AGING IN PLACE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA - Northwood ......5 Introduction This guide reﬂects our experience helping homeowners in Northern Virginia Age-in-Place safely and with maximum

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AGING!IN!PLACEIN NORTHERNVIRGINIAIS YOUR HOME ACCESSIBLE?

A Guide by Northwood Construction

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What?This is a guide for homeowners who plan to Age-in-Place and need help making decisions about how best to adapt their home to their changing needs.

Why?Getting older often means making some hard decisions. One of the hardest of these is determining where you’ll live as you age—and how. This guide helps cover the “how” by o!ering safety and accessibility solutions for aging homeowners.

Who created it?This guide was created by Northwood Construction, Inc., a leader in design/build remodeling in Northern Virginia. The information presented is based on our experience helping homeowners in the area find safe and a!ordable ways to Age-in-Place.

About This Guide

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Table of Contents

Introduction 5

Section 1: Aging-in-Place: What You Need to Know 6Aging-in-Place Definition ..................................................................................................................7The Accessible Home ....................................................................................................................... 8Renovation ........................................................................................................................................... 9

Section 2: Aging-in-Place: The Accessible Home 11Make Things Easier to Reach .........................................................................................................13 Make Moving Around Easier ..........................................................................................................14 Make Things Easier to Use .............................................................................................................15

Section 3: Aging-in-Place: The Accessible Bathroom 16Seating .................................................................................................................................................18Grab Bars .............................................................................................................................................18Nighttime Safety/Lighting ..............................................................................................................18Space/Doorways ...............................................................................................................................21

Section 4: Aging-in-Place: The Accessible Kitchen 22Appropriate Storage ........................................................................................................................24Accessible Appliances ....................................................................................................................24Lighting ...............................................................................................................................................24

Section 5: Getting Around Accessible Doors and Entryways 27Widening Doorways for Greater Accessibility .........................................................................29Alternative Kinds of Doors.............................................................................................................36Bi-fold and Quadfold Doors ...........................................................................................................36Doubleswing Doors .........................................................................................................................36Bi-pass Doors .................................................................................................................................... 37Pocket Doors ..................................................................................................................................... 37Wall Mount Sliding Doors ..............................................................................................................38

Section 6: Stair Lifts and Elevators 39Motorized Stairlifts ..........................................................................................................................40Elevators .............................................................................................................................................40

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Table of Contents

Section 7: Ramps 42 Section 8: Outdoor Lighting 45 Conclusion 48 Appendix: Quick Aging-in-Place Checklist 50

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Introduction

This guide reflects our experience helping homeowners in Northern Virginia Age-in-Place safely and with maximum accessibility in their homes. Keep in mind that these suggestions may or may not be right for you. The key to successfully Aging-in-Place is finding solutions that fit your lifestyle, budget, and needs.

Costs for Aging-in-Place solutions vary based on the needs of the individual. Some very e!ective solutions will be inexpensive—simple plug-in lighting, for example, or the installation of a few handrails. But if you’re looking to make multiple rooms fully accessible—doorways wide enough for wheelchairs and new cabinets that can be reached from a seated position among other considerations—the costs can be significant.

There’s a lot to consider, and it’s important to keep in mind that the mobility you have today might not be the mobility you have tomorrow—or next year. It can be an overwhelming prospect, deciding what to do and when. But don’t worry—help is on the way. Northwood Construction is ready to provide whatever you need to Age-in-Place safely, with all of the accessibility and convenience you want.

Whatever your concerns and needs, we have solutions. Please read on and let’s figure out together the best way for you or your loved ones to Age-in-Place.

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Section 1Aging-in-Place: What You Need to Know

Getting older can mean making some tough decisions.

One of the hardest of these is determining where you’ll live as you age—and how. You may choose to remain in your current home, which brings us to our key phrase for this discussion, Aging-in-Place. Let’s explore what that means:

Aging-in-Place DefinitionAs we age, a lot of things we take for granted become di"cult—sometimes impossible—without a little help. We eventually face some choices: staying at home and maintaining as much independence as possible, or finding an alternative means of being taken care of. The first option we call Aging-in-Place. In a nutshell, it refers to making

Section 1 Aging-in-Place: What You Need to Know

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certain that our homes are able to accommodate our daily routines safely. This can be tricky, because aging individuals’ levels of mobility, balance and dexterity often change quickly, and with little warning.

The Accessible HomeFor most of us, our homes are the center of our lives—this is where we connect with our family and community. Home defines us. It’s not surprising that an overwhelming majority (more than 80%) of individuals ages 65 and up want to remain in their current home. Regardless, each individual has to look at his or her mobility issues, quality of life, and access to necessities to make sure Aging-in-Place is the best choice for them and their family.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to deal with mobility and safety issues. Let’s look at a few ways of creating the accessible home.

