Aging in Place

Most Baby Boomers (those people born between 1946 and 1964) would like to age in their own home; maintaining the social connections and personal and professional relationships they have built over the years. The phrase “aging in place” is now a common term used to describe this desire and implies using products, services and conveniences that will allow this huge segment of the population to remain content in their long-time home as their circumstances change. To "age in place" successfully requires planning for physical, mental, and psychological changes that accompany aging.

It is estimated that there will be 834,000 centenarians in the year 2050 compared to only 70,000 today. We are living longer, healthier and more enjoyable lives and baby boomers, the most affluent consumer group ever to exist, are making use of their numbers and success. Boomers run the economy, make decisions that influence products and services, and certainly play an important role in running the country.

When we, as designers/contractors, build or remodel a space for anyone over 40, be it the client, or a parent who may visit or live in the home of the client, we should include items that emphasize safety, ease of use and independence. Specifying low maintenance items and a clutter-free environment using stylish products, rather than institutional looking ones, is a necessity.

Let’s start with the flooring throughout the home, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Flat tile with a non-skid finish and minimum width grout joints are preferred over carpet for maintenance as well as the ease of using a walker, wheel chair or scooter. Choose a tile that is of medium color and pattern so when items are dropped on the floor, they can easily be seen. A second choice would be laminate wood for those who feel tile is too hard or uncomfortable to walk on.

Doorways should be 36” wide with offset hinges on the doors and levered door handles instead of knobs. There should be no thresholds at the doorways to eliminate the chance of tripping.

Switches and outlets are better-placed in a more narrow band, higher off the floor at the bottom and closer to it at the top. Consider electric outlets at 18” instead of the usual 12” and easy touch light switches at 42” instead of the usual 48” to accommodate limited mobility and access to these from a seated position. Strobe light or vibrator-assisted smoke and burglar alarms as well as programmable thermostats for heating and cooling. should be used.

As vision deteriorates with age, using contrasting colors with matte finishes on flooring and walls help to compensate for the loss of depth perception. Color borders around the perimeter edge of the countertops would also help distinguish this surface from the floor. All areas of the home should be well lite. Increase the number of incandescent lights and add task lighting over work areas where possible.

Bathrooms are very precious to our self-preservation and independence, so making them attractive as well as safe is an important goal. I feel strongly about replacing the tub with a shower. Tubs can be difficult and dangerous to get in and out of at any age. The curb-free shower, with a bench, a hand held showerhead and a soap niche at a height reachable from a sitting position, makes the daily shower a pleasant experience, not a difficult task.

Pressure balanced shower controls should be placed 30” above the floor easily accessible from the outside of the shower. A shower curtain makes more sense than a glass door in this situation.
Non-skid grab bars should be set at a useful and comfortable height in the shower, by the toilet and by the entry door of the room. These bars are set either horizontally or at an angle, depending on arm strength.

Kitchens designed for easy access to all items in the base cabinets include large drawers that can be utilized for storing glasses and dishes as well as cooking utensils and food. Pull out trash bins, tray dividers, dishwasher drawers and a microwave drawer, just to name a few items, make it much easier and more efficient to work in the kitchen.

Flat panel doors of laminate or wood, single lever faucets, engineered stone countertops, tile backsplashes and undermount sinks are a few items suggested for easy maintenance.

Baby boomers are quite an independent bunch! They will go down in history for doing what they want to do, where, how and when they want to do it. They will work and play to the end, they just have to do it a little slower!