Designing home for elderly

There are many people who prefer to remain at home as they age, often called ”aging in place”. This could require a few adjustment or renovation in the home to be able to live in the same place to a late age because there are not always support for elderly in ”ordinary” homes. While working at the home care service, I experienced that most of the houses or apartments I visited had some kind of temporary solution for the support or impairment the elderly needed. Something that could be a solution instead of having temporary solutions is to consider to universal design while bundling new houses or apartments. Considering to universal design is not about focusing on elderly or people with some kind of impairment, it’s abut creating an attractive, stylish space that everyone, regardless of size, age or ability can live in and visit. In a perfect world, every house should be designed consider to universal design but it’s of course impossible today, but it should definitely be a goal for the future.

While designing houses and apartments for elderly, I believe that one should have in mind not designing a home with some kind of hospital-like environment that is filled with grab bars. In my opinion, the design should be good and attractive but at the same time useful. It is important that the designed features provides independence. The home should feel comfortable, safe and accessible.

While designing a home for elderly people, there is some things one should consider:

Doors and buttons: 

One of the most important thing I find while designing a home for elderly is wide doorways and hallways. Persons that uses wheelchairs or walkers should not have a problem moving around in the home and enter all the rooms. There should also exist non-step entry.

Often, the switches in homes can be a bit to ”high” to be reachable for someone in a wheelchair for example. Elderly might find it hard to reach for the controls and switches and therefore the home should also have reachable controls and switches so anyone, a person in wheelchair should be able to reach them.

Floor: 

Having non-slip floors in the home is something that is important. The bathtubs and shower in the home should also have some kind of non-slip rug or floor (in the shower) so you don’t slip on the wet floors.

Windows: 

Today, many windows is hard to reach or have som kind of child-safe solution that could be complicated to open. The window in the in the home for elderly should not require much effort to open and close. I’ve seen windows that opens at the bottom that is easy to open, I think this is a good design for elderly people and reachable.

Well-lighted home: 

I believe that a well-lighted home is important because many elderly have some kind of vision problems. It’s important to make sure that rooms, doorway, kitchen and bathroom and hallway is well-lighted. It’s also good to have task lighted directions to specific surfaces or areas for example in the kitchen.

Space in the hallway:

One other requirements that the elderly people should have in the home space in the hallway so they can be able to put their supportive tool if they have any, for example a wheelchair, walker etc.

Entrence:

The entrance should be protected from weather like rain and snow so one don’t slip while walking outside the door.  The entrance should also have sensor lightning because it’s easy to forget to turn off the light outside.

Helping hand: 

Having some kind of memory impairment is something that is more common as person age and therefore I believe that while designing a home for elderly, the home should have a ”helping hand” (a monitor) in the hallway so before the person goes out it reminds having the wallet, keys and also the phone with you. The helping hand should also check that the oven is switched off and that all the windows is closed. This is something that actually is useful and would help many people to, especially those who have problem with the memory.

Kitchen: 

The kitchen should have adjustable shelves so one don’t need bend while cooking food and also while using a wheelchair, it’s good having adjustable shelves so the person reach. There could be more than one people living in the house, one that uses a wheelchair and one that don’t, and therefore I find adjustable shelves as a good solution. The kitchen counter should have open space underneath so the one can cook while seated.

Singel floor living: 

While designing a home for elderly, something that I find important is to have a singel floor living. Singel floor living means having all the rooms, kitchen and bathroom on the same floor. This makes it easier to navigate while having a wheelchair or walker. Stairs could also be more challenging as a person age.