Originally appearing in Housetrends, Cincinnati, OH
Breaking Down Barriers
Barrier-free design opens homes to people with all levels of accessibility
By Bethany Meisinger-Reiff
For the mobility impaired, a home that is built to residential building code can be a house of brick walls and sand traps. Everyday activities from opening doors to climbing into the shower can be taxing at best and impossible at worst. But this is changing as designers, builders and manufacturers respond to the growing tide of baby boomers and recognize the special needs of people with disabilities. Designers and builders are focusing on developing attractive, accessible homes while manufacturers are complementing these efforts with stylish amenities.
"Today's technology is such that most people should be able to live very comfortably, if the home is properly designed," says Joanne Theunissen, the chair of the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) 50+ Housing Council and president of Howling Hammer Builders in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Accessible by design
Barrier-free, or accessible, design is targeted at meeting the specific needs of individuals with disabilities to provide the greatest use of space. Because these needs vary from person to person, barrier-free design is as much a science as an art.
"We have to think beyond our ergonomic environment," says Jamie Spurling, owner of Living Barrier Free LLC, a Cincinnati-area renovation firm that specializes in barrier-free design. "We have to think of an environment where every doorway, every step, every door handle presents a possible barrier."
A typical barrier-free home might have a zero-step entry, low or no thresholds between rooms, and 3-foot-wide doorways and 4-foot-wide hallways to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. Barrier-free design can also incorporate roll-in showers, higher toilets and bidets, and kitchen appliances that are accessible by wheelchair. Outlets, light switches and thermostats are placed within easy reach, and materials like flooring are selected for both safety and durability.
"Some of it is really common sense, just looking at how a house is used, and some of it is a science, especially if you are dealing with true physicality challenges," Theunissen notes.
Calling in the reinforcements
For those with changing needs, such as baby boomers, adaptable design is another option to consider. Adaptable design anticipates future requirements so that accessibility can be improved as desired. Building extra reinforcement into bathroom walls for future grab bars and stacking closets for the possible installation of an elevator are two examples of adaptable design.
Theunissen notes that mother-in-law suites are also making a comeback. These home-within-a-home suites, often built on the first floor or in a lower level that is accessible by elevator, are ideal for elderly family members or for long-term care providers.
Mass appeal
Incorporating barrier-free amenities is no longer an issue of losing aesthetics to function. Manufacturers are dispensing with the industrial to create tasteful features that enhance independence.
"Manufacturers are starting to come up with stylish accessories, like grab bars that look like towel bars," notes Marnie Renda, MEd OTR/L, a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist and founder of Destination Home, LLC. "And zero-rim showers are hot right now in custom-built homes."
The built-in convenience of barrier-free design also appeals to people of all abilities and can influence a home's marketability. Lever door handles benefit anyone with full arms, and wider halls and doorways provide more space and roominess-especially when it comes to moving bulky items. Modifications like higher outlets, improved lighting and counter-level appliances eliminate bending and improve safety for everyone.
And when it comes to finding the right products, the "sky's the limit," Theunissen says. "It's very easy to design a house for the mobility impaired. It's amazing to me how well the industry has come aboard."
Making the right choices
The boom in product selection and availability should make barrier-free modifications easy, even for the do-it-yourselfers. But not so fast, the experts warn.
"A lot of the modifications that people make can be very costly and the equipment can't be returned. It's always very important to seek professional advice," Renda says.
Providing adequate support for amenities like roll-in showers and grab bars is critical, as is conducting a thorough evaluation of how a homeowner and his or her caregivers use different spaces in the house, Spurling says.
Theunissen also stresses the importance of working with designers and builders who understand the intersection of barrier-free design and enhanced mobility. "You can spend lots of money in the bathroom and the kitchen and still have parts of the house that won't work right." And, as Theunissen points out, nothing substitutes for research and references. "It's like anything-do your homework, ask for references, talk to people they built for, find people with the same sorts of issues that you have and listen to their advice."