CityStream: Universal Design & Aging in Place

alttext

As more of the population reaches age 60 or older, some may be planning a move to a retirement community or assisted living. But with the rising cost of housing, many are opting to stay put. It’s called “aging in place.” 

Universal Design (UD) is an approach to design that increases the potential for developing a better quality of life for a wide range of individuals. It is a design process that enables and empowers a diverse population by improving human performance, health and wellness, and social participation (Steinfeld and Maisel, 2012). It creates products, systems, and environments to be as usable as possible by as many people as possible regardless of age, ability or situation.