Aging-in-Place Products. Some mobility and sensory issues are easily handled with items that can be bought inexpensively. If vision issues make it hard to get around at night, something as simple as a motion detecting light can make nocturnal navigation easy again. Or if your steps falter on stairs or steep


It’s not surprising that an overwhelm-ing majority (more than 80%) of individuals ages 65 and up want to remain in their current home.

http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/beyond_50_communities.pdf

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inclines, there are lots of di!erent types of handrails and handles to make those climbs easier. The list goes on and on—accessories to make mobility easier and safer are available for many individual situations.

Renovation. Many Aging-in-Place products are quick and easy to install, but there are other approaches that are a little more involved. Depending on your level of mobility, you might want to consider developing detailed accessibility remodeling plans. This might mean wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs or assisted walking, lower shelves, appliances reachable to those with less range of motion, bathrooms that are safe and easy to move around, or dealing with movement between floor levels. Some people may need to consider all of these in their plan and some may only need to consider a few.

Cabinets that have roll out storage will save you from too much reaching or bending; replace traditional doorknobs with levers to keep your grip from slipping; and elevated seats, beds, and toilets make standing and sitting less dangerous. With careful planning, everything you need can remain right at your fingertips. Think about the long term as you build or renovate. What’s low enough today might be just out of reach tomorrow.


Depending on your level of mobility, you might want to consider developing detailed accessible house plans, or to build a wheelchair accessible home.

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Remember, home is a place full of memories—it’s often the center of who we are. That can be tough to give up. Aging-in-Place safely might take significant investment, and could come with some risk. But with the advice of industry professionals—occupational therapists, nurses, skilled and trained remodelers—and some careful planning, creating an accessible home can be a safe and happy way to maintain a sense of self, independence, and continuity as you grow older.


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Section 2Aging-in-Place: The AccessibleHome

While aging is inevitable, it is not inevitable that we will be forced out of our homes when we become less active.

With some careful planning, we can create an accessible house plan (in our existing home) that will continue to work well for us throughout our lives.

An accessible home that is Aging-in-Place friendly does not have to look institutional. More and more products designed for Aging-in-Place have broken the “utilitarian” design mold and are now quite attractive. Additionally, some simple modifications won’t even be noticed. Here are some things to think about:

Section 2 Aging-in-Place: The Accessible Home

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Make Things Easier to Reach

• Move the bathroom medicine cabinet to the side of the bathroom vanity. Cabinets over the sink are hard to reach and aren’t always practical. Or maybe do away with the medicine cabinet and keep those items in a vanity cabinet drawer.

• Lower racks, shelves, and poles in closets to make clothing easier to reach.

• At some point the microwave over the stove will be di"cult to reach. Perhaps a microwave drawer mounted under the counter would be easier to reach. At the very least, keep the microwave on the counter—not mounted above countertops.

• Install retractable shelves that pull out and down from kitchen wall cabinets making it easier to reach plates and glasses.

• Install a platform under the washer and dryer so it’s easier to reach inside without bending too far (of course this applies to front loading appliances).


Cabinets over the sink are hard to reach and aren’t always practical.

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Make Moving Around Easier

• Consider widening doors to accommodate future assisted walking or wheelchair. This will increase accessibility for everyone with mobility challenges living in or visiting the home.

• Make sure the flooring in the kitchen and bath has a non-slip finish, and has a matte tone to diminish the glare of overhead lighting.

• Replace thick bulky area rugs that create a tripping hazard with thinner attractive non-slip area rugs.

• Install attractive handrails on both sides of a stairway for increased safety without changing the home’s decor.

• Consider handrails in hallways if balance is becoming an issue in enclosed spaces.

• Improve safety while entering the house. A short 12"—18" grab bar mounted vertically (screwed into the framing) next to the latch side of the door can improve safety for people with balance issues, especially if your door is at the top of a set of stairs.

• Bedrooms upstairs? Install handrails on both sides of the staircase. Occupants with balance and strength issues can use both hands to help themselves up and down. (NOTE: make sure your existing and new handrail brackets are firmly fastened to the homes framing —do not rely on drywall anchors to hold the weight of a person tugging on a handrail.)


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• Chair lifts or elevators, if necessary, provide access to other levels of the house.

Make Things Easier to Use

• Replace standard doorknobs with levers that are easier to maneuver with sti! hands.

• Install grab bars and railings (consider textured ones for a better grip) near the toilet and in the bath or shower stall. Always make sure these are securely fastened.

• Use single-lever faucets with balled tips at the sink. This allows people to control the temperature with one hand while holding on to something sturdy with the other

• Install kitchen cabinets that feature rollout drawers and easy-to-grip “C” or “D” shape handles. Or replace your cabinet shelves with rollout shelves.

