Accessible Living - Premiere

ACCESSIBLE LIVING

INSIDE: Market & Industry News

Fueling Accessible Building Through Policy

Airbnb in Ohio Hosts Comfort for All

SIMPLE CHANGES MAKE BIG IMPACTS

New design, technology in kitchen & bath industry addresses aging-in-place needs

WELCOME ABOARD!

Keeping pace with the aging-in-place, universal design markets

FIRST WORD

After much hard work, we are excited to unveil the first-ever issue of Accessible Living magazine! This new publication is geared toward those building, designing or involved in aging-in-place and universal design residential projects, areas which are experiencing tremendous growth.

Each issue will take a look at all types of residential spaces — and cover considerations in design, construction and/or adaptations involved to make homes accessible.

While a main focus of Accessible Living is “aging in place,” we also cover adapted spaces that address lifestyle challenges for residents of any age. Universal design is a key concept covered in our content, highlighting how homes can be functional for as many users as possible.

Launching this magazine couldn’t come at a better time. For starters, according to the recent AARP “Home and Community Preferences Survey,” 77% of adults 50 and older want to remain in their homes for the long-term. And according to the latest information available from The Universal Design Project, over 67 million adults in the U.S. live with a disability. However, less than 200,000 housing units are universally accessible. That’s quite the gap.

The bottom line: big opportunities await for the industry. After all, there truly is no place like home. Our homes just need to fit our needs.

Group Publishing Director

Stuart Mann

Publisher Evan Mann

Don’t miss a minute of news, check out buildaccessible.com/ subscribe to get on our mailing list. Also, check out our monthly Accessible Living eNewsletter for additional industry insights including featured articles and highlighted news.

Modernize Home Services recently reported new findings on homeowners’ plans to invest in aging-in-place improvements. A majority of homeowners plan to explore aging-in-place projects for themselves, or for someone they love, in the coming year. About 63% of respondents plan to explore accessible home improvement projects for themselves. Learn more in our Pulse section.

There is so much happening in the aging-in-place and universal design markets that we thought it would be a great idea to gather as much news and trends as possible and package it into one publication.

Let’s spread the word. Share this issue with your colleagues, join our LinkedIn page and visit us online at buildaccessible.com.

Enjoy the issue and stay tuned for more to come!

Michelle Tennis, Managing Editor

Managing Editor Michelle Tennis mtennis@informpublishing.com

Art Director Rachel Tullio

Copy Editor Madeline Pace

Advertising Coordinator Lily Fuller

FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRES

Main sales office: 480-361-6300

Stuart Mann (480) 361-6300 ext. 115 smann@informpublishing.com

Jim Oestmann, Sales Manager 847-924-5497 joestmann@buildaccessible.com

Gregg Willinger, Sales Manager 914-588-0545 gwillinger@buildaccessible.com

EDITORIAL PURPOSE: Accessible Living provides the reader with insights and information related to aging-in-place and spaces that address disabilities or other lifestyle challenges in the residential built environment. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Accessible Living is published four times a year, quarterly, by Inform Publishing Group LLC, 8040 E. Morgan Trail, Ste. 23 Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Annual subscriptions are free for qualified requesters. Non-qualified subscriptions are: $25 in the United States, $50 in Canada and Mexico and $65 in all other countries. Single copies (prepaid): $12 in the United States, $20 in Canada and Mexico and $25 in all other countries. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Accessible Living, P.O. Box 211, Lowell, MA 01853. EDITORIAL NOTICE: The articles and opinions expressed in Accessible Living do not necessarily reflect those of Inform Publishing Group, LLC.

COPYRIGHT: Copyright 2022 by Inform Publishing Group LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, displayed or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission from Inform Publishing Group, LLC.

CONTENTS

FORWARD THINKING 18

A detailed update on proposed legislation to provide a tax incentive for home modifications that increase accessibility in private residences.

EXPANDED VISION 20

Rethinking accessible living with broaderbased community integration projects.

DESIGN FOR ALL 24

Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D., author of the Universal Design Toolkit, gives an inside look at her accessible home — from its humble beginnings to lessons learned, such as the importance of space planning.

BEYOND BARRIERS 28

Business is booming and members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry share the four main trends they are seeing with aging-in-place remodeling projects.

LIFETIME LEARNING 30

A variety of educational resources are available to keep up with the aging-in-place and universal design markets. Tap the treasure trove of guidance provided by the Living in Place Institute, Wellness Within Your Walls and Universal Design Living Laboratory.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

PULSE: 8 Market & Industry News; 10 LARGEST IMPACTS COMING TO AGING-IN-PLACE MARKET – Jill Barbaro, a strategic planner at Array Advisors, discusses the largest market drivers on the horizon for the aging-in-place market.

TRENDS: 12 TALKING TECH Researchers at the University of Missouri are using a $2-million grant from the National Institute on Aging to install in-home sensors that monitor the movement, sleep quality and vital signs of older adults in rural Missouri.

SPOTLIGHT: 15 SIMPLE CHANGES, BIG IMPACTS –An overview of how new design and technology trends in the kitchen and bath industry address aging-in-place needs. 16 KITCHEN & BATH PRODUCTS

INSPIRATION: 32 The latest accessible living products; 34 BE OUR GUEST – Inside an Ohio Airbnb outfitted with accessible, aging-in-place tech.

CALENDAR: 38 Tradeshows, seminars, webinars and podcasts

CONTRIBUTORS

1. TODD WILTSE, AIA, LEED AP, is a partner and principal at WJW Architects. His consistent pursuit of new ideas and evolution of architectural knowledge has led to expertise in projects including design for seniors and those with dementia; design for people with physical and developmental disabilities; environments for healing and wellness; and supportive, lowincome and market rate housing. wjwarchitects.com

2. ROSEMARIE ROSSETTI, Ph.D., is CEO & founder of Rossetti Enterprises LLC and author of the Universal Design Toolkit. She is a disability inclusion and embracing change expert, an accessibility consultant, a Certified Living in Place Professional and a board member of the Global Universal Design Commission. rosemariespeaks.com

3. JILL BARBARO, MHA, is a strategic planner at Array Advisors. She holds a master’s degree In health administration and is passionate about improving healthcare business processes, designing novel approaches to operational problems, and improving patient-facing communication systems to better serve communities. array-advisors.com

4. LOUIS TENENBAUM is president and co-founder of the Homes Renowned Coalition, was one of the first design-build contractors to focus on accessibility in the early 1990s and wrote the white paper, Aging in Place 2.0 for the Met-Life Mature Market Institute. homesrenewedcoalition.com

5. BILL DARCY is CEO of the National Kitchen & Bath Association. He joined the NKBA in 2006 has served numerous roles within the organization, including director of marketing, executive vice president, and ultimately CEO. He holds a B.A. in management from Moravian College. nkba.org

6. S. ROBERT AUGUST is president of North Star Synergies, and is an accomplished marketing, management and sales consultant headquartered in Denver, Colorado. He is the senior life director of the National Association of Home Builders. He is past chairman of the National Sales and Marketing Council of the NAHB. northstarsynergies.com

7. CHRIS EGNER, MCR, CKBR, CRPM, UDCP, CCP, is president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, and has served on NARI’s National Board of Directors since 2018. He is the owner of Chris Egner Design-BuildRemodel & Four Seasons Sunrooms in New Berlin, Wisconsin. chrisegnerdesign.com

aging-inplace & universal design industry news

VA Funding Helps Spur Development of Assistive Technologies

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology grants award up to $200,000 per fiscal year to persons or entities to encourage the development of specially adapted housing assistive technologies. The grants provide funding to those working to enhance the ability of seriously disabled service members and veterans and allow them to live more independently.

Since 2016, VA has awarded 22 SAHAT grants. To date, these grants have resulted in the introduction of several new products, including:

> AI-powered mobile scanner and reader enabling blind and visually impaired users to read text independently

> Smart guidance: a customized disability-adapted bathroom module

> Robotic overbed table for beds, recliners and wheelchairs

For more information, visit VA.gov

PULSE

AGING IMPROVEMENTS

Modernize Home Services Survey Spotlights

‘Aging-in-Place’ Demand in 2022

TYPES OF PLANNED PROJECTS

Seat within shower

11%

Stairlifts Handlebars

7% 7%

Neighborhood Livability

Walk-in tubs

17%

Nonslip flooring Widen hallways

4%

Door ramp

7%

Other/the rest

Includes windows, roofing, bathroom expansion, additional entrance, walk-in shower or new flooring

Medical alerts

25% 12% 8%

MODERNIZE HOME SERVICES released new findings from its survey on homeowners’ plans to invest in “aging-in-place” improvements. More than 2,000 homeowners actively seeking contractors through Modernize participated in the study at the end of 2021. Survey insights and new videos are available in the “Big Opportunities Await in the Aging in Place Industry” report. A majority of homeowners, across trades, plan to explore aging-in-place projects for themselves, or for someone they love, in the coming year. About 63% of respondents report they will explore these home improvement projects for themselves within the next 12 months and 6% plan to do so for a loved one. These results show an opportunity for contractors to increase aging-in-place projects. Home improvement professionals can learn more at modpros.modernize.com/aginginplace

AARP’s Public Policy Institute launched the updated AARP Livability Index, a web-based tool that scores every neighborhood and community in the U.S. based on the services and amenities that affect people’s lives the most as they age. Livability is ranked on a scale of 0 to 100. For the first time, the index includes accessory dwelling units as a “housing accessibility” factor, highlighting states that have enacted laws to support and promote ADUs (also known as in-law suites or guest houses). Only nine states and the District of Columbia have passed statewide ADU legislation. Learn more at aarp.org/livabilityindex.

