Consider future needs when remodeling home

The first baby boomers are approaching their mid-50s, and their nests are rapidly emptying as the baby busters establish their own households.

The housing market for both segments will explode over the next two decades.

Many of us are resisting old age by eating healthy, pumping iron, and running marathons. But the fact is, our mortality is inevitable. Father Time will win eventually, whether we live the biblical allotment of three score and 10 or, as our contemporary medical optimists tell us, perhaps 120 years. In either case, how will longevity affect our housing needs?

First, we must realize that the future is unpredictable, and we should be prepared for possible limitations. Our homes should be accessible, efficient, convenient and beautiful.

With proper planning and modest additional cost, we can build homes that will serve us for a lifetime.

When accessible design is mentioned, one usually thinks of those who use wheelchairs, but other limitations, such as vision, hearing, arthritis, etc., can also affect comfort and mobility.

According to research by Century 21 Realty, it's estimated that one in three Americans will need accessible housing at some point in life because of injury or age-related impairments. Imagine the limitations when recovering from surgery or a broken leg.

Even a minor injury, such as a sprained ankle, can make one acutely aware of new limitations. Small inconveniences at home suddenly become major obstacles.

For those considering building or remodeling, here are a few suggestions that will provide better accessibility. These strategies aren't expensive, nor do they make the house look "odd" for the resale market.

The entrance should be near ground level with one or two steps to the main level. This internal level should be free of steps and abrupt level changes.

The garage entry should flow into the main level with only one or two steps. A convenient bench or shelf near the everyday entrance provides a place to set groceries or bags when unlocking the door.

Entry doors should be 36 inches wide with thresholds no more than one-fourth inch high.

Interior doors can be 32 inches wide allowing most wheelchairs sufficient clearance without the openings giving the house an institutional look.

Use lever door hardware instead of the usual knobs. These make opening doors easier for those with arthritic fingers, and when your arms are full of bags or laundry baskets, you don't have to set them down to open the door.

Hallway width should be at least 42 inches. You might even consider an open plan for the main portion of the house with as few doors and hallways as possible.

Attention should be given to the placement of electrical outlets and light switches. Often switches are too high and outlets are too low. Lighting also is a factor to address as eyesight weakens with age or disability. Standards and codes are often too general for residential construction.

Bathrooms need special attention and planning. Often they need to be modified in order to accommodate future needs. The addition of a plywood backer or blocking behind the drywall, around the wall's midsection, allows for easy installation of future grab bars.

Toilet seats should be higher than standard, 17 inches to 19 inches above the floor, with plenty of space in front and at the sides for easy maneuverability.

A "drive-in" shower allows a wheelchair to be rolled in without a curb obstruction.

Grab bars should be placed in strategic locations, and a hand-held sprayer installed to control water direction. The floor surface should have a non-skid finish.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, 150,000 injuries per year result from people falling in the bathtub. A soft bathtub made of urethane foam with a fiberglass outer shell may reduce that number while making bathtubs more comfortable.

The kitchen has evolved from an out-of-sight utilitarian space to the true social heart of the home. As a result, this space has its own unique accessible design challenges and will be the subject of a future article.

Accessible kitchens don't have to be more complicated or expensive than conventional kitchens. With small adjustments to details and dimensions, the kitchen can be convenient for people of any age or physical characteristics.

Your home may need to undergo changes as time passes. Perhaps these changes are easier and less expensive than trying to predict the future.

Design for who you are today, build with flexibility for tomorrow, and make your home something that can grow and adapt as you do.

(Donald G. Briggs, AIA, is president of Briggs Architecture + Design in Springfield.)