• Install a taller toilet—less distance to travel down and easier to stand up after use. A grab bar or toilet paper holder with an integrated grab bar can provide great independence here.

• Touch-command lighting systems or remote controlled lights & ceiling fans allow you to control lighting without moving—of course movement is beneficial.

• Change your Thermostat to one that has large digital illuminated characters—the larger numbers will make it easier to see and operate.

These are just a few ideas to help stimulate your thinking. An accessible house plan is not rocket science – it’s logical and it should simply fit your needs.


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Section 3Aging-in-Place: The AccessibleBathroom

Bathrooms are too often the scene of easily avoidable accidents and injuries, especially when decreased mobility, strength, and balance are factors.

Luckily there are plenty of quick and inexpensive ways to lower the risk and increase the ease of functionality in the bathroom. The amount of e!ort and expense depends primarily on the level of bathroom remodeling needed—are you in need of a few minor adjustments, or do you require fully accessible bathrooms? Some of these fixes you can likely do yourself, but if you need significant improvements in lighting, more space, larger doorways, etc., you may need to contact a home remodeling service.

Section 3 Aging-in-Place: The Accessible Bathroom

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Here are a few issues to address to create a safe, accessible, and independent-living bathroom in your home:

Slippery Floor Surfaces. When remodeling, be sure to avoid slick tile or marble floors. You can increase slip resistance by using textured floor tile. Also consider adding rubber suction cup fastened mats to tub and shower floors.

Seating. There are lots of options—chairs and benches in a variety of shapes and sizes—to fit any tub or shower. If balance or fatigue are an issue, these can be life-savers!

Grab bars. Often times a towel bar becomes a convenient steadying device while shaving or brushing teeth. Consider a grab bar mounted vertically on a wall adjacent the sink. Or maybe trading your existing towel bar for a grab/towel bar – these can be mounted close to a tub/shower entrance for balancing while stepping in and out.

Nighttime safety/Lighting. For many as we get older our ability to see in low light decreases. Appropriate bathroom lighting is imperative to safety as we Age-in-Place. Here are some suggestions / options:

• If you have an old light fixture with an electric outlet built into the fixture – get rid of that fixture now! Replace it with a new fixture and have a GFI outlet installed by a qualified electrician.


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• Replacing your existing light fixture is typically the easiest way to increase the light in your bathroom and boost safety. Look for a fixture that has more bulbs than the existing or perhaps a fixture that uses a brighter group of bulbs. When choosing the fixture make sure you consider how easy or di"cult changing the bulb will be. Remember a big part of Aging-in-Place is being independent and di"cult to change bulbs decreases your independence. Add-ing a dimmer to this light allows you to use it as a nightlight.

• Shower or tub lighting. Adding a light above the shower and/or tub is a big safety improve-ment. However, the electric code is very specific when it comes to adding a light above the shower or tub. If you have strong handyman skills the installation is not too di"cult, but it’s best that you read and abide by the code when installing a light above a tub or shower.

» Typically a light above a tub or shower is a re-cessed light that has a clear glass lens covering the bulb. It’s best to use a minimum of one code approved 6" diameter recessed light with lens


Look for a fixture that maybe has more bulbs than the existing or perhaps a fixture that uses a brighter group of bulbs.

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above each tub and/or shower to improve illumination and safety. Two 5" diameter lights with lens in lieu of one 6" provides more light and increases safety with the redundancy of a second light.

• An interesting floor lighting solution is to use a new product LED lighting tape and install this on the top of the vanity cabinet toe kick. This illuminates the floor area around the vanity making it easier to avoid tripping or finding dropped items. Again install this in accordance with manufacturers instructions and in compliance with the code.

• Stick-on LED battery powered lights with built-in occupancy sensor. These may not be the most aesthetically pleasing – but they do the job and can be a good solution when a little more illumination is needed for visiting parents or grandparents.

• Room motion detector – also called an occupancy sensor. This sensor can be used in a bath-room (or any other room likely to be used at nighttime) to recognize motion and then activate a lamp or light above the sink in a bathroom. Experienced do-it-yourselfers


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can install this. However a qualified electrician is the best way to go. By the way, these sensors have a manual switch so they can be turned on and left on for extended periods of occupancy.

NOTE: Bathroom lighting can be a little tricky because of the proximity of lights/electricity to water and the possibility of electrocution. If you doubt your ability to install bathroom lighting hire a qualified electrician

Space/Doorways. Many bathrooms are small and di"cult to maneuver in, or even get into. It’s not uncommon for bathrooms to have doorway widths of only two feet, making them di"cult—if not impossible—to access by someone in a wheelchair or using a walker. These sorts of jobs are best left to home remodeling professionals. We’ll talk more about doorways and accessibility in Section 5: Getting Around.