TOP RANKED OVERALL LIVABILITY SCORES

Large Cities: San Francisco, California 65

Mid-Sized Cities: Alexandria, Virginia 67

Small Cities: St. Louis Park, Minnesota 66

Small Towns: Aspen, Colorado 72

Home Repair Nonprofit Rebrands as Coalition for Home Repair

ReFrame Association has rebranded as the Coalition for Home Repair. This marks a new chapter for this agency that has grown rapidly since its formation a decade ago as a way to advocate and share best practices in the effort to create safer, healthier homes across the country.

Coalition members repaired approximately 38,000 homes for 89,000 low-income people in 38 states in the last five years. With the help of 306,000 volunteers serving 7.8 million hours through the 85 member organizations, more than 71,000 projects were completed such as accessibility modifications, roof repairs, weatherization, room additions, plumbing and electrical repairs.

Report Finds AI, Predictive Analytics in Healthcare

Enable Safer Aging

While the smart home is focused primarily on security, automation and energy-reduction uses, healthcare, and especially elder care, is expected to become an important use case as the number of older adults increases in developed markets, such as the U.S. Sensors in a smart home generate a lot of data, which several companies, mostly startups, are using to train AI to identify when a resident is in danger of falling. According to a new report from Guidehouse Insights, AI and predictive analytics in elder care and healthcare will enable safer aging in place.

The report recommends that passive monitoring technology also address privacy concerns. In addition, home robotics manufacturers should integrate passive monitoring in their technologies and utilities and insurers should partner with startups to provide passive monitoring through energy usage. Visit guidehouseinsights.com

Lowe’s has launched a multi-year commitment to become a retail destination for aging-inplace and life-change solutions through Lowe’s Livable Home. The retailer, through collaboration with AARP, will provide expertise, services and affordable products, offering a one-stop destination for universal design options. Lowes.com/LivableHome will take visitors to a virtual library of articles and videos that will be updated regularly. AARP will help create educational online content on the site focusing on taking age-friendly design action. AARP will also assist in training Lowe’s associates, accompanied by signage in select stores nationwide. The in-store enhancements are underway in nearly 500 stores and nearly 50 metro areas and are expected to continue expanding throughout 2022. Lowe’s and AARP will also co-develop a “Livable Home” in-store resource guide with information, tools and resources for customers.

Webinar Breaks Down Home Remodel for Client with Catastrophic Brain Injury

During the recent National Association of Home Builders’ webinar titled, “Addressing Multi-Faceted Needs in AIP & UD Renovations,” presenters shared how they worked together to remodel a home that needed to accommodate not only a client who suffered a catastrophic brain injury, but his family and care team, as well.

One of the most noteworthy additions to the home was a therapeutic sensory room to help the client with episodes of irritability and other cognitive disruptions. Key features include specially coordinated LED lights installed throughout, as well as myriad sound-reduction elements to minimize outside noise. The webinar recording is available for free to NAHB council members and CAPS designees. Visit nahb.org

Making a ‘Livable Home’

Lowe’s launches solutions for aging-in-place, universal design markets

In collaboration with the AARP, Lowe’s “Livable Home” will offer agingin-place and life-change resources both in-store and online. In-store enhancements will continue through 2022 to all U.S. Lowe’s locations.

5Largest Impacts Coming to Aging-inPlace Market

What industry insiders should know

BY JILL BARBARO

The “Boomer Retirement Wave” began in 2008 and will culminate in 2031 at which point more than 20% of the entire U.S. population will be 65+ and, according to a 2021 survey conducted by AARP, more than 80% of them will want to stay in their homes as they age.

More than halfway through this demographic shift, limited steps have been taken to address retirees’ desires and the pressing need to bolster the aging-in-place model from a financial perspective (for retirees and the healthcare system at large). To make aging-in-place commonplace, AEC professionals will be in high demand and will experience abundant revenue opportunities that will simultaneously improve the healthcare system and lives of

older adults.

In April of 2021, President Biden outlined his American Jobs Plan, pledging $400 billion toward improving homecare, which was in some ways a recognition of the lagging investment in, and focus on, this space. The apportioned amount announced could fundamentally change the aging-in-place market by increasing wages for homecare workers, which could start a virtuous cycle of workforce stability, investment in employees and continued job/wage growth.1

This cycle would increase the supply of homecare workers and thus homecare services. Since the original form of the bill, the proposed investment has been scaled back to $150-$190 billion, which according to a report in The New York Times, jeopardizes the intended wage increases.

However, there is already forward momentum toward progressing homecare after the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the inadequacies and downright dangers of institutional living and created temporary programs that expanded homecare options. The COVID-era programs empowered private coalitions of some of the largest names in healthcare to form and lobby for the creation of widespread, permanent homecare programs with governmental reimbursement (i.e. Moving Health Home Alliance lobbying for payment reform for homecare services and the Advanced Care at Home Coalition for permanent status of hospital-at-home programs).

Experts have cited $250 billion as the level needed for the

Barriers that have stopped seniors from getting care at home include a payment structure that favors institutionalized settings, a lack of technology and processes to monitor clinical status and engage patients at home, and homes that are not well equipped for senior living. Reforms in these areas could be funded by savings from moving patients from skilled nursing facilities and acute care facilities to the home.

investment not to fail, and with these groups to back the effort, it is well within reach. As the barriers to homecare fall, care at home will increase across the entire continuum from home health aides who assist with activities of daily living and allow seniors to age in place to have highly skilled, acute care in the home. Here is what you should know to prepare for this coming change:

1) Greater demand

The need for accessible housing is going to increase. While 90% of housing units in America have at least one aging-accessible feature, according to U.S. Census data, less than 10% are safe for aging in place. All over the U.S., there will be a burgeoning demand for renovation work to transition homes to aging-friendly spaces. This will also translate to a greater need for newly built, aging-friendly houses in regions where the stock of these homes is comparatively low and the cost to renovate is prohibitive due to home age and layout (i.e., Northeast and Mid-Atlantic).

2) Future partners

While creating aging-safe and accessible homes will be essential to address the final barrier to homecare, for many individuals the cost of renovating will be out of reach.

For architects and contractors in the industry, forward-thinking integrated delivery health systems and vertically integrated payor organizations may become unexpected partners in business to address this gap. Those that prioritize population health or are truly looking to deliver the most impactful care at the lowest cost may contract with you directly to improve their patient’s homes.

3) New regulators

As care is moved to the home, Certificates of Need no longer apply, but you can expect that someone will create standardized definitions of

what it means

for a house to be “aging-safe” or suitable for hospital-at-home.

Today, these standards are likely determined at the organizational level or through nonprofit certifying organizations, but with Medicare and Medicaid being pushed to cover these services, a governing body who will create widely accepted standards to adhere to will emerge.

4) Incorporation of digital Remote-monitoring technologies will continue to proliferate. This is a trend that has been seen for years and can be credited with allowing the opportunity for care at home. As digital tech expands and becomes even more ubiquitous, it will be important to examine:

a. How new products can be incorporated into housing design to create next-level, aging-safe spaces.

b. How to incorporate directto-consumer products into care plans, while still maintaining a safe and consistent experience for all patients.

5)

will solve problems and create new opportunities. In most areas, greater demand will make businesses more efficient through economies of scale: think of services like Amazon Flex, Uber and Lyft. When the distance between clients is minimized, individual contractors can be more fully utilized. In the coming years the opportunity will arise to think critically about how to most impactfully schedule patients (i.e. by employee drivetime, task, acuity, etc.) and examine any tasks that can be

performed remotely through new digital tech capabilities. Together, these solutions can create efficiencies and reduce costs. The conversations happening across the nation today are going to break down existing barriers and allow individuals to safely age in place. Organizations focused on serving those looking to age in place who demonstrate creativity, flexibility and forward thinking will find endless opportunities to grow their businesses and improve the lives of customers.

