Design

3-Tiered Checklist for Aging in Place

Incorporate as many of these design considerations as possible to build a home that is accessible and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities.

By Matt Coffey Issue 281 – Feb/Mar 2019

Based on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, South Mountain Company (SMCo) is an integrated architecture, engineering, building, and renewable energy firm whose mission is to do exemplary work, strengthen community, and cultivate positive change. To that end, they customize their clients’ homes to comfortably fit and support their lifestyles.

In recent years, SMCo noticed an uptick in the number of homeowners interested in planning their homes around possible future needs. In response, they developed this three-tier checklist for aging in place. It has become part of SMCo’s design process and is presented to every client. Each level represents an increase in cost and complexity. SMCo tries to incorporate all of the Level I provisions in every project. Levels II and III are given as options if clients are interested in notching up visitability.

This checklist was included in the recent article, Small Home Harmony.

Download the checklist

Design for Aging in Place – Level 1

Absolutes for Visitability

At least one bath on first floor
At least one zero-clearance threshold entry
32-in. clearance for doors at all visitable spaces

Site and Entrance

No-step route to be 1-in-12 slope; pathway slope of 1-in-20 minimum preferred
Accessible entry-door threshold to be 1 in. maximum, with bevels above finished floor (at finish floor) surface on both sides
Weather protection from elements to fully cover accessible entry door

Interior Circulation to Visitable Spaces

Readily visitable spaces via a no-step route to include a full bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and dining and living space
Cased openings to be 32 in. wide minimum (34 in. minimum for door slab)
Level changes in circulation route to visitable spaces via a ramp to be less than a 1-in-12 slope
Minimum 38 in. wide (to finish) halls to serve visitable spaces

Bedroom

First-floor bedroom (or future bedroom) with 36 in. minimum clearance on one side of bed preferred

Half-Bathroom

Minimum 3/4-in. plywood walls or adequate blocking for grab bars at toilet and shower in visitable bathroom at 33 in. to 36 in. above finished floor for grab bars (2×12 blocking needed for fiberglass units)

Floors

Maximum 1/2-in. thresholds between floor surfaces in accessible spaces

Fixtures and Hardware

Lever handles on doors

Switches and Controls

Electrical switches to be centered 48 in. maximum above floor
Thermostats at 48 in. maximum or remote controlled

Design for Aging in Place – Level 2

Site and Entrance

Access to waste and recycling on accessible route

Interior Circulation

Minimum 40-in. width (to finish) for designated accessible passages and halls
Minimum 32-in. clear width at all designated accessible passage doors, with 18-in. clear space adjacent to handle side on both sides with 48 in. clear in front of door
Turning radius of 60 in., or space for a T-turn required in kitchen, full bathroom, bedroom, and living/dining area

Porches and Decks

Selected additional porches or decks to be accessible

Accessible Bedroom Clothes Storage

Adjustable shelving and hanging-rod height to accommodate universal reach range (15 in. to 48 in. above finish floor)
Drawers to be mounted on full-extension slides
Place to sit when dressing (minimum 18 in. high by 15 in. deep by 30 in. wide)
Easily accessible full-length mirror

Accessible Bathroom

Blocking or plywood layer behind all shower walls and toilet for grab-bar installation
Adequate maneuvering space in front of each fixture (minimum 30 in. wide by 48 in. deep)
Slip-resistant flooring
Outswing doors for rescue access
One accessible shower or tub
Customized countertop height fit for user, or more than one countertop height (30 in. seated/36 in. standing is standard)

Shower

Curbless, with seat (or blocking for seat) adjacent to controls
Minimum 4-ft. by 4-ft. or 3-ft. by 5-ft. shower stall
Adjustable height, hand-held showerheads with 60-in. long hose

Tub

Tub deck with 15-in. transfer surface at the foot of tub (opposite showerhead) for seated entry

Toilet

30-in. clear space to one side of toilet
No separate toilet rooms
Option to create privacy: storage unit or wall that can be removed to create the 30-in. side clearance
Comfort-height or wall-hung toilets at 17 in. to 19 in. at finish floor
GFCI outlet for addition of personal hygiene system

Plumbling

Clear space under vanity tops or easily removable vanity cabinets for future knee space (27-in. minimum vertical clearance)
Single-lever water controls at plumbing fixtures
Sinks and traps designed to allow for future wheelchair use