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Section 4Aging-in-Place: The AccessibleKitchen

Like bathrooms, kitchens can be dangerous places—water and other spills combined with hard-cornered countertops and unforgiving flooring can make for some nasty injuries.

There’s a lot to reach for in a kitchen too—food, frozen goods, dishes, utensils—and if you have mobility and range-of-motion issues, the average kitchen can be a frustrating place!

Here are a few ways of engaging in accessible kitchen design that makes your kitchen safer and easier to Age-in-Place in.

Section 4 Aging-in-Place: The Accessible Kitchen

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• Appropriate storage. Consider cabinets that can be reached from a seated position. Some designs are available with a slide-out feature that prevents un-necessary or painful reaching and bending. Retract-able shelves that pull out and down from kitchen wall cabinets make it easier to reach plates and glasses. Consider using base cabinets with drawers rather than doors with shelves.

• Accessible appliances. Small appliances can be mounted within the reach of a seated occupant, even built into a cabinet in some instances. Stoves that have controls in the front are much safer and easier to use than stoves with controls that are reached by extending your arm above the burners. Wall ovens and/or microwaves mounted at waist height allow heavy food to be removed with out bending over. Soon we should see wall ovens that have their doors hinged on the side rather than bottom hinged—this will make access even easier. Elevating the dishwasher a few inches is easier on one’s back. New drawer style dishwashers, which are very accessible, are also available—though our opinion is to wait a few years for the bugs to be worked out of these.

• Lighting. Even with easy-to-reach cab-inets and applianc-es, it’s not always


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easy to make out things in the back of a storage space—or to read the ingredients and warnings on food and medicine labels. Correct lighting around and under your cabinets helps make food prepara-tion safe and easy while Aging-in-Place. Here are a few ideas to improve lighting in your kitchen:

» Change your old kitchen fixture to a newer larger brighter light – maybe a large (2"X4") fluorescent fixture with four 4" long bulbs.

» An easy solution is to use plug-in lights that mount under the cabinets and provide illumination to countertops – making food preparation safer and easi-er. These make great kitchen nightlights also. Be sure not to drape the cords across the sink or cooking space.

» A more involved option is to have an electrician install hardwired under cabinet lights. These lights come in several varieties: fluorescent bulbs, halogen bulbs (hot), xenon bulbs (somewhat hot) and LED (expensive, but coming down in price). Most come with a hi-low-o! switch on the fixture. The lighting color varies, so it’s best to see the fixture in use at the store before buying.


Correct lighting around and un-der your cabinets helps make food preparation safe and easy while Aging-in-Place.

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» This next idea is a little expensive, but provides excellent lighting: Recessed lights positioned in the ceiling above the countertop edge. This should be done be a licensed electrician. Also the installation of these lights almost always involves cutting drywall to install the wires and switch. Patching and painting of drywall should be ex-pected. A dimmer is a nice option to make night-time illumination possible but not too bright.

» An occupancy sensor (see Section 3) is a nice feature to connect to a kitchen light. With the occupancy sensor a kitchen light can be turned on automatically when you enter the room with your arms full of groceries.


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Section 5Getting Around: Accessible Doorsand Entryways

The Key to Aging-in-Place is being able to actually get into—and move around safely in—your home. If you don’t already have an accessible home design, you’ll need to make some adjustments.

If a member of your household needs an “aid” to move independently around the home (i.e. a walker or wheelchair) or you want to be prepared in the event that a household member will one day need a mobility aid, then you may want to consider widening the doorways in your home.

Section 5 Aging-in-Place: Getting Around-Accessible Doors and Entryways

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Widening Doorways for Greater Accessibility

[NOTE: This section describes several ways of altering doorways in fairly technical detail. These projects are best accomplished by building professionals]

Handrails, grab bars, and lighting are all generally straightforward and inexpensive ways to improve safety and increase mobility. But if you’re dependent on a walking assistance device or wheelchair for transportation, these quick fixes won’t help you with one of the greatest obstacles you’ll face: getting through your doorways. This could be a fairly involved job even by a home remodeling company.

First a little background: The baseline for an accessible wheelchair doorway is a clear opening of 32" at knuckle height when the door is open 90 degrees. The hinge pivot space protrudes a door into the doorway roughly 2", so a 32" doorway has only about 30" clear passage when open 90 degrees. The optimum solution for wheelchair accessibility is a 36" door—which will have a clear opening of roughly 34" when the door is open 90 degrees. This gives you a little maneuverability—and precious knuckle-room too.

Now the reality check: Almost no house has all 36" doorways or can be adapted to 36" doorways. Many bathrooms have doorways that are only two feet wide—given a usable clearance of only about 22 inches. Most, if not all, homes


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built over the last 100+ years have at least one narrow doorway that makes it di"cult for a person using a walking assistance device to easily and safely pass through the doorway. Our focus here will be on solutions to widen these doorways without breaking the bank. Some of these modifications you may be able to perform yourself and others will require a professional.