1https://array-architects.com/wpcontent/uploads/2021/04/5-KeyQuestions-Around-Bidens-Home-CarePlan-White-Paper1.pdf

Economies of scale

For businesses that employ homecare workers, the increasing demand

TRENDSTRENDS Talking Tech

$2-million grant will use in-home sensors to monitor older adults in rural Missouri

Among the biggest side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been increased social isolation, loneliness and depression, particularly for older adults living in rural areas. This isolation has led many to delay or cancel healthcare procedures, including elective surgeries, which may lead to worsening health outcomes.

To assist those who may be experiencing difficulty completing various daily activities, researchers at the University of Missouri are using a $2-million grant from the National Institute on Aging to install in-home sensors that monitor the movement, sleep quality and vital signs of older adults in rural Missouri.

“Our goal is to use sensors to monitor older adults who are struggling with health conditions that limit their ability to perform various daily tasks, which may include cooking, gardening, walking the dog or grocery shopping,” said Rachel Proffitt, an assistant professor in the MU School of Health Professions and principal investigator

on the project.

Proffitt explained the sensors will be able to detect falls and movement, as well as measure heart rate, respiration rate and sleep quality.

“By tracking trends, we can notice if there is an abnormality, which can lead to discussions about possible interventions,” added Proffitt.

Proffitt said the data from the sensors will be monitored by a care team, which will include experts in occupational therapy, nursing and social work. The three-year, $2.1-million grant will likely involve more than 60 older adults with either diagnosed or self-identified disabilities living in rural Missouri. The noninvasive motion sensors will be installed in their homes free of charge. The sensors capture a 3D silhouette of an individual’s body and will be located in common areas of the home, such as the kitchen and living room.

CONNECTED

STAY ON TREND

“If the motion sensor detects an increase in overnight trips to the bathroom, for example, a talk with their doctor about the abnormality might uncover a urinary tract infection, and a prescription of antibiotics and increased fluids can help improve their condition,” Proffitt said. “Then, we can continue to monitor their recovery with the sensors to see if trends return to normal.”

Proffitt added the care team can also provide recommendations for strategies older adults can use to perform the daily tasks they enjoy most, such as cooking.

“Some older adults with osteoarthritis may have swollen and painful joints, so when they are cooking, we can recommend having a chair nearby so they can take breaks,” Proffitt said. “Or, rather than carrying a heavy pot of pasta from the stove to the sink, we can provide a rolling tray so they can easily slide the pot across the counter. Another recommendation could be meal prepping when they have more energy, so they don’t have to worry about food when they become too tired to cook. Monitoring their daily movements help us tailor those recommendations.”

Co-investigators on the study include Lori Popejoy and Blaine Reeder from the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, Marjorie Skubic from the MU College of Engineering, Erin Robinson from the MU School of Social Work, and Richelle Koopman and Emily Leary from the MU School of Medicine.

TECH TALK

Top smart home innovations to watch for accessible living market

Home Instead, a provider of senior inhome care services, recently released survey results, which showed that seniors in particular are learning to embrace technology more than ever. One in four seniors said they felt more comfortable using new technology than they did just one year ago. At the same time, technology innovations have continued to serve homeowners of any age living with disabilities. The following are home tech innovations to watch:

CONNECTED MONITORING SYSTEMS

More connected monitoring systems are hitting the market, providing peace of mind to homeowners aging-in-place. Examples include whole-home electrical monitoring systems that connect to an electrical panel in order to track energy usage. Connected leak detection devices continuously check for leaks in plumbing systems. In addition to tech that monitors home equipment and systems, newer smart devices are available that can be installed in a home that detect falls and automatically places a call for help.

Sengled’s smart bulb can track sleep and heart rate.

Image: Sengled

HOME-ASSISTANCE ROBOTS

Home-assistance robots are a relatively new innovation. The use of these robots are now being explored for potential in a variety of environments, including senior living communities and homes of individuals with disabilities or who are aging-in-place. Most recently, Nationwide and Labrador Systems launched a multi-state pilot program that will explore the capabilities of the Labrador Retriever, a new personal robot designed to empower individuals to live more Independently, as well as provide support to caregivers.

SMART LIGHTING DEVELOPMENTS

We’ve come a long way since the invention of The Clapper. Today’s smart lighting innovations include tunable lighting, lighting that can be controlled by the wave of a hand over a switch on the wall and much more. The most recent product unveiled is smart bulbs that provide biometric measurement tracking of heart rate, body temperature and other vital signs, as well as sleep tracking and fall detection.

FULLY INTEGRATED SMART DOORS & HARDWARE

Partnerships between video doorbell companies, along with doors and hardware manufacturers, are leading to inventions such as connected exterior door systems. Key features of these doors include integrated technology, such as smart locks, sensors that determine if the door is locked or unlocked, motion sensors and more. Although these doors are connected to a home’s electrical system and Wi-Fi, built-in battery backup ensures continuous connection for up to 24 hours in the event of a power outage.

Masonite M-Pwr smart doors integrate through the Masonite M-Pwr app.

SPOTLIGHT

Innovations in accessible kitchens & baths

Simple Changes, Big Impacts

How new design & technology in kitchen and bath industry address aging-in-place needs

BY BILL DARCY

As the U.S. homeowner population grows older, more senior residents are finding that not only are home renovations welcome, but it is often necessary with evolving needs.

After all, homes built during the mid-2000s housing boom are now considered by many consumers to be outdated. In fact, the National Kitchen & Bath Association found in its recent Kitchen and Bath Market Outlook report that the renovation industry is expected to see

over 16% remodeling growth in 2022, mostly a result of houses from 20 to 40 years old that were not renovated during the initial pandemic remodeling boom.

Kitchen and bath designers have long championed the need for homeowners to renovate with the future in mind, especially as the number of older Americans has grown 36% since 2009, according to the Administration for Community Living, while the under 65 community has only increased 3% during the same period.

Bathroom renovations are priority No. 1

As older homeowners consider possible renovations, bathrooms are at the forefront. Trends and styles once picked for fashion, such as the freestanding tub that served as the centerpiece of the bathroom, may no longer be the safest or most accessible for the same resident 10-15 years later. While technology represents an option for those that need remodeling, it is not always the answer.

A recent study1 done by Phillippa Carnemolla, associate professor in the Faculty of Design Architecture and Building at UTS, found that despite many assistive technologies being developed to support older people in their homes, there is evidence of a disconnect between the older generation and the technologies designed to make the aging-inplace process easier.

PHOTO: H368K742/DREAMSTIME

SPOTLIGHT

KITCHEN & BATH PRODUCTS

Lifter & Drop-Down Systems Offer Quick Access to Large Cabinets

Elevated Toilet Seat Adds Comfort, Safety

Kohler Co.'s Hyten Elevated Toilet Seat adds three inches of height for comfort while sitting, and improves accessibility while lowering to and raising from the seat. The sleek yet functional design provides a solution for those experiencing mobility issues without compromising on asethetic appeal. The Hyten boasts top-mounting hardware for easy installa tion. The seat is available in a round-front and elongated options to fit existing toilets. Grip-Tight bumpers prevent the seat from shifting, increasing security, while Kohler’s QuietClose hinges ensure the seat lid won’t slam. A quick-release button makes removal for cleaning simple.

Grass America has introduced the Kinvaro Series of Lifter Systems, with smooth, quiet action and sleek European design. The series includes a variety of designs — parallel lifters, bi-fold lifters, lift-up systems and dropdown systems — that all provide quick and easy access to the vast amounts of storage space of large wall cabinets.

The Kinvaro L-80 Parallel Lifter system opens a single door that moves in parallel to the cabinet. The Kinvaro F-20 Bi-fold Lifter system moves two horizontal doors together in a smooth, quiet action. The T-series Lifter (T-57, T-65, T-71, T-76) opens a single door, pivoting the door to the top of the wall cabinet. Rounding out the series of wall cabinet systems is the Kinvaro D Flap System, a stylish, modern drop-down flap system that creates a minimalistic look with clean lines.

Kitchen Faucet Combines Beauty, Dependability and Accessibility

The ADA-compliant Renate Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet from American Standard combines beauty and dependability in a sleek, contemporary package. It is available in three finishes, including chrome, stainless and matte black. A dual-function spray head features a toggle control to easily switch from regular stream for filling pots to spray for rinsing vegetables and cleaning the sink. A handy pause button stops waterflow momentarily. Equipped with Re-Trax to ensure smooth extension and retraction of the spray head, the faucet includes matching deck plate for versatile installation.

Sometimes, simple rudimentary design changes can have the biggest impact, and nowhere is this more apparent than the bathroom.

