Universal Design: Access for everyone

It’s a common story. People get injured and their house becomes home to 20 grab bars strategically located so that getting up and down is never a problem. What about navigating kitchen cupboards? Bathroom sink? Alternatively, parents express to their children that they do not want to move to a retirement home or a senior’s facility. But what are the options? There are too many stairs in those old houses.

Universal design has become a bit of a trendy buzz word in recent years, but some may not know what this means exactly. Simply put, universal design is the answer to a growing need in the home: accessibility.

Essentially, universal design is about creating a beautiful space that everyone can live in/visit both now and in the future. Age, size, ability… none of that matters. With universal design, there is safe access for everyone. Needs and abilities can evolve over time so universal design allows residents to live in and enjoy their home during all stages of their lives.

The trend was given a big boost by the recent dip in the economy. Homeowners would rather remodel than buy a new house. But ultimately, the reason to embrace universal design is the desire to age in place. An AARP National Survey found that 67% of people age 45 and over want to remain in their homes as long as possible. That number increased, up to a whopping 90%, as people age. Someone had to respond. Architects and builders embraced that desire and began to create homes with unique features that provide safe access for people of all ages. So, it started as a solution to the “age in place” dilemma but has expanded to providing livable homes for anyone and everyone.

It’s also important to note the word “design.” This is not just about adding grab bars around a home. Universal design means creating a beautiful home that happens to have features hidden in the design that will help homeowners and visitors alike.

Some essential universal design features include:

• No-step entry
• Wide doorways and hallways
• Reachable controls and switches
• Easy-to-use handles

If you own a multilevel house, you can incorporate universal design by adding a home elevator or wheelchair lift, making the home you love more accessible in the future.

If you are looking for smaller ways to update your current home and incorporate the new concept, some great solutions include:

• Raised front-loading washer and dryer
• Easy access storage and counter tops
• Low or no-threshold stall showers with built-in benches or seats
• Non-slip floors, bathtubs, and showers
• Stairlift for stair travel

So get creative. How can you update you home now so that you can enjoy it well into the future?

Dalton McGuinty Visits Savaria

Linda Jeffrey MPP, Dalton McGuinty Ontario Premier and Savaria Staff

We were honoured to welcome the Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty to Savaria in Brampton on November 16th.   With the background hub-bub of our manufacturing plant, the Premier talked about the new healthy home renovation tax credit program.  We were also pleased to welcome Linda Jeffrey, MPP Brampton Springdale who accompanied the Premier on the tour.

Offering up to $1500 on the first $10,000 of home renovations for seniors living in Ontario, the program promises to help seniors stay in their homes longer, avoiding moving to healthcare facilities sooner than needed.  Since many aging adults suffer from mobility issues such as knee and hip problems, adding a stairlift or a platform lift can be the best way to remain at home – the place most people want to be.  Mr McGuinty toured the Savaria showroom and shook hands with many of our employees as he went.  It was a great opportunity for Savaria staff to feel proud about the kind of products we make.

Design for a lifetime

Design for a lifetime is a concept that revolves around creating an environment that addresses your needs today while fulfilling them in the future. Installing a home elevator is a perfect way to exemplify this concept. A Savaria home elevator  provides you with an easy alternative to carrying groceries, baskets of laundry and even your child’s stroller over a hefty flight of stairs. The elevator will be useful for helping your parents and perhaps you in the years to come. An elevator can provide  you with a lifetime of use as generations pass, allowing you to stay in your home longer.

Savaria elevators also offer a wide variety of finishes from finely crafted hardwood to a variety of fixtures to suit your needs and tastes. Your local contactor and Savaria dealer can enhance your installation including amenities such as a glass hoistway and glass window in your elevator, so you can enjoy the view as well as some natural light. By eliminating the barrier of stairs, and suiting your décor needs, an elevator will enable you to enjoy your home longer while increasing the value of your home in the process. Offering safety, convenience and comfort, Savaria’s line of products can be found here as well as in this short video.

Aging and Accessibility: A growing relationship

Ever worried about having the health, social and recreational services being within a block or two of where you live? Although this distance isn’t much, do you think about how difficult it is to access these places?  If you drive, find it easy to walk, or take the bus now, you’re not concerned today. But as a senior, your day-to-day needs may become challenge-filled.

For some seniors, the ability to drive is diminished as a result of impaired vision, walking several blocks could be difficult and accessible public transit may not exist. Take a look at your own neighborhood and mentally map out a 1 mile radius accounting for the services you will need.  Many city planners are doing this in anticipation of supporting the rapidly aging population. This includes improving accessible transportation and strategically positioning new social and health services for ease of access.

According to statistics, 1 in 5 North Americans will be 60 and above by 2025. This brings forth the issue of accessibility and infrastructure planning for the aging.  The Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto presents an example of how a neighborhood could change to accommodate future needs, including effective visuals of real Toronto streets.  See more about this here.