Let’s start with an easy way to widen existing doorways. You can simply remove the current doors’ hinges and replace them with swing clear hinges. Swing clear hinges move the pivot point of the hinge from the edge of the doorway to about 2" out of the doorway. So now when the door opens 90 degrees the doorway is not restricted by the thickness of the door.

Typically the only tool needed is a Phillips-head screwdriver and that you remember “lefty loosey - righty tighty” (if you don’t recognize this saying you may want to ask someone else to use the screwdriver). With the swing clear hinges we technically did not widen the existing doorway – we actually increased the USEABLE space of the doorway – still we made it more accessible.


With Traditional Hinge:Door, when open 90degrees, projectsinto doorway about 2inches.

Traditionalhinge Pivotpoint

Swing Clear Hinge.Pivot point is not inthe doorway.

With Swing Clear Hinge,the door, when open 90degrees, swings out of thedoorway. Effectively adding2" of width to the doorway.

Doorway with Regular Hinge

Doorway with Swing Clear Hinge

Sometimes reversing the swing of a door will widen a doorway enough to meet your needs. This scenario assumes that the door in question will not open more than 90 degrees – therefore the door itself is restricting the size of the doorway. The idea here is to remove the door and frame and then re-install the door and frame (or new door and frame) in the same opening but in a way that the door

will swing in a di!erent direction and open 180 degrees. By opening 180 degrees, the door will no longer be an obstacle in the doorway as it was when the door would only open 90 degrees. (See above.) In the end, all we’ve done in this solution, as in the swing clear hinge solution above, is increase the USEABLE space of the doorway. In some cases this is all that’s needed.

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This next solution to widen existing doorways is a little more complex. This example assumes that the door is not completely necessary. Maybe this is a door to a hallway or large master bedroom closet. In this scenario one would remove the door, doorframe and trim surrounding the door. The doorway would then be finished as a trimmed opening. The jamb or frame could be thin finish grade wood installed directly onto the framing and then trim installed around the opening. This idea could yield an opening 1-4 inches more accessible depending on how much the door interfered with passage through the doorway and how large a gap there is between the existing door frame and wall framing. Unintended consequence: Most finish flooring does NOT extend under door frames. Therefore when the finished doorway is widened, as in this example, a gap in the finished flooring will exist when the widening is complete.

The following should only be performed by people who are very knowledgeable and familiar with framing carpentry. This is not a do-it-yourself guide. The intent is to show di!erent concepts for widening doorways.

The assumption here is that the entire doorway must be widened by no more than 2 to 3 inches, and that the doorway header won’t need to be changed. One possible solution is to remove the door and frame. Cut away a small strip of drywall on both sides of the doorway to expose the framing on each side of the doorway – do this at the top of the doorway opening.


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If there are two Jack studs on each side then one Jack stud may be removed from each side. Next determine that removal of one Jack stud from each side is safe. Unless you are very knowledgeable about load path, it is best to enlist the services of a building professional or engineer. By removing the extra Jack, enough room is gained to accommodate a new wider door. All that’s left is patching the drywall, caulking, priming, painting and repairing any gaps in the finish flooring created by the wider opening.

A more likely scenario is that the doorway needing to be widened will have only one jack stud under each end of the header. In this instance the existing doorway can still be widened without changing the header or moving the king studs.


Header

King Studs and outerJack Studs remain.

Remove "inner" Jack Studs.(Verify viability of removalwith a professional)

Top Plates

KingStuds

Floor

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The first option is to change the 2X Jack studs to 1X Jacks. This can widen a doorway about 1 1/2 inches. First remove the doorway casing and or door with frame. Next install temporary 2#4 support posts under the header. Remove the jack studs one at a time. Install a heavy duty “L” bracket on to the king stud and under the header (chisel the “L” bracket in flush with the King stud and header). Next install a 1X (nice grade) or 3/4 plywood Jack in place of the 2X Jack. It is important to complete the “L” bracket and Jack installation on one side before moving to the other side. Remove the temporary support and case the opening. If you want to add a door you can – however the door will need to be trimmed to fit the opening.

Another option similar to the above is to widen the opening using “Header Hangers”. Most of the big structural hardware fastener companies make these – USP and Simpson Strong Tie make one called model #HH44 or HH4. I am not endorsing either manufacturer. Make sure you only use the Header Hanger as directed by the manufacturer. The technique here is similar to above. Remove the


Electrical switches, plumbing pipes, HVAC ducts, phone wires or support posts may require relocation to widen the doorway.

Min 6"Steel "L"brackets.

Header

Install sturdy temporary supportbefore removing Jack Studs.

Remove 2XJack Studs.Replace with1X Jack Stud.