In this same vein, a recent AARP poll2 found that 79% of respondents said they needed to amend their bathroom design to enable easier aging in place — by far the highest concern. This aligns with recent research from NKBA’s 2022 Design Trends report, which found that consumers increasingly want features and functions that provide ease of use and convenience for now and in the future. Also opting for more modern, streamlined features can lead to less clutter, helping to ease the physical stress of maintenance and cleaning.

By choosing more universal designs, older homeowners can create an environment that is both safe and reliable, helping them stay independent for longer in their own homes.

Technology aims to bring health awareness

Design plays a vital role in a home’s overall accessibility and live-ability, but emerging and advanced technology should also be a top consideration when choosing new fixtures and appliances. According to a study3 by the Gerontological Society of America, when technology is co-designed with aging-in-place needs, “healthcare shows improvements in the

Whirlpool Wall Oven with Smart Features, Meets Standards for Accessible Design

The Whirlpool 24” Wall Oven is a small-space oven that provides the flexibility to cook full-size meals on multiple racks at once. With nine different cooking modes, homeowners can make all their family favorites within the 2.9 cu. ft. capacity oven. And, they can tackle their to-do list with smart features built for multitasking. When homeowners are busy elsewhere, they can use their smartphone to get dinner started by remotely preheating the oven or use a compatible voice-enabled device to adjust the cook time or temperature. Plus, this wall oven meets the Standards for Accessible Design specified by the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide equal access to all.

care experience, including improved patient knowledge, ability to cope with the disease, and better access to healthcare, reductions in falls and medical errors, improved patient satisfaction, better disease control, increased disease knowledge, and reductions in cost.”

Manufacturers have unveiled suites of smart bathroom technologies at the last Kitchen and Bath Industry Show that enable owners to remotely or voice control everything in their bathroom — from auto-filling baths and turning heated floors on or off to controlling mirrors and lighting, all of which can help an older homeowner take pressure off their bodies and live a more comfortable, independent lifestyle.

L-80 Parallel Lifter

Miele ADA Dishwasher Designed with Hight-Adjustable Upper Basket

Miele G 5051 SCVi Active

Dishwasher is a fully integrated ADA dishwasher in tried-and-tested Miele quality at an affordable price. Key features include topclass results in less than one hour with the QuickIntenseWash. Its DoubleWaterProof system automatically shuts off the water supply in the event a leak is detected. The dishwasher also features a versatile and secure comfort basket design with a height-adjustable upper basket. In addition, the door is extremely easy to open and close, and stays open in any position.

New Color for CleanCut Bathtub Insert Line

CleanCut Convertible, a bathtub insert product, is now available in a beige. The beige design features a darker accent color to off-white or almond tubs. The Step, Ultra-Low and Convertible models are now all available in both white and beige. The Convertible model features a water-tight plug that locks on and off, allowing easy transition from step-in shower to full bath. The DIY kit includes one Convertible unit with water-tight plug, two rosette knobs, two sets of decorative caps, and necessary materials for basic installation.

Vanity Combines ADA Compliance, Minimalist Design

Native Trails’ latest vanity collection includes the Zaca Wall Mount. This ADA-compliant vanity is handcrafted from 304 grade stainless steel and is available in 36 inch and 48 inch sizes, making it suitable for universally designed bathrooms. The Zaca Wall Mount is designed to pair with the NativeStone concrete Trough 4819 sink, made in a sustainable blend of natural material and available in four finishes — Slate, Earth, Ash and Pearl.

Moen Smart Faucet with Motion Control

The Smart Faucet with Motion Control is Moen’s latest advancement in the Moen Smart Water Network. The faucet features new touchless technology that allows the user to control temperature and water flow by using simple hand motions. Homeowners can choose from hot, warm or cold water with a simple swipe of the hand over the sensor. Within the corresponding Moen Smart Water App, homeowners can also set default temperatures for hot, warm and cold for when the sensor is activated. The app also allows users to select the gesture scheme that works best for them to customize the actions.

Additionally, a few brands are developing the next wave of toilets that analyze waste, detecting overall health issues and flagging them to help consumers better manage their well-being. Furthermore, smart bathmats can now track and analyze the owner’s health, measuring things such as weight, BMI, muscle mass and posture — all illustrating the industry’s commitment to helping more Americans futureproof their homes and make the user experience easier, safer and healthier.

Technology gaining traction in kitchens Technology is not only gaining popularity in the bathroom, but in the kitchen, as well. Many

Americans are looking to smart technology to help with everyday tasks. According to a recent NKBA deep dive into technology in the kitchen, over 30% of designers have reported including integrated technology into their kitchen plans.

Simple technology innovations, such as lighted interior cabinets and push-to-open drawers, to more sophisticated equipment, such as smart refrigerators and anti-scald devices to reduce reducing burn injuries, can help ease the physical toll on an older homeowner.

It’s no secret the population in the U.S. is getting older and at a faster rate than ever before. The Administration for Community

Bemis Launches Personal Wash Bidet Attachment

Bemis Manufacturing Company is now offering a nonelectric Personal Wash Bidet attachment available exclusively for use with the Clean Shield raised toilet seat. The bidet is designed with an easy twist function, with each click increasing waterflow. Its Comfort Stream wash features two independent valves that allow users to easily change water stream, while the adjustable t-valve controls the incoming water pressure. The handle also features a user-operated function that cleanses the nozzle after use. The Clean Shield with Personal Wash Bidet is packaged in a bundle that includes support arms.

Living predicts that by 2040, over 21% of the U.S. population will be over 65 years old. As a result, new technology combined with well-thought-out design updates, can make all the difference in ensuring aging homeowners will continue to feel comfortable and safe in their homes.

1https://viejournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40327-018-0066-5#citeas

2https://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/ info-2021/home-and-community-preferencessurvey.html

3https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/61/7/e395/5854360?login=true

Trough 4819 in Pearl

Forward Thinking

Fueling accessible building through policy initiatives

BY LOUIS TENENBAUM

This new magazine’s focus on accessibility in the built environment is an outgrowth of the medical miracles that have significantly increased longevity and enabled a more physically varied population. If homes are tools for living, these demographic changes create an opportunity for those in the building business to update the residential infrastructure to meet these changes. Accessible Living provides the perfect forum to share expertise, techniques and products that meet the needs of these demographic changes.

While the market for greater accessibility may grow organically, the most immediate, direct and effective market growth comes from policy. When stepping back and looking at the building business, policy — from rules and regulations to incentives and government spending — lies behind everything.

It is at the heart of zoning, mortgage funding and building codes. Policy decisions are behind new freeway entrances and public transit stops that change land values, wastewater treatment systems that make neighborhoods healthy and possible, along with building heights, building restriction lines, unit density and parking requirements that impact what, where and how many units are built.

Tax packages contribute to retail, industrial and even sports arena development. Policy is a major factor in shaping the built environment. A good example of tax policy spurring market growth is demonstrated by the rapid acceleration in the number of solar installations. The Solar Energies Industries Association reports: “The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is one of the most important federal policy mechanisms to support the growth of solar energy in the United States. Since the ITC was enacted in 2006, the U.S. solar industry has grown by more than 10,000% — creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and investing billions of dollars in the U.S. economy in the process.”1

Providing value beyond current use

The HomesRenewed Coalition, or HRC, started from a simple question, “How can we get policies that incentivize accessible building?” After

CRITIQUES & RATIONALE

Anticipating some frequently voiced critiques, the coalition outlines below the rationale behind the HRC proposal and notes how the mission may be expanded in the future:

C: It pulls money from limited retirement accounts.

R: The bill will contain lifetime caps on the deduction for both age categories. (2) This money is saved for retirement. This is a cost-effective use of that money.

C: It does not provide for those with limited resources.

R: This is a start, a foot in the door, so to speak. Once the value becomes apparent, other policies will be enacted. After all, seat belts and backup cameras were originally expensive options in luxury cars and are now requirements.

C: It is difficult to monitor tax policy and may lead to fraud and abuse.

R: This is always a risk, but HRC is confident that industry leaders can work with government regulators to craft rules that work.

ILLUSTRATION: SKYPIXEL/DREAMSTIME

all, this industry, much like clean energy, is a reaction to changing circumstances in the way we live and the tools we use. Much like a solar installation, we offer the chance for private capital to be invested in individual or multifamily housing stock. Like solar, this is a capital improvement that continues to provide societal value beyond the timespan of use by the current purchaser or resident.

HRC has been driving proposed federal legislation to provide a tax incentive for home modifications that increase accessibility in private residences. The bill, The Home Modifications for Accessibility Act (HR 7676), was introduced May 6 into the House Ways and Means Committee by U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. and Dan Mueser, R-Pa.

