FEATURE STORY
Universal Design & the CAPS Designation
Do you really need it?
eventy-seven million baby boomers are reaching retirement age, and nearly half of them do not feel their home will fully meet their needs as they grow older. The AARP landmark study, “Fixing to Stay” was a wake-up call to the residential remodeling industry. The results of the study revealed that Americans prefer to remain in their homes as they mature, rather than seek assisted living or other arrangements. As well, older consumers want a reliable means of identifying professionals they can trust to remodel their homes. The CAPS (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist) designation has been developed to help home remodeling professionals meet the needs of this burgeoning market.
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Universal design, also called barrier-free design, focuses on making a house safe and accessible for everyone, regardless of age, physical ability or stature. Most of us think immediately of ramps and grab bars, but universal design goes far beyond that. In many cases it can be subtle differences
that the casual observer would not notice. In fact, applying universal design concepts such as wider doors and hallways can potentially make a house feel more spacious.
As remodel experts, it is our responsibility to anticipate the future demands of the market and become educated on how to meet the needs and desires of our clients. Here are some elements that you can include in your next remodel to make it more user-friendly in “the long haul” for your client.
In the Kitchen
„ Use pulls instead of knobs on cabinets and drawers. These are much easier on arthritic hands.
„ Install a contrasting edge-band on countertops. This makes it easier for someone with failing eyesight to see the edge of the countertop.
„ Install varied-height cabinets and countertops. This is particularly appreciated in multi-cook families
where, say, a very tall parent and a child may be working together to prepare a meal. Countertop heights can also be varied to accommodate particular tasks. For example, bakers value lower countertops for rolling out pastry and kneading dough.
„ Items such as under-the-counter refrigerator drawers make a kitchen more accessible for someone in a wheelchair. Elevating the dishwasher accommodates people in wheelchairs as well as those who may not be able to bend easily. You can even get a sink that raises or lowers at the touch of a button.
„ To accommodate a wheelchair, leave open space under the sink, cooktop, and prep counter. Other options include a higher toe-kick on the base cabinets, install pull-down shelves in the upper cabinets, and choose a range with controls at the front or to the side of the cooktop.
Continued on next page 10 OCTOBER 2011 | HOUSTON BUILDER | GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION – BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
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