Older people have the highest rate of home-ownership in the country — about 80 percent. The great majority live in single-family homes, most of them poorly suited for the disabilities common in later life.
“If you love your home and your neighborhood, remodeling to suit your future needs or a family member coming to stay is a good option”
If you are building a home from scratch or thinking about a major remodel, you might want to consider incorporating universal design into your home. Universal design is the concept of creating an environment that is usable by as many people as possible (including able-bodied people) without the need for adaptation. More importantly, universal design is subtle in its implementation. Following are some ways of incorporating universal design into your own home.
To make a split-level home functional for a family member returning from a nursing home, Larry Taff, CAPS, of TZ of Madison, Inc. in Madison, Wis., added a single-level screened porch and deck with an open floor plan for a view of the yard.