Universal Design - Creating a Home for a Lifetime

It's not an easy subject to cover. No one ever wants to think about their parents, themselves, or future generations not being physically able to safely enter a bathtub or walk up a few porch steps. With Universal Design, however, that thought process is taken care of for you - with more items you may not have even thought about.

So, what is Universal Design? And who does it benefit? 

Universal Design is a way of strategizing a plan, or modifying a home, to maximize accessibility for any person that may have physical restrictions in the future. This means elderly individuals, as well as someone who may be short-term, physically injured.

Bathrooms are specifically targeted, as they are the primary source of injuries in the home for any age, with over an astonishing 80% of injuries. Listed below are some alterations to make during the design phase that could ensure your home could really be suitable for a lifetime.

SAFETY FEATURES

BATHROOMS:

• Walk-in bathtub options
• Sloped and recessed (no ledge or step) oversized showers
• Additional hardware "grab bars" in showers and commode rooms

THROUGHOUT:

• Additional lighting, especially in transitions between rooms and differing floor heights
• Sloped or ramped porch entry in lieu of steps
• Non-slick flooring on interior as well as sidewalks and patios

CONVENIENCE & COMFORT FEATURES 

BATHROOMS:

• Handheld shower head & built-in shower seat
• Comfort height commodes

THROUGHOUT:

• Open concept living
• 3'0 wide or larger doors, entries, and exterior walkways
• Lowered countertops, outlets, and switches
• Zoned HVAC, multiple thermostats
• Lever hardware instead of round knobs

Here is an example of an open concept plan with comfort and safety features of Universal Design, designed by Kurk Homes. We originally created this plan with the idea of building a secondary structure on a property so that aging or physically challenged loved ones could have the security of being close by, but still maintain independent living. 

Chris McGinley, Kurk Homes President, was the chair of the 50+ housing council for Greater Houston Builders Association, focusing on universal design and "aging in place." He is also pictured above, with our grandparents and the co-founder of Kurk Homes, Mr. Chester Kurk, honored in our July post.


© Melanie McGinley Sparks and Kurk Homes, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melanie McGinley Sparks and Kurk Homes with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.