One of the newer trends among the aging population is known as aging-in-place, or AIP. Many people no longer want to retire in a warm climate, preferring to stay, at least part of the year, where their children and extended family are. More specifically, they often want to stay in their own home. This is the first in a series of articles on ways to prepare a home for a simple lifestyle for an extended period of time.

In family situations where this may be the case, it makes sense, when undertaking any renovation, to look for ways of designing that allow an older occupant to more easily adapt the home as circumstances change.

The most common places where problems occur are bathrooms, kitchens, and walkways, including stairwells, doorways, and other areas where elevation changes occur, such as the home garage or front driveways.

This article will focus on bathrooms. Obstacles here can include the type of handles on fixtures, ease of getting on and off the toilet, general slippage that water can cause, and steps or curbs in bathtubs or showers. Preparing a bathroom to accommodate a wheelchair or walker is also worth thinking about when renovating.

Some solutions are extremely easy. All faucet companies have extensive lines of ADA approved faucets. Lever handles provide the ability to easily turn on and off, even with the wrist, if hand strength decreases. The faucets come in top-of-the-line styles and finishes, and can be used in the bathroom at any time. Lever handles are also a good idea on doors.

One of the most useful (and easy) ideas is the installation of reinforcements in walls for the future placement of support bars. Grab bars are typically located next to and behind toilets and around showers or tubs, and bracing typically consists of a piece of plywood or metal firmly attached to studs along the wall, typically 32″ apart. and 38″ from the floor for a horizontal bar, hidden behind the tile.

If you are changing the door, you may want to consider the opening width. A “usable” door that accommodates a wheelchair needs a 32″ clearance opening. This can usually be achieved with a standard installed 2′-10″ door.

Space is needed not only to open and through doors, but also to turn around and maneuver from the wheelchair to the toilet, bathtub or shower, or under a sink. Accessibility guidelines have been established over the years through federal laws, and these guidelines provide excellent standards when looking for design solutions. A wheelchair basically occupies 30″ x 48″ of space, so a circle with a diameter of 5 feet (60″) is considered to be the correct amount of clearance to allow a wheelchair to turn, either in the U of a U-shaped kitchen or bathroom, and a 30″ x 48″ area must be provided in front of any appliance where a wheelchair must go. Orientation will depend on how the person approaches the appliance .

In this situation, sinks can be installed on a countertop, without a base, or with retractable cabinet doors, to allow a user to slide under the sink. A minimum width of 2′-6″ is needed, with 3′ being the optimal width. Cabinet manufacturers have complete lines of cabinets designed to meet the growing need for accessibility in both the kitchen and bathroom.

A toilet should be located where there is a minimum of 33″ between a wall and the nearest fixture, with the toilet 1′-6″ from the wall to allow for the most efficient use of a grab bar along the side for get help if you want. . Most toilet accessory manufacturers now produce so-called “comfort height” toilets that have the equivalent seat of a chair, higher than the traditional toilet, that are easier for any age to sit on and get up from.

Finally, let’s talk about bathtubs and showers. If floor space below a shower area allows, a shower can be recessed so that its entry is flush with the bathroom floor for wheel-in access. “Wet area designs”, where the shower floor functions as the entrance to the bathtub, can use space very efficiently and basically allow a tileable part of the room to act as a a shower. Trench drains at the edge of the tile can prevent water from running away. If a shower cannot be built in, nor a “wet area” is desired, there are collapsible rubber water barriers, which will allow wheelchair access to the shower, keeping the water in, although this is not such a solution. desirable. At a minimum, a shower should be 36″ deep to minimize uneven surfaces and allow enough space for grab bars and a seat so one person can safely and comfortably use the facility.

This article is intended as an introduction to some solutions to common problems that arise in homes based on the age of the occupants, and the writer suggests that you contact your architect or contractor for more specific information on the possibilities in your home.