Designing For An Aging Population

As a designer in senior housing, one of our main concerns is fall prevention. A fall, even a minor one, can be life-changing for a senior. The obvious area to prevent falls is the flooring. Flooring should be non-glare with minimal movement in patterns. Smooth transitions, absence of area rugs, low pile carpet, unobstructed access, and floors with an appropriate coefficient of friction in the wet areas are all mandatory.

Furniture should also be carefully considered. Selecting furniture that is senior appropriate is very important; arm heights, depth of seats, and firmness can all make a difference to someone experiencing loss of mobility. The wonderful mid-century modern furnishings available right now are very popular within this generation and seniors who lived with this style previously. However, splayed legs and low profile seats were great when they were in their thirty’s but not today when a senior may be in their 60s or 80s

Another often overlooked element is proper lighting. Glare from lighting is another culprit of falls and injury. The Edison exposed filament lamps are beautiful and trendy. However, with the aging eye, the glare of these bulbs in a public or residential setting may cause the inability to see an obstruction and cause a fall. Natural light has been proven to correlate to the well-being of people, yet for the senior eye, natural light may need to be filtered at certain times of the day.

Just as lighting provides new challenges to the aging eye, colors also change. Cataracts or macular degeneration can develop as the eye ages, and colors may appear differently. Think in terms of color blindness and how certain colors are perceived. When designing for seniors, it is imperative that colors be introduced in the correct lighting to determine how the color is viewed. Be especially careful of greens and blues, as they tend to turn gray, and we are all tired of gray, correct?

Just like fall prevention can be achieved with simple selections in flooring, furniture, or lighting, there are many ways to create an environment that enriches the lives of seniors. For instance, arthritis occurs in the healthiest of individuals. Any broken bones when younger will result in arthritis as you age (Trust me). Twisting doorknobs, cabinet knobs, jars, etc., can be excruciating and virtually impossible for some elders. Levers and pulls can be an attractive solution. It is guaranteed that at some point in everyone’s life, a grab-bar becomes their friend in a shower or at a water closet. Fortunately, the market offers many gorgeous grab bars that look like towel bars but provide extra lift or stability when needed.

With the current pandemic, everyone has desired to spend more time outdoors. All the previously mentioned safety precautions apply to the outdoors as well. Uneven walking surfaces, pavers, and textured walkways can be beautiful but dangerous. Changes in elevations without handrails or an alert indicating the height variations can be fatal. Water features that produce wet ground surfaces can be slippery and appropriate lighting at night on all walkways is critical. Likewise, lighting at night can cause extreme glare and create blind spots.

It’s always a good idea to consider all ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, even in residential environments. Anything protruding more than 4” from a wall surface, whether it’s artwork or a wall sconce, it may eventually cause a person experiencing vision loss to be injured. Counter heights, mirror heights, cabinet depths, and cabinets with pull-out shelving can all be a blessing to a senior.

Planning for the future can make a big difference. Whether designing for a senior or a younger person who intends to live in their home for many years, it’s always good to consider future needs. Although we never know what the future will hold, it is best to prepare as much as possible. Take extra steps such as adding backing in new construction so grab-bars can be added later. If unsure, talk to a senior. They are always willing to express their ideas and opinions and generally love an opportunity to talk to someone, especially if they are your grandparent.

LuAnn Thoma-Holec FASID, CID, NCIDQ Principal Owner of Thoma-Holec Design LLC

Let's Celebrate!

There is a lot to celebrate as we wind up this school year! I’d like to congratulate all our ASID student members who are graduating this spring. I would also like to give a warm welcome to the 17 new students who joined the Arizona North Chapter this month! It has been so great to see the student involvement grow over the past months. I encourage all students to attend as many events as possible so they get everything they can out of their membership. If any student would like to become more active with the chapter, please contact Teri Smithers at professionaldevelopment@azn.asid.org for information. Again, congratulations to the graduating class of 2022!

BROOKE BROWNING, Student ASID

Student Representative to the Board

ASU

• Andie Andrews

• Haley Baldwin

• Michelle Cordova

• Hannah Frandrup

• Leigh Herr

• Jessica Lidberg

• Chloe McQueen

• Emilia Raines

• Audrey Shearer

• Emma Shelton

• Jessica Wulff

Outstanding ASID Student:

Andie Andrews

NAU

• Kendra Boothman

• Skyler Christensen

• Yarleni Grande

• Lindsey Grzenia

• Yliana Kolosseus

• Monica Martinez

• Abby Meyer

• Katie Parrish

• Rileah Ramirez

• Katie Sepel

• Shannon Stockmar

Outstanding ASID Student:

Abby Meyer

SCC

• Marci Bassett

• Keri Filsinger

• Deidra Gilligan

• Elizabeth Lofstedt

• Megan Mays

• Madison Menke

• Abeer Nusair

• Joyce Sanchez Torres

Outstanding ASID Student: Abeer Nusair

NAU @ SCC

• Brook Browning

• Marwah Asad

• Ashtyn Jones

• Gina Fisch

• Melissa Sadowski

• Olivia Moses

• Elizabeth Cristea-Moraru

• Courtney Haws

• Ramon Enriquez

• Ashley Taber

Outstanding ASID Student: Marwah Asad

Phoenix College

• Fatima Altaee

• Vanessa A. Arenas

• Brisa Moreno Arrieta

• Paige Dressler

• Jazmin Hernandez Padilla

• Edwin Mendoza

• Carlos Murillo

• Clara Nieto Perez

• Nancy Roach

• Jessica Ayala Rodriguez

• Karla Rodriguez

• Linda Roussel

• Nataly Sanchez

• Brooke Scott

• Nghiep “Nate” Truong

Outstanding ASID Student: Nataly Sanchez