Kitchen

Full-extension glides on all drawers
Pullout shelves behind any base cabinet doors
Minimum 48-in. clear floor space in front of cabinet faces
Waste and recycling container on pullout drawers in lower cabinets
Pulls or touch latches rather than knobs
Easily removable base cabinets that allow for future use as knee space
Pocket doors below sink or rolling cart instead of cabinets
Countertop height customized for user

Appliances

Ranges and cooktops with controls at front or side
Refrigerator/freezer with side-by-side doors rather than drawer-style freezer
Glass/ceramic cooktop for easy cleaning and/or induction unit for safer cooking
Appliances at comfort heights (15 in. to 48 in. for controls)
Microwave and wall ovens located within reach from a seated position

Sinks and Faucets

Single-lever water controls on all plumbing fixtures
Pot-filler faucet adjacent to cooktop

Windows

Ability to operate windows from a seated position

Electrical

Electrical panel on main floor with a front clear space of 36 in. by 48 in. with main breaker at 48 in. maximum
Rocker switches in all accessible living spaces

Design for Aging in Place – Level 3

Site and Entrance

All entries and passages to be level
All patios, porches, or decks nearly even (approximately 1/4 in.) with first-floor level
Package shelf at front door at 15-in. to 48-in. reach

Circulation and Stairs

Stairs to accommodate future lift or space for future elevator (minimum 42 in. wide)
Continuous handrail at stairs to extend 12 in. beyond the top and bottom risers and continuous at landings
Minimum 60-in. turning space in all rooms (or T-turn)
Color changes, pathway lighting, and other visual cues to indicate surface planes (e.g., painted risers and natural treads)

Kitchen

Smart appliances
Continuous stretches of countertops for easy sliding of heavy objects between sink, refrigerator, and cooking area
Pipes protected where exposed under sinks
Integrated rolling carts in place of base cabinets to facilitate wheelchair
Accessories such as roll-out shelves and pull-down uppers to improve wall- and base-cabinet storage access
Glass doors or open shelves in upper cabinets for visual access to contents

Bathroom

Offset controls in tub/shower with adjacent 30-in. by 48-in. clear space for seated users
Water controls within reach of shower seat
Hand-held showerhead with shutoff on shower end
Carefully located grab-bar locations
Lighted magnifying mirror

Hardware

Locks and hardware operable with closed fist, requiring minimum effort
Keyless locks

Laundry

Side by side front-loading washer and dryer with front controls (48-in. clearance in front of units)
Access to folding surface
Multiple light sources with adjustable controls
Higher illumination levels on dimmers
Electrical outlets at minimum 18 in. high

Lighting and Color

Contrasting colors to better distinguish changes in surfaces
Integrated lighting and color for wayfinding
Luminous model switches or night-lights
Programmable lighting fixtures, thermostats, and outlet

Technology

Remote control for selected lighting, security, and HVAC systems
Smartphone for communicating with lighting, security, entertainment, and HVAC
911 switch/flashing porch light
Visual and audio controls for doorbell, security, and smoke alarms
Direct wiring for alarm to police, fire department, EMS
Lighting controls for adjustability, gradual intensity, and motion activation
Doorbell intercom
Power-operated windows
Large display panel and controls for thermostats and security system

More about aging in place and retirement homes:

Photo: Bob Gothard, courtesy of South Mountain Company

View PDF

View Comments

user-302806 | Feb 11, 2019 01:18pm | #1
Rule #1 should be to buy or build a house that is contained on a single level. Seniors are most at risk from falling while going down stairs, and broken bones result in hospitalization and often in their going into a nursing home. It is also expensive and inconvenient to rely on power lifts that are added to get people up and down the stairs, in particular with the narrow stair passages that are built to code and completely ignore this future need.

3/4" plywood is not an adequate substitute for blocking in the walls to support a grab bar and its need to support a 300 lb load. The blocking is best done at the time of construction and this is also the best time to apply two-part foam insulation in the small spaces that result to provide a true R rating that meets code.

Lighting of both interior and exterior stairs is nearly always an afterthought by the builder or remodeler, even when an architect is involved, but it needs to provide a wash light over the treads and not be spots installed in the risers or only in the ceiling using can lights or wall sconces which result in the person going down the stairs walking in their shadow.

Outlets with a dedicated ground in the bedrooms and more 4-plex outlets are very important to eliminate the need for extension cords and to protect the electronics of medical equipment.