If you’ve ever had trouble climbing stairs, getting in and out of your bathtub, or reaching to the back of your lower kitchen cabinets, you will appreciate Home for Life design. Home for Life is all about building your new home to be easy to live in regardless of any physical challenges you or a family member may face. While Home for Life features can be retrofitted into existing homes, they are easier and less expensive to include in original construction.
Trends supporting Home for Life design:
The cost of assisted living facilities continues to increase making home care more attractive
Seniors want to remain independent as long as possible
Home for Life Features:
Locate all essential rooms—bedroom, bath, kitchen, living area, laundry, and possible hobby room—on one floor
Eliminate interior level changes
Plan for ramps (no steps) into the house
Choose an open floor plan with clear floor space and a 5-foot turning radius for wheelchairs
Increase the width of finished hallways to at least 42”.
Select wide doors with swing-clear hinges or pocket doors for wheelchair access (32” minimum, 36” is better)
Design bathrooms for walk-in or roll-in showers
Provide multiple kitchen workstations of varying heights
Lower wall ovens from standard heights
Use drawers instead of shelves with doors in cabinets
Allow for extra space beside car doors in attached carports or garages and higher garage ceilings for raised top vans or specialty vehicles
If you do build a multi-story home, install an elevator or chair lift, or at least design space and strengthen framing to accommodate an elevator or chair lift to be added later.
Consider building an attached apartment for someone who can assist with yard work, healthcare, and security
