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After all, homes built during the mid-2000s housing boom are now considered by many consumers to be outdated.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.