IN FLORIDA BY THE YEAR 2020, ALMOST ONE IN FOUR RESIDENTS

WILL BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIXTY AND EIGHTY-FOUR.

AND ACCORDING TO THE 2012 US CENSUS BUREAU,

AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, ALMOST THIRTEEN PERCENT

OF FLORIDIANS ARE CURRENTLY LIVING WITH A DISABILITY.

CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT FLORIDA WILL GAIN A PROJECTED

SEVEN MILLION RESIDENTS OVER THE NEXT FIFTEEN YEARS,

THESE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON A

BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES INCLUDING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND FUNDING FOR MEDICAL SERVICES,

TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF EACH

FLORIDA COMMUNITY.

THESE CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS WILL ALSO HAVE A PROFOUND

IMPACT ON THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING, ESPECIALLY THE

AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING THAT CAN MEET THE EXPECTED NEEDS

OF AN AGING AND SPECIAL NEEDS SOCIETY.

OUR PHYSICAL FACULTIES ARE AFFECTED AS A NORMAL PART

OF AGING. THE DEGREE OF CHANGE MAY VARY

FROM PERSON TO PERSON, BUT THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT.

HOW WE PLAN FOR THESE CHANGES WILL DETERMINE OUR

INDEPENDENCE, OUR CONNECTEDNESS TO OTHERS,

AND