Aging-in-place, universal design

As Baby Boomers reach retirement age, they aren't thinking retirement homes. Rather, they are active, engaged members of their community and want to live in their homes into retirement. To achieve that in later years, a concept called "aging-in-place" has evolved. This concept is a combination of construction and safety modifications that allow living in a home independently and comfortably.

A number of options exist to keep your home safe in later years including changes to the bathroom:

• Safety bars and grabs
• Shower seats
• Main floor level baths
• Increased lighting
• Levers on faucets and doors
• Slip resistant flooring
• Adjustable, handheld shower heads
• Pedestal sinks with knee space
• Curbless showers
• Lower height bathtubs

Kitchen details include:

• Drawer style dishwashers to eliminate bending over
• More drawers for storage instead of lower cabinets shelving
• Wider door access with levers instead of knobs