The bi-partisan bill will allow a $30,000 tax deduction for specified home modifications for

homeowners. In addition, homeowners under the age of 59.5 will be able to utilize retirement funds without penalty and receive the tax break. It is important to weigh the costs of a tax incentive against the benefits. HRC has published an economics white paper showing that lost tax revenues will be balanced by the healthcare savings to Medicare from reduced falls. Additional benefits, at no net cost to the government, include:

> Long-term well-being, increased choice, dignity and joy of residents

> Increase in jobs and job training for accessibility installations

> Reduction in need for extended rehab away from home

> Reduction in family, informal and paid caregiver injuries

> Fewer hours of caregiver time needed

With these incentives in place, the conversation on a building project will shift from avoiding falls, dependence, frailty and misery to saving money. As more building professionals become familiar with accessibility, these techniques will become the norm for both new construction and remodeling.

Both this new magazine and HR 7676 signal that safety and accessibility are recognized as accepted business, healthcare and national priorities.

Policy is an important tool for the industry to grow so we can enhance the lives of the millions of Americans enjoying the benefits of medical science, but who desperately need updated homes to do so with choice, dignity and joy.

1 https://seia.org/initiatives/solar-investment-taxcredit-itc

EXPANDED VISION

Rethinking accessible living with broaderbased community integration projects

BY TODD WILTSE | PHOTOS BY KENDALL MCCAUGHERTY

Designing a home to be accessible for a wide range of mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments is challenging enough, but the ultimate success or failure of the living arrangement for an individual may depend on the “where” of the home’s location and the “how” of its integration into that community, as much as it does on the “what” — the physical environment within the home. Designing with this expanded point of view on true accessibility and empowerment for residents not only allows architects to realize a greater impact for the people who make their lives in the buildings we create, it can define a new paradigm for how we think about accessibility.

Access Health and Housing, a partnership between developer IFF Home First, the Illinois Department of Human Services and Trinity Healthcare system, is an example of a humancentered approach to the provision of affordable, accessible and community-integrated housing. Serving people with a broad range of physical, sensory and mental disabilities, the design of the Access Health and Housing project recognizes that these disabilities often overlap with other social and economic determinants of health, and extend beyond the individual to community well-being. The project is entirely set aside for individuals relocating out of nursing care facilities back to community settings under the Colbert Consent Decree.

The provision of healthcare and other supportive services in a residential setting is critical to the success of the Access Health housing typology, and

From left: Spanning 16 sites, Access West Cook offers 1- and 2-bedroom homes across western Cook County in Illinois. > Well-integrated open workspaces below counters and sinks add to accessibility.

will be facilitated by a small wellness clinic to be located within one of the buildings. This model of pairing independent housing with tailored services is the specific mission of IFF’s Home First project, and falls broadly under the term Permanent Supportive Housing.

Designed by WJW Architects, the project locates accessible, human-scale, multi-family development within the established Chicago suburb of Maywood, Illinois. The Maywood project follows on the heels of IFF’s other successful Home First developments in Chicago and surrounding communities. By inserting accessible living options into locations that already have jobs, transportation, healthcare and other amenities, these projects truly integrate people with disabilities into their communities, thereby ensuring broad-based equity.

At the same time, the infill approach to community redevelopment brings energy to neighborhoods that have suffered from disinvestment for years. By reinvesting in these communities, the development seeks to reverse overlapping social cycles:

> Community disinvestment causes a concentration of poverty

> Poverty frequently leads to poor health outcomes, which can in turn result in disability

> Disabilities all too often lead to poverty, which can in turn lead to homelessness.

A holistic approach

A sustainable community requires addressing economic opportunity, population health, homelessness and accessibility in a holistic manner.

The design for the Access Health buildings proceeded from principles generated collaboratively by the project team. The project goals included the promotion of:

> Independence

> Community engagement

> Equity

> Wellness

Kicking off the project with a freewheeling design charette, tenants and representatives from Access Living reviewed and critiqued another recently completed Home First development. Though broadly satisfied with the built outcome, the reviewers noted several specific areas for improvement and iteration.

The buildings themselves consist of twostory 3-flat and 4-flat buildings, in addition to a two-unit building with commercial space for a healthcare provider on the first floor. The

With accessibility in mind at Access West Cook, each room provides ease and independence for residents. Barn doors that smoothly slide out of the way further maximize the use of space. Clear pathways and space for maneuvering at entries and between rooms is emphasized.

majority of dwelling units in the development are on the ground floor; all of those are fully accessible for people with mobility impairments.

Second-floor units are accessible to those with sensory or cognitive disabilities, as well as people with upper limb impairments who are otherwise able to navigate stairs. Entry doors to the common lobbies are outfitted with delayedaction closers, to provide ample time to navigate in either direction.

Promoting maneuverability, flexibility

Within the apartments, the layout relies heavily on concepts of maneuverability and flexibility of use. Clear pathways and space for maneuvering at entries and between rooms is emphasized, as is space to stow lifts, mobility devices and other equipment. Open floor plans provide options for flexible furniture arrangement, while useful built-ins allow for storage and workspace out of the flow of traffic.

Reach ranges to laundry equipment, cabinets and other storage areas are carefully thought

Star-rated appliances and HVAC equipment combined with high-insulation levels meeting National Green Building Standard “Silver” requirements enhance overall affordability by lowering tenant utility bills.

Promoting independence

As a counterpoint to the scattered-site model of community integration found in the Access Health development, another form of community-based housing for people with disabilities is found in Illinois’ Supportive Living Program. Disability Supportive Living Facilities are another means of creating deinstitutionalized housing options for people with disabilities, but are typically tailored to residents requiring a greater degree of assistance with activities of daily living.

While typically located within a broader neighborhood offering a range of amenities and transportation options, the DSLF itself provides a higher level of onsite care and support for residents. In comparison, due to the nature of the housing typology itself,

through to maximize useability for all. An array of clever design features like pull-down upper cabinets, adjustable closet shelving and barn doors that smoothly slide out of the way further maximize the use of space. Well-integrated open workspaces below counters and sinks, barrier-free showers and unobtrusive grab bars, all add to the accessibility of the units.

Promoting health through the built environment

In addition to specialized design features to assist those with mobility and sensory impairments, all unit layouts promote health and wellness by bringing ample light, air and views of the outdoors to the inhabitants.

Coupled with a focus on healthy materials, good ventilation and overall indoor air quality, the interior environment aims to enhance physical and psychological well-being, while providing the stability of home. To that end, Energy

Permanent Supportive Housing residents in infill developments like Access Health tend to live more independently. Both models provide methods for integrating disabled populations into the fabric of the community; both provide residents with the individualized support services they need.

Whatever the method used to integrate people with disabilities into neighborhoods, the key is to focus on a holistic approach that combines community amenities with a home environment geared toward the needs of residents.

Coupling this approach with broader-based community redevelopment efforts allows individuals with disabilities to take pride in the fact that they are part of the regeneration of their neighborhood. This also allows for active engagement in all the community has to offer, including employment, shopping and connections with friends and family.

Inserting accessible living options into locations that already have jobs, transportation, healthcare and other amenities, these projects truly integrate people with disabilities into their communities, thereby ensuring broad-based equity.

Rosemarie Rossetti and husband Mark Leder in the great room of their home, the Universal Design Living Laboratory.

A look back at life in the Universal Design Living Laboratory

BY ROSEMARIE ROSSETTI

FOR ALL DESIGN

On June 13, 1998, my husband Mark Leder and I went for a bicycle ride on a rural wooded bike trail in Granville, Ohio. After riding for 10 minutes, Mark thought he heard a gunshot and slowed down to investigate. As he scanned the scene, he saw a large tree falling. He shouted, “Stop!” But the warning was too late. Instantly, I was crushed by a 7,000 pound tree and paralyzed from the waist down with a spinal cord injury.

After six weeks of being in the rehabilitation hospital, I returned home in my wheelchair. I was shocked and disheartened, realizing just how much my home intensified my disability. The house was not accessible. Mark had to pull me in my wheelchair up the three steps at the front door. And the carpet was too thick for me to navigate in the wheelchair, so Mark pushed me from one room to another.

Universal Design

Shortly after coming home from the hospital,

I read a magazine article about a woman in a wheelchair who had a home with universal design features. Universal design is a framework for creating living and working spaces, and products, to benefit the widest range of people in the widest range of situations without special or separate design.

The photos in the magazine of her kitchen gave me ideas and hope. I thought, “What if our home had universal design features?” My research began as I read articles and books, toured homes and talked with design and building professionals.

Designing, building a national demonstration home and garden

My husband is 6 feet 4 inches tall, while I am 4 foot 2 inches seated in my wheelchair. Our heights and reaches were factors in the home design so that we were both accommodated.