Top Plates

KingStudsRemain

Floor

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doorway jambs and trim. Temporarily support the header. Remove the Jack studs one at a time while replacing the Jack studs with the appropriate size header hanger. Finish by installing a finished wood jamb and casing.

If none of the above solutions will satisfy your doorway width requirements for Aging-in-Place, then the next solution is to enlarge the opening by replacing the doorway header with a wider header therefore allowing a wider doorway. When widening an existing doorway beyond the width of the header and King studs, it is critical to investigate what may interfere with widening the doorway. Electrical switches, plumbing pipes, HVAC ducts, phone wires or support posts may require relocation to widen the doorway. To be absolutely sure of what you are up against cut open the drywall on both sides of the opening before committing to widening the doorway.

Alternative Kinds of Doors

There might be places—closets and storage areas—where traditional hinge doors might not be the best option. Here are a few alternatives and the potential uses and problems they present:

• bi-fold door• quad-fold door• double swing door


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• by-pass doors• pocket doors

Bi-fold and quad-fold doors. These doors are almost never used in an Aging-in-Place scenario because they reduce the useable doorway width, which impedes accessibility. The only place they would be practical is as a closet door where a traditional swing door might hinder mobility when open.

Double swing doors. Some people call these “French” doors. Double swing doors are two doors in the same opening where each door is hinged on opposite jambs. Generally double swing doors are used in wide openings of four feet or wider. They are a good alternative when you need privacy between rooms and the opening is four feet or wider. But double doors are not desirable as accessible alternative doors when the opening is less than four feet. A three foot wide opening with double doors will have a clear opening of about 31 1/2" – 32" when double doors are both open ninety degrees. These doors can be desirable when used on a closet and both doors can swing open more than ninety degrees. The wide opening can make it very easy to access the closet.


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Bypass doors. These are a good option for closets but not interior doorways. Bypass doors provide 1/2 of the access that double swing doors provide. However, bypass doors do not take up any floor space for swing so they’re a good alternative in a tight area where a hinged door or double door would take up too much swing space. A bedroom closet or a coat closet is a good place to consider bypass doors as an accessible alternative.

Pocket doors. These are doors that slide into a “pocket” in a wall. Remodeling to install a pocket door as an accessible alternative can be challenging and possibly expensive. Installing a pocket door often involves a structural change to the house, drywall work, relocating some amount of electric work and sometimes relocating plumbing pipes or duct work. Pocket doors, because they slide out of the way, have an initial appeal to accessibility. However, the little latch to open and close a pocket door is recessed into the edge of the door. As people age and lose visual acuity and manual dexterity this latch would likely become di"cult to see and use.


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Wall Mount Sliding Doors. This type of door has been around for a long time and has recently become a trendy, attractive and functional solution. Think of a sliding barn door and you will have a visual of how wall mounted sliding doors work. These doors hang from a track which is surface mounted on the wall above a doorway. The door simply slides or pushes to the side to reveal the doorway opening. The track must be securely mounted into the wall framing and there must be a space next to the doorway (as wide or wider than the doorway) for the door to slide.

Take a good, hard look at your space before you invest in new doors or any other of the more involved changes we’ve discussed. Talk with a home remodeling company about your needs and ideas. Make sure you understand the costs and the options available to you.


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Section 6Stair Liftsand Elevators

Motorized stairlifts. These are folding chairs on a metal rail system that allow individuals to transport themselves from one floor to the next. These systems can be adapted to almost any shape of stairway and are electrically powered. Outdoor models are also available. They can be installed fairly easily by qualified professionals.

Elevators. Home elevators are becoming more popular. Like any product these days, they can be plain and simple or as fancy as you’d like. Home elevators, like commercial elevators, must be installed by trained specialists. Prior to installing an elevator system, a remodeling contractor is first hired to build the elevator shaft (also called “hoistway”). The amount of work that goes into modifying an existing house to add an elevator shaft can be substantial—sometimes exceeding the cost of the elevator by two to three times. Here are some of the complications: structural

Section 6 Stair Lifts and Elevators

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changes, moving ductwork, plumbing, and/or electric, repairing drywall, trim, paint and flooring on three levels, cutting and breaking concrete—just to name a few. The cost of a three-stop elevator can range in price from $25,000 to $40,000. You will also have to factor in the cost to modify the house (build an elevator shaft) to accept the elevator.

Section 6 Stair Lifts and Elevators

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Section 7Ramps

Simple ramps can be purchased from mobility or accessibility companies. Often times they are light weight aluminum that can be delivered and set up quickly.

More permanent ramps can be constructed from pressure treated wood, concrete, or metal. A good source for ramp guidelines can be your local Building Code Department or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA.gov). Consider your future needs for accessibility when doing landscaping, decking, or hardscape projects now—perhaps sloping walkways now will eliminate the need for a ramp in the futureways now will eliminate the need for a ramp in the future.

