The oldest baby boomers turn 70 this year. And while that may be the new 55 for some, many will face tough decisions in the coming decade.
Toughest of all will concern housing. A fiercely independent, rebellious generation will not go quietly to Whispering Pines Home for the Aged. No, just as rules were broken and society turned on its ear a half century ago, how – and where – we age in the 21st century is due for an overhaul.
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.