In September of 2004, we hired architect Patrick Manley to draw the house plans for

our new home. Mark and I bought an acre-and-a-half lot in December of 2006. We broke ground on Sept. 23, 2009, and moved in May 2012.

Mark and I served as the general contractors of our home, the Universal Design Living Laboratory. We received the highest levels of certification from three universal design certification programs, making our home the highest-rated universal design home in North America.

A look back 10 years

Living in the Universal Design Living Laboratory for the past 10 years has given me a unique perspective.

I have learned the importance of space planning; small differences in the width of a door, the

height of a threshold or the slope of a ramp can impact a person’s independence. Safety features like grab bars in the toileting area and shower have kept me from falling, and they make transfers easier.

The first noticeable improvement when I moved into our new home was the ease of navigating on the hardwood and tile floors. Mark called me “Zippy” as I rolled briskly from room to room, passing easily through the 36-inch-wide doorways. My shoulders were no longer strained as they had been on the carpet in my previous home. All of the entries to our home are step-free with thresholds no higher than ½ inch, making it easy to enter and exit.

Kitchen design

Key universal design features in the kitchen should include the overall design of the circulation pattern, cabinet design, various countertop heights and appliance selection.

In my kitchen, I especially like having the center island with three countertop heights: 30, 35 and 40 inches. I can roll under the 30-inch-high section and chop, slice and mix food. There are electrical outlets on the center island. The appliance garage is conveniently integrated under the island so the small appliances can be stored.

The side-hinged oven and microwave are located under the 40inch section of the center island. By

having the door swing away there is more room for access to put items in and take out of the oven.

The 34-inch-high countertop on the perimeter of the kitchen that includes the sink and cooktop is an ideal height to accommodate both my needs and my husband’s. The knee space under the sink and cooktop allow me to roll under them. Deep drawers under the countertop roll easily and store dishes and pans.

When I first saw an in-counter steamer and pasta cooker at the International Builders Show, I knew I had to have it. This is built into the cooktop. The pot filler is positioned by the cooker so I can add water. I boil the water and add pasta to a metal basket.

From left: Universal Design Living Laboratory, Columbus, Ohio, is the highest-rated universal design home in North America. > Key universal design features in the kitchen should include the overall design of the circulation pattern, cabinet design, various countertop heights and appliance selection. > Side-hinged oven and microwave. By having the door swing away, there is more room for access to put items in and take out of the oven. > Safety features like grab bars in the toileting area and shower help prevent falls, and make transfers easier. > Small details can make a big difference in planning for universal design. Consider hardwood or tile flooring for ease of navigation, along with varying counter heights, width and depth.

To get a free chapter of the Universal Design Toolkit and learn more about Rossetti’s national demonstration universal design home and garden, the Universal Design Living Laboratory, go to UDLL.com. For more about her speaking and consulting services, visit RosemarieSpeaks.com.

When the pasta is cooked, I drain it with a removable basket. The hot water remaining in the cooker is drained by turning a knob on the cooktop.

The side-by-side refrigerator/ freezer is my preferred configuration. I can easily reach items on shelves and drawers that pull out.

A 5-foot turning radius throughout the kitchen allows me to turn completely around and have space for my husband and I to work together.

As others plan to remodel or build, it is paramount to incorporate features that allow occupants accessibility, usability, safety and independence.

Today’s trends in aging-in-place remodeling projects

BY CHRIS EGNER

Beyond Barriers

More often, elderly individuals are choosing not to enter senior care facilities, and instead opt to remain in their homes or to move in with their adult children. At the same time, hiring an in-home care aide has become more widely accessible. The bottom line: this market is seeing tremendous growth. The following are a few popular trends that members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry are seeing when working on these projects.

#1Home elevators

Home elevators have become a more familiar sight, even in homes with only a single flight of stairs. As residents age, issues with hips and legs become more prominent and painful, creating issues around mobility. The addition of a home elevator makes it so that stairs will

never become a hurdle for someone wishing to remain at home. The elevator also ensures peace of mind for everyone in the family, as elderly parents are less likely to have an accident while home alone.

Elevators open up design options when it comes to where and how they should flow into the feel of the home. An elevator can be built into the outside of the house, or it can be a way to utilize otherwise dead space within the home. There are several different types of home elevators ranging from cable-driven and chain-driven to hydraulic and even air-driven elevators. Some home elevators display a futuristic look with a circular, glass design built beside a staircase. Others are simpler in design, with a traditional metal gate. Whatever the look of one’s home, there’s typically a way to include a home elevator in the construction.

#2Accessibility modifications

Barrier-free bathrooms and kitchens are the new normal in home design trends, as they open up accessibility to all occupants regardless of age or ability. The best example of the barrier-free concept is a walk-in shower, usually complete with a bench inside. Removing the curb at the

bottom of the shower lessens any chance of a spill when elderly occupants are entering and exiting the shower area, and the bench ensures residents will be able to access the shower for years to come.

Another option for those homeowners who prefer a bathtub is to replace the current tub with a walk-in tub with seats and grab bars for added security.

HOME ELEVATORS open up design options when it comes to where and how they should flow into the feel of the home.

Integrating a barrier-free layout into a kitchen or kitchenette also helps occupants continue living at home in a safe and accessible situation. In practice, this usually looks like building countertops and sinks to a reachable height for the average wheelchair user. It can also include motorized or pulldown cabinets, so pantry items and dishware are always within reach. Another design point to

Motion-activated

keep in mind is leaving enough space for wide turns in kitchens and bathrooms for those in wheelchairs, along with grab bars along walls and hallways.

#3Blending practicality and convenience

Overall, the line between practical design and convenience features that drive up a room’s “cool factor” is growing increasingly blurry, according to Gary Grabowski, owner of Greater Home Services

and a NARI Universal Design Certified Professional.

Curbless showers, mentioned previously, are just one example.

In fact, bathrooms are among the highest-demand remodeling projects Grabowski sees, especially for people whose mobility is affected.

Features growing in popularity include floating, wall-hung vanities. Grabowski said the open floorspace that design creates is enticing whether it is needed to be able to roll a wheelchair under it or not.

Other upgrades, such as motion-activated fixtures like fans, faucets and touch controls for showers, may feel like a bit of luxury in the short-term, but could serve an accessibility role down the road.

In other parts of the house, luxury vinyl plank flooring continues to gain popularity. Not only is it practical and easy-to-clean, it’s appealing from a design standpoint and also offers a barrier-free advantage.

#4

Ramps integrated into the landscape

Talented architects and designers have invented new ways of blending ramps into the flow of a home or building’s landscape. This creates an attractive and accommodating entry point for wheelchair and walker users and those who may wish to avoid stairs. Beautifully designed ramps are sometimes fused with stairs for an avant-garde look, while wooden and concrete ramps are built with an eye for the overall look of surrounding gardens and lawns. Ramps have become an essential design choice for those looking to remodel residential properties and will continue to be in demand.

Design for accessibility does more than make living spaces more conducive for those with disabilities. It expands on regulations to create more user-friendly spaces tailored to those who wish to agein-place. Ultimately this results in more enjoyable and functional design.

BLENDING RAMPS into the flow of a home or building’s landscape creates an attractive and accommodating entry point.

fixtures, such as Moen’s Cia suite of touchless faucets, are growing in popularity and could serve an accessibility role down the road.

ELEVATOR: ROBERT KNESCHKE, BATHROOM: ALA2017BN, RAMP: ADCHARIN CHITTHAMMACHUK/DREAMSTIME; FAUCET: COURTESY MOEN

LIFETIME

Keeping up with today’s savvy customers through educational opportunities

BY S. ROBERT AUGUST

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us how to preserve ourselves, while spending 90% of the time within the confines of our own homes.

What have we considered and what are we doing?

We have learned how to enhance our homes through lifestyle changes around daily activities, including work and hobbies. We have remodeled, bought an existing home with more features, and/ or purchased a new ready-built spec home or a custom-built home with all the features, advantages and benefits we desire.

Most importantly, buyers have re-established and refined what they want in their homes now and have begun thinking about what they want in their homes as they age.

Keeping up with today’s savvy home buyers and homeowners requires a bit of legwork. And it starts with education.

A variety of resources are avail-

able to builders and developers wanting to keep up with the agingin-place and universal design markets. These include programs, certification courses and a treasure trove of guidance provided by: the Living in Place Institute, Wellness Within Your Walls and Universal Design Living Laboratory.

#1Living in Place Institute

Louie Delaware, founding principal and president of the Living in Place Institute, created this preventive maintenance and universal design institution after realizing the high cost of well-care facilities for the average family. Studies have proven that people live longer in their own homes than elsewhere. The longer folks can reside in their personal residences, the more meaningful and cost-effective lives they enjoy with

LEARNING

their families, friends and neighbors, while continuing to enjoy their deserved independence.