Section 7 Ramps

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Sometimes all that is needed is a simple ramp to easily step or ride over a door threshold—again these can be purchased from a mobility company. If you are replacing exterior doors in your home for energy e"ciency or because they are damaged, ask the vendor to include an accessible threshold. These thresholds are not as tall as standard thresholds and are easier to traverse—especially when using walking assistance devices.

Section 7 Ramps

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Section 8Outdoor Lighting

We covered indoor lighting in pre-vious sections, but don’t neglect outdoor or garage lighting. Timers, motion detectors, home automation, and even Smart Phone Apps can help create a safe bright path into your home.

Timers can be programmed to automatically illuminate walkways, decks, and stairs at selected times creating an easy to see path. Be sure your stairs have illumination at the top and bottom.

Section 8 Outdoor Lighting

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Motion detectors utilize infrared technology to turn on lights inside or outside--especially useful when you are carrying groceries.

There are controls that allow you to operate garage and indoor lights from your car with a device similar to a garage door opener. A good source to learn more about home automation and lighting control in particular is www.Lutron.com.

Timers can be programmed to automatically illuminate walkways, decks, and stairs at selected times creating an easy to see path. Be sure your stairs have illumination at the top and bottom.

Section 8 Outdoor Lighting

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Next Steps

Aging-in-Place is a big decision with a lot of variables to consider. Weigh the resources at your disposal. Not just the financial resources, but family, friends, and any other care providers or professionals that can help you throughout your home’s transition to your changing needs.

Some of these modifications to your living space can be major investments of both time and money. Make sure you’re prepared to handle both, and make sure you work with a reputable and trustworthy contractor on the portions of your Aging-in-Place strategy that require their expertise. Check references—have they been reliable and timely on past projects? Find out how long the project will take; get a firm estimate on costs. Make sure they follow processes and schedules; look over project portfolios. Request to see their contractor’s licenses and certificate of insurance; ask about required permits and inspections.

This sounds like a lot, but it’s better to be certain about your partner in this project. This is your home, after all, and your well-being. The caution and care you take up front will save you time and money in the long run—and will potentially safeguard you against any number of mishaps in the future.

Aging-in-Place can be a great thing—keeping you near family and friends, letting you maintain the independence you’ve always treasured. Make sure you do it carefully and do it right.

Conclusion

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Northwood’s remodeling professionals can be reached at 703.481.3325 or by email at [email protected].

You can read more about home remodeling on our blog at www.northwoodconstruction.com/blog.

Want to learn more?

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AppendixQuickAging-in-PlaceChecklist

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The following list is from the National Association of Home Builders with a few additions by us.

General Floor Plan• Ideally all living on a single story, including a full

bathroom

• No steps or level changes between rooms/areas on the same level

• A 5-foot by 5-foot clear maneuvering space in living area, kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom

Hallways• Minimum of 36-inches wide, wider preferred• Well lit with 2+ bulbs per fixture• No significant changes in flooring

Entry• Accessible path of travel to the home• At least one no-step entry with a cover/roof• Motion sensor light at exterior entry illuminating

any step, ramp and door lock• Doorways need to have 32-inches of clear width,

which requires a 36-inch door• Non-slip flooring in foyer• Entry door with sidelight or high/low peep hole

viewer; sidelight should provide both privacy and safety

• Lever style hardware• Doorbell in accessible location• Surface/exterior shelf to place packages on while

opening door

Appendix QUICK AGING-IN-PLACE CHECKLIST

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Doorway Thresholds• Flush preferable• Exterior maximum of a half inch beveled• Interior maximum of a quarter inch

Interior Doors• Ideally 32-inches of clear width, which requires a

36-inch wide door• Lever style door hardware

Windows• Plenty of windows for natural light• Lowered windows or taller windows with lower

sill height• Low maintenance exterior and interior finishes• Easy to operate hardware• Windows that are easy to open

Garage or Carport• Covered carports and boarding spaces• Wider than average carports to accommodate lifts

on vans• Door heights may need to be nine feet to

accommodate some raised roof vans• Five-foot minimum access aisle between accessible van

and car in garage• If code requires floor to be several inches below

entrance to house for fume protection, can slope entire floor from front to back to eliminate need for ramp or step

• Ramp to doorway, if needed• Handrail if there are steps


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Faucets• Lever handles, pedal-controlled or new “Touchless”

technology• Thermostatic or anti-scald controls• Pressure balanced shower and tub faucets• Kitchen and Laundry

Counters• Wall support and provision for adjustable and/or varied

height counters and removable base cabinets• Upper wall cabinetry three inches lower than

conventional height• Accented stripes on edge of countertops to provide

visual orientation to the workspace• Counter space for dish landing adjacent to or opposite

all appliances• Base cabinet with roll out trays and lazy susan cabinets• Pull-down shelving• Glass-front cabinet doors• Open shelving for easy access to frequently used items

