Universally Accessible Design
By contributing writer Laurie Neverman
September 22, 2008
One feature that truly makes our home unique is its accessibility. Typically, in an effort to cut floor space, many homes end up being inaccessible/difficult to those with physical limitations such as the elderly or handicapped. Our population is aging, and we need homes that can grow old gracefully with us. Building for a lifetime saves time, money and materials over the life of the home because it does not require renovation to remain livable.
Some of the key features of our home include low or no thresholds, 36 inch doors, and extra wide hallways and stairways. These wider “pass through” areas allow easy use of a walker or wheelchair, and the main stairwell can accommodate a lift seat or two people side by side. There are lever handles on the doors and the faucets have lever controls, making them much easier to use for someone with arthritis. Low level safety lighting throughout the home keeps restless sleepers from bumping into walls or furniture.
The bathrooms have enough floor space to accommodate a wheelchair or walker, and the tub and shower are both ADA certified. There are grab bars in key locations plus backing in the walls to allow for addition grab bars if needed. Both the tub and shower have hand showers with scald protection. The ADA Toto toilets use less water and work better than any toilet I’ve ever lived with before.
All of these features cost a little more than standard options, but to me they are well worth it, much more so than so many of “decoration only” elements for which many people pay a premium. My mother has myotonic muscular dystrophy, which has severely limited her mobility. It breaks my heart to see her struggle so in the world, but I know in my home she can be at peace.
Related Links:
Building for a Lifetime: The Design and Construction of Fully Accessible Homes by Margaret Wylde – A good book to get you started with planning for accessibility at any age.
Accessible Bathrooms – An overview of basic bathroom design concepts for accessibility.
Accessible Kitchens – Ideas for another key area of the house.
Common Sense Home Fall Recipes
It's tailgate season and every good burger and brat deserves some hearty side dishes. This week I’m sharing family favorites from my sister, Lois Jacobsen — her tangy coleslaw dressing, German potato salad and Dutch apple pie.
Coleslaw Dressing
Ingredients:
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup vinegar
1 teaspoon grated onion
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup mayonnaise
Directions:
Mix first 5 ingredients thoroughly. Slowly add oil, stir well. Add mayonnaise and blend well. Pour over shredded cabbage. Makes enough dressing to cover about ½ of a medium head.
German Potato Salad
Ingredients:
5 bacon strips
6-8 cups potatoes, boiled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
¾ cup sugar
½ cup vinegar
½ cup chopped onion
Directions:
Fry bacon, drain off some grease and fry onion in bacon drippings, set aside. Whisk together corn starch, vinegar, water, and sugar. Cook until clear. Add chopped onions, crumbled bacon and diced potatoes. Simmer until heated through.
Dutch Apple Pie
It's apple season, and there are few things that make your home smell better than a fresh baked apple pie. According to ochef.com, among the really good pie apples are Jonathan and Jonagold, which provide a good mix of sweetness and tartness. Good tart baking apples include Idared, Macoun, Newton Pippin, and Northern Spy.
Ingredients:
One 9 inch pastry shell, unbaked
Filling:
6 cups apples, peeled and thinly sliced
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup flour
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Dash of salt
2 tablespoons butter
Topping:
2 cups oatmeal
½ cup brown sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup butter
Directions:
Roll out crust and place in pie tin, crimp edges. Mix dry filling ingredients, toss with apples, and pour into prepared crust. Dot with butter. Cut together topping ingredients with fork or pastry blender. Pour on top of pie. Bake at 450F for 10 minutes, then at 375 for 1 hour. Cover edges with a pie shield or aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning.
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