The Living in Place Institute’s educational protocols, when applied, create peace of mind for all ages and generations living in one home simultaneously. Some protocols include:

> Wider staircases, hallways and doorways

> Lever hardware

> Single-level entryways (no steps)

> Raised water closets and bidets

> Raised dishwashers

> Raised washers and dryers

> Ovens and stoves with controls at the front

> Tub and shower handle hardware fixtures

> Single-level shower entries (no steps)

> Base cabinets for dishes, cups, bowls, silverware and utensils

For more information, LivingInPlace.Institute.

#2

Wellness Within Your Walls Wellness Within

Your Walls founder and principal, Jillian Pritchard Cooke, created her company after experiencing environmental cancer caused by being exposed to sawdust, drywall

preparation and paint fumes as an accomplished national and international interior designer of her company, Des-Syn.

After recovering from her illness, Pritchard Cooke and her friends created an educational program to help families live in their homes in good health by eliminating toxins and chemicals.

The Wellness Within Your Walls team has been working on more than 10 demonstration homes throughout the country over the past five years to introduce active wellness educational homes to market, present and tour.

Wellness Within Your Walls has also been honored with the National Association of Home Builders Global Opportunities Board’s Global Innovation Award for Educational Excellence.

To learn more visit online at WellnessWithinYourWalls.com

#3Universal Design Living Laboratory

A third educational opportunity is the Universal Design Living Laboratory created by Rosemarie Rossetti and Mark Leder in Columbus, Ohio. After being

paralyzed from the waist down with a spinal cord injury, Rossetti and her husband set out to not only have a more accessible home, but pave the way for others to have more accessible homes.

Built in 2006 with North Star Synergies, Inc., their demonstration home is a great learning opportunity for manufacturers, vendors, trades, service companies, schools, universities, government, health industry employees and, of course, the public.

Learn more in the pages of this magazine, as Rossetti gives a breakdown of key features of the demonstration home in her article. More info is also available at UDLL.com.

#4The Living in Place Institute Laboratory Idea Home

The Marshall Wildfires destroyed 1,084 homes and devasted many other homes and businesses on Dec. 30, 2021, in Boulder County, Louisville and Superior, Colorado. Judy and Louie Delaware are one of the many families who lost their homes. They and many others are restoring their lives by building a

From industry news to the latest products, keep learning with a subscription to Accessible Living. Visit buildaccessible. com/subscribe to get on our mailing list.

new home on their homesite.

To further understand state-ofthe-art universal design, health, wellness and living-in-place techniques, the Delawares, Dani Polidor, LaDonna Erikson of The Living in Place Institute, and myself are working to develop, create and build the Delaware’s new home.

This demonstration home will also feature advanced design trends, smart home technology, Net Zero Energy, Energy Star, Water Sense and Indoor Air Plus certifications; presentations that will begin shortly.

By participating in educational and certification opportunities, today’s savvy builders and developers will have a competitive edge, and in turn, help customers enjoy an improved lifestyle environment.

Judy & Louie Delaware

INSPIRATION

Innovative & cutting-edge products for accessible living

Connected Water Purification System Treats Whole House

The ArrowMAX Home UV-LED water purification system from ACUVA Technologies treats water entering the house before being dispensed from faucets, hoses or showerheads. First, water is treat ed with a pre-filter that removes particles and other contaminants. Then, water is purified by Acuva’s UV-LED unit to remove up to 99.9999% of bacteria

The New ‘Wave’

and viruses. During its life, the system will require no maintenance apart from the replacement of the pre-filters. The system operates only when water is flowing, reducing power consumption by 90% compared to traditional systems. It features a mobile app, with notifications when it’s time to change the pre-filter and to monitor the system’s health.

Legrand has launched a new radiant Wave Switch, extending its touchless technology products. Perfect for any environment where hands might get dirty, messy or full, the radiant Wave Switch provides an easy, sleek option for cleaner control in both commercial and residential applications. Users can avoid touching the switch directly by turning lights, or even small-motored appliances like garbage disposals, on and off with just a wave, limiting mess and reducing the potential spread of germs. The switch installs easily in place of any standard light switch and can be used in both single-pole and 3-way applications. It also features an internal sensor, which can be adjusted to detect the wave motion anywhere from 1 to 6 inches from the device to best fit a specific user’s needs or preferences.

SWING CLEAR HINGES from Stone Harbor Hardware are available in both 5/8- and 1/4-inch radius corners. Retrofitting swing clear hinges offers a cost-effective, alternative solution to widening doorways in homes. The hinges move the door out of the opening when it is opened, creating an unobstructed passage to maneuver walkers and wheelchairs. Both sizes are available in satin nickel, vintage bronze and polished brass finishes; the 5/8-inch hinges are also available in matte black, polished chrome and satin chrome. The hinges are sold in pairs and include screws for easy installation. Stone Harbor also manufactures grab bars in a variety of sizes, styles and finishes, giving both designers and homeowners a complete resource for accessible design hardware.

Telehealth Care Service Launches for LG TV Owners

The new Independa Health Hub is an integrated ecosystem of health offerings. It provides consumers with bi-directional video communication that allows users to connect with healthcare providers, wellness services, family and friends in the comfort of their homes through their LG televisions. The hub is available on all 2021 and 2022 LG smart televisions in the U.S. and Canada. As the first telehealth care service supported on LG TVs, Independa features an intuitive interface and all notifications and alerts are integrated into the webOS. A variety of professional services are available including dental and pharmacy, as well as WebMD and Sprio100, a fitness programs for seniors.

TITUS PUSH LATCH S2, the new generation of Titus touch opening system for handle-less cabinet doors, provides an enhanced opening action. The latch incorporates a damping action, which controls the push motion, making the door opening decisive but soft, bounce less and precise. Door closing is confident and reliable — and always right the first time. Safety in use is enhanced by a special design that makes sure the product is detached in case of accidental hit. Push Latch S2 works with standard hinges and fits standard drilling pattern, enabling fast and intuitive mounting action.

Motorized Sofa Wall Bed Features Integrated BenchSeat Sofa

Anti-Slip Color Coat Adds Layer of Protection to Floors

Daich Coatings has introduced TracSafe Anti-Slip Color Coat. Available in five colors, the real stone organic coating covers almost any blotchy floor surface inside or outside the home. TracSafe products bond firmly to a variety of flooring materials, including concrete, masonry, stone and pavers, tile, vinyl, linoleum and pre-painted floors. The products come as low VOC pre-mixed formulas. The odorless, water-based product offers fast dry times and easy water cleanup. Both the coating and sealer have excellent adhesion capabilities and are designed to last.

Applied Tactile Mat Features Mesh Reinforcement

Detectable Warning Systems has advanced its ADA-compliant RediMat, a tactile exterior mat for the visually impaired, to include mesh reinforcement for added strength and increased durability. Engineered mesh strengthens its advanced properties, ensuring a secure installation with longer-term durability. Constructed of UV-protected, meshreinforced polyurethane material, the RediMat is surface applied on a variety of surfaces (including both asphalt and concrete) and features a proprietary, pre-applied, peel-and-stick technology adhesive system. This system installs in less than five minutes with no drilling required for traditional projects.

ALL

THE (DOOR)BELLS & WHISTLES

Masonite International Corporation recently revealed M-Pwr Smart Doors, residential exterior doors that integrate power, lights, a video doorbell and a smart lock. The smart doors employ patent-pending, Underwriters Laboratories-certified technology to connect residential exterior doors to a home’s electrical system and wireless internet network. To ensure the doors are “always on” in the event of a power outage, an emergency backup battery can sustain system power up to 24 hours when fully charged. A smartphone app enables homeowners to remotely program and control motionactivated LED welcome lighting, as well as confirm whether the door is open or closed at any time.

A space-saving, motorized sofa wall bed that opens with just the push of a button, allows occupants with mobility differences to operate the bed with ease. Resource Furniture’s motorized Penelope Sofa is a vertically opening, freestanding wall bed with a queen-size bed and integrated bench-seat sofa with loose back cushions. The wall bed is available in two sofa arm widths. It is also available as Penelope Book Sofa, which features an interior storage compartment for bedding and more than 16 linear feet of shelving.

LED Wall Bar Expands Visibility for Aging-in-Place Market

Sonneman’s Purolinear 360 is an LED wall bar system of linear tubes, set within the geometry of surface-mounted cylinder brackets, which rotate individually to direct the LED illumination in 360 degrees along their axis. Arranged in a linear pattern or along a single path, the possibilities for compositions are endless and unlimited in scalability. May be installed in damp locations. Available in a polished chrome, satin chrome, satin black or satin white finish. A major advantage of LED lights for those wishing to age in place is that the bulbs last much longer than incandescent or halogen bulbs. These lights are great for hallways and can serve as nightlights to create visibility, without a bright overhead light, when getting up to use the restroom.