Appliances• Easy to read controls• Front controls so you are not reaching over hot surfaces• Wall oven at waist height or slightly higher• Microwave oven at counter height or in wall• Side-by-side refrigerator/freezer • Elevated dishwasher• Electric cook top with level burners for safety in

transferring between the burners, front controls and downdraft feature to pull heat away from user; light to indicate when surface is hot

• Induction cooktop or range if it fits your budget


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• Washing machine and dryer raised 12-15 inches above floor – top load may be an exception

• Front loading laundry machines

Miscellaneous• Large drawers and rollout base cabinet shelves to

improve access• 30-inch by 48-inch clear space at appliances or 60-

inch diameter clear space for turns• Multi-level work areas to accommodate cooks of

di!erent heights• Open under-counter seated work areas• Placement of task lighting in appropriate work areas• Loop handles for easy grip and pull• Pull-out spray faucet; levered handles• In multi-story homes, laundry chute or laundry facil-

ities in master bedroom

Bathroom• Wall support and provision for adjustable and/or

varied height counters and removable base cabinets• Contrasting color edge border at countertops• At least one wheelchair maneuverable bath on main

level with 60-inch turning radius or acceptable T-turn space and 36-inch by 36-inch or 30-inch by 48-inch clear space

• Bracing in walls around tub, shower, shower seat, and toilet for installation of grab bars to support 250-300 pounds

• If stand-up shower is used in main bath, it is curb-less and minimum of 36-inches wide

• Bathtub - lower for easier access• Fold down seat in the shower or built-in bench• Adjustable/handheld showerheads, 6-foot hose


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• Tub/shower controls o!set from center – so they can be reached without stretching too far

• Shower stall with built-in antibacterial protection• Light in shower stall—ideally 2 • Toilet two and half inches higher than standard toi-

let. So called Adult height toilet• Design of the toilet paper holder allows rolls to be

changed with one hand• Wall-hung sink with knee space and panel to protect

user from pipes• Slip-resistant flooring in bathroom and shower• Stairways, Lifts, and Elevators• Adequate graspable hand rails on both sides of

stairway• Increased visibility of stairs through contrast strip on

top and bottom stairs, color contrast between treads and risers on stairs

• Adequate lighting that illuminates top, middle and bottom of stairs.

• Lights operable from top and bottom of stairs• Some multi-story homes may provide either

pre-framed shaft (i.e., stacked closets) for future elevator

• Ideal stairway width of four feet to allow space for lift

• Residential elevator if budget allows

Ramps• Slope no greater than one inch rise for each

12-inches in length, adequate handrails• Five-foot landing provided at entrance• Two-inch curbs for safety


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Storage• Adjustable closet rods and shelves• Adequate lighting in closets• Easy open doors that do not obstruct access

Electrical, Lighting, Safety, and Security• Light switches by each entrance to halls and rooms• Light receptacles with at least two bulbs in vital

places (exits, bathroom)• Light switches, thermostats, and other environmen-

tal controls placed in accessible locations no higher than 48 inches from floor

• Electrical outlets 15-inches on center from floor; may need to be closer than 12-feet apart

• Clear access space of 30-inches by 48-inches in front of switches and controls

• Rocker or touch light switches• Audible and visual strobe light system to indicate

when the doorbell, telephone or smoke or CO2 de-tectors have been activated

• High-tech security/intercom system that can be monitored, with the heating, air conditioning and lighting, from any TV in the house

• Flashing porch light or 911 switch• Direct wired to police, fire and EMS (as option)• Home wired for security• Home wired for computers

Flooring• Smooth, non-glare, slip-resistant surfaces, interior

and exterior• If carpeted, use low (less than a half inch high pile)

density, with firm pad


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• Area rugs low profile with thin non-slip pad under entire rug

• Color/texture contrast to indicate change in surface levels

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning• HVAC should be designed so filters are

easily accessible• Easy-to-see and read thermostats• Pre-programmed thermostats• Energy-e"cient units• Windows that can be opened for cross ventilation,

fresh air

Reduced Maintenance/Convenience Features• Easy to clean surfaces• Central vacuum• Built-in pet feeding system• Built-in recycling system• Intercom system• Wireless home network

Other Ideas• Separate apartment for rental income or

future caregiver• Flex room that can be used as a nursery or playroom

when the children are young and as a home o"ce later; if combined with a full bath, room could also be used for an aging parent/Aging-in-Place


Documents

AGING IN PLACE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA - Northwood ......5 Introduction This guide reﬂects our experience helping homeowners in Northern Virginia Age-in-Place safely and with maximum