth a transition as possible?
· Are floor surfaces safe and in good condition?
· Are rugs and doormats sturdy to prevent against slipping and tripping?
In many cases, even a few simple modifications can add years of independent living. We’ve been helping families all over the Denver Metro area transition to a more comfortable living environment; one that is perfectly suited for their needs and requirements.
Nov
6
While more people are focusing on using universal design when making changes to their homes, it doesn’t mean sacrificing looks in order for convenience. Your home doesn’t have to have a hospital appearance in order to be more efficient as you age.
Instead, it means finding tasteful items that are dual purpose: they work well and look nice in your home toady before you need it, and will work well into the future as your needs change
.
1. Instead of a standard bathroom sink and vanity, consider a wall mount sink. By attaching to the wall, it eliminates the space under the sink, making it more accessible by wheelchair, or for bringing in a bench or chair for sitting by.
2. Walk in tubs are growing in popularity, but there are other choices. Place a tub on a platform with stairs to put it at a higher, easier height for entering. Or consider putting in a recessed tub that places the tub at floor level.
3. Open up your home to window light. Larger windows let in more light, and help eliminate extra steps looking for light switches. You can also use skylights, glass blocks and stained glass to transform even more wall space into a light source.
4. Create a complete living area on one floor. Especially in the Colorado area, we’re more apt to find multi story homes, which make aging in place more difficult. Even with a multi level home, its important to make one level of your home with full accessibility to everything, including bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
5. Think of technology now and for the future. From floodlights outside, to control panels for easy access to all mechanics in the home, make it easy to control home access in one location, and with a flip of a switch.
Nov
5
Age In Place – 7 Things To Keep In Mind When You’re Buying Or Remodeling A Home
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When you buy a home, it’s hard to find one that meets all of your needs now, and will continue to meet them well into the future. However if you decide to buy a home as you near retirement, and are looking for things that can help you remain in your home, or age in place, for as long as possible, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Mobility
No one likes to think of a time 
when they can’t move around freely without help. But as a general rule, the older you get, the greater your probability of needing assistance.
Look at the way a home is designed through the eyes of a person in need of a cane, walker or wheelchair. Are the doors wide enough for a wheelchair? Are the hallways wide enough for you and the possibility of some help?
Also give some thought to the type of flooring. Tiling can be slippery and be easier to fall on. Thick carpet can also be a deterrent to moving freely in a wheelchair or using a walker.
Balance and Standing
The two areas prone to problems are the bathroom and the kitchen. As people age, they begin dealing with more physical issues that take away equilibrium, and muscle strength. A home built for aging in place allows changes to accommodate both of these issues.
Counters and shelves should be high enough for a wheelchair to roll under, or be movable and flexible for adjusting. Grab bars should be available, with sufficient space for movement and possibly a caregiver.
Also place benches or chairs in each room to ensure a person can sit while working at regular tasks.
Vision
Reduced eyesight can also play into a large part of a person’s limited balance as they age. Make sure your home has adequate lighting throughout, highlighting walkways and in traditionally dark spaces like under kitchen cabinets.
Also make sure there are clear transitions from one room to the next, especially when changing the flooring.
[Before you remodel or buy a new home, talk with a remodel professional trained in aging in place techniques. They can give you ideas on design, and help you make your home more accessible now and into the future.]
Aug
28
1. Maneuverability is critical within the home living area. Make sure all aisles measure at least 32 inches for paths between the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living areas. Also make sure you have a clear path for things required during daily living, such as routes to the television, stereo, telephone, books, and other 
daily needs.
2. Purchase an adjustable height table that allows a wheelchair to fit comfortably underneath. This can be used for a variety of things, including cooking, eating and hobbies. By having an adjustable table, it can be raised and lowered to meet all kinds of needs.
3. Light switches can be difficult. Make sure all light switches are 3 to 4 feed from the floor for easy access from a wheelchair. Also consider replacing toggle light switches with pressure sensitive switch plates for people with coordination limitations.
Aug
27
Since the passing of the American Disabilities Act, industries are becoming more aware of the needs of people with disabilities. While much is said and written about commercial and public interior design, it is more difficult to find information regarding private residences. While having accessibility in commercial locations is highly needed, so to is the ability to have a fully functional home; one where comfort and safety is equal with functionality.
Many interior designers and contractors have no formal training in 
creating livable space for people with disabilities. Without formal training or working knowledge, its hard to know the general needs of people facing life with a disability. That’s why it’s so important to look for the right contractor with experience in remodeling specifically for people with disabilities.
Here are 5 things you should look for before hiring an interior designer or a contractor when designing or redesigning for the disabled.
1. What types of plans can they offer to make a home more accessible? If a company is experienced in modifying a home for a person with disabilities, they should have ideas that will work for all members of the family.
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