SMART DOORS

PRODUCTS IN ACTION

BE OUR GUEST

The latest technology is now available at The Werner House, an Infinite Living Collaboration. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this short-term Airbnb rental allows guests to experience design and technology that promotes independent living, safety, security and mobility for all ages.

It all started with a vision from Lisa M. Cini, senior living designer and author of “Hive: The Simple Guide to Multigenerational Living: How Our Family Makes it Work.” She envisioned Infinite Living and purchased the 10,000+ squarefoot mansion, renovating it into

the first-ever “live” aging-in-place showcase.

She invited other designers, as well as manufacturers, to collaborate on Infinite Living The Werner House, stating that the best solutions come from collaboration. The following dives deep into key features of the house:

Promoting safe exercise & wellness

Ecore offers a dynamic twist to the home’s gym with its Forest Rx and FITturf flooring surfaces and TRU technology. The products and features are ideal for reducing impact and the risk of injury, supporting

Ohio short-term rental hosts the latest in accessible, aging-in-place technology

The Werner House in Columbus, Ohio allows guests to experience technology that promotes independent living, safety, security and mobility for all ages.

joints and mitigating noise. Smartfit, designed for pro athletes, offers a dual-tasking gamification machine that assists with cognition, balance and recovery and Lifetime Vibe, based on NASA technology, provides a safe vibration plate that increases balance and helps with many senior-related ailments from Parkinson’s to arthritis.

Healthmate Sauna outfits the space with a seated infrared sauna that allows a user’s head to stick out of in order to read or enjoy a tablet, while getting the benefits of increased blood flow and pain relief. Tape by Ever Life Designs and Tonal are all senior-friendly and help to promote safe workouts, balance and cognition. The spa also includes a massage room and hot and cold plunge pools to increase circulation, reduce joint pain and arthritis and help with the immune system.

For aging adults, falls happen most frequently in the bathroom. Walk-in bathtubs can help avoid slips and trips to the emergency room. Additional safety and comfort considerations include height-adjustable, heated bidet toilet seats with splash guard and nightlight features. Below: Flexible, height-adjustable kitchen cabinets and countertops allow guests to use the kitchen with ease.

Tech-savvy and sleek guestrooms

The spacious guestrooms feature the newest aging-in-place technology like Shaw Floor’s Sole with SensFloor technology. A safe and discreet sensor is incorporated in the flooring that alerts caregivers if a guest falls or simply can turn on the lights once their feet hit the floor.

All-age friendly bathrooms

For aging adults, falls happen most frequently in the bathroom. To avoid slips and trips to the emergency room, Assisto bathtubs reduce the risk of injury. Brondell’s Swash 1400 Electronic Bidet Toilet Seats feature selfsterilizing, stainless-steel nozzles and safety seat sensors. The height-adjustable and heated, Luxury Class A8 Serenity Bidet Toilet Seat adds a wash and blow dry, splash guard and nightlight features to any toilet, improving accessibility.

Pressalit provides customized height-adjustable sinks with support arms, toilets and shower systems suited to different body types and mobility levels. JACLO offers stylish grab bars, hand showers and washcloth holders. Delta Faucet’s fixtures are touchless and Pellet has created elegant shower seats, handrails and height-adjustable sinks. Ever Life Designs offers a toilet paper and phone holder, grab bars and shower seats.

LiveWell’s grab bars enhance the shower, toilet and the area over the toilet — as they are designed to be right where you need them without looking institutional. LED under counter and door lighting provides under-the-sink nightlights and cabinet doors, allowing for wheelchair access,

INSPIRATION

are in a wheelchair. Pressalit offers flexible, height-adjustable kitchen cabinets and countertops that allow users to accessibly use the kitchen with ease.

Brondell water filter technology, and Samsung’s Smart Hub refrigerator and oven, let you see what items need to be refilled with cameras inside the fridge, and comes in handy if you’re at the grocery store and forgot the grocery list. Meals can be started in the oven right from a smartphone.

while Shaw Floor’s Sole with SensFloor technology incorporates a safe and discreet sensor, alerting caregivers if a someone falls.

Remote health monitoring devices

While not available in the mansion, Lisa recommends Livio AI hearing aids, which have fall detection and track body and brain health in 27 languages. Zibrio’s SmartScale measures movements that indicate risk of falling. MouthLab by Aidar Health monitors more than 10 medical parameters, including temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure, breathing patterns, heart rate, lung function, etc. in 30 seconds.

The MedWand handheld device allows for remote office visits and real-time collection of vital sign readings, to accurately monitor medical conditions regardless of location. H2-BP is the world’s smallest and lightest wearable blood pressure monitor. Med-Q Automatic Pill Dispenser

will flash the corresponding day slot with a bright red light and blast an alarm that increases in volume until pills are taken.

Accessible kitchen

Functional design is important for everyone, whether short in stature, have shoulder issues, or

Reaching upper cabinets safely with accessible countertops to cut, mix and stir encourages everyone to engage in the kitchen. An automatic stove shutoff device like Stove Safety from FireAvert automatically shuts the stove off if food starts smoking to prevent a fire or burned pan from unattended or forgotten cooking, saving lives and property.

“It can be daunting to redesign a home for four generations of family members all living under one roof,” says Cini. “I know because I renovated our family home to service the needs of our kids in their teens, parents in their 40s, grandparents in their 70s and a 95-year-old greatgrandmother with Alzheimer’s/ dementia. The good news is that 55 of the nation’s top manufactures like Shaw flooring, JACLO, Williams-Sonoma, Pressalit and Brondell have included their products designed for seniors in the mansion so folks can fully experience these technologies in the context of how it can integrate into their own lives.”

Lisa Cini is a senior living designer, president/CEO of Mosaic Design Studio and author. For more information, visit lisamcini.com.

The spa at The Werner House includes a massage room and hot and cold plunge pools to increase circulation and reduce joint pain and arthritis. Below: Flooring surfaces are available that feature technology ideal for reducing impact and the risk of injury, supporting joints and mitigating noise. Dual-tasking gamification machines assist with cognition, balance and recovery. Equipment featuring a safe vibration plate increases balance and helps with many senior-related ailments from Parkinson’s to arthritis.

CALENDAR

Events & Podcasts | See more events or get details at buildaccessible.com

AUGUST

Podcasts

Home Designs for Life: Remodeling ideas to increase safety, function, and accessibility in the home: buzzsprout.com/1921120

Accessible Housing Matters

with Stephen Beard: podcasts.apple.com/us/ podcast/accessible-housingmatters/id1566583221

The Universal Design Project: universaldesign.org/podcast

HomeTech: hometech.fm/

Home Assistant: hasspodcast.io

The Smart Home Show: smarthome.fm

2022 IDS National Conference, Aug. 4-6, Chicago, Ill., interiordesignsociety.org/ conference

20th Annual 55+ Healthy Lifestyle Expo, Aug. 13, Elkton, Md., cecil.edu

Illuminating Engineering Society Annual Conference, Aug. 18-20, New Orleans, La.

NARI Certified Remodeler Online Prep Course, Aug. 31, nari.org

SEPTEMBER

NARI Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler Online Prep Course, Sept. 1, nari.org

AOTA Virtual Career Fair, Sept. 1, aota.org

Sept. 2124, Miami, Florida

NARI Universal Design Certified Professional Online Prep Course, Oct. 25, nari.org

NOVEMBER

Coalition for Home Repair’s ReFrame Annual Conference, Nov. 9-11, Kingsport, Tenn. & virtual, coalitionforhomerepair.org

AOTA Education Summit, Nov. 10-12, Orlando, Fla., aota.org

DECEMBER

What’s Next Longevity Innovation Summit, Dec. 1-2, Washington D.C., washingtoninnovationsummit.com

JANUARY 2023

Gather 2022 – American Society of Interior Designers’ National Conference, Sept. 21-24, Miami, Fla., asid.org

NARI Certified Lead Carpenter Online Prep Course, Sept. 22, nari.org

AIANY Design for Aging Committee Meeting, Sept. 22, online, calendar.aiany.org

NARI Certified Remodeling Project Manager Online Prep Course, Sept. 27, nari.org

OCTOBER

Home Care and Hospice Conference and Expo, Oct. 23-25, St. Louis, Mo., nahc.org

M-Enabling Summit – Promoting Accessible Technologies and Environments, Oct. 24-26, Washington, D.C., m-enabling.com

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, Jan. 31, Las Vegas, Nev., kbis.com

NAHB International Builders’ Show, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, Las Vegas, Nev., buildersshow.com

MARCH 2023

On Aging Conference 2023, March 27-30, Atlanta, Ga., asaging.org/on-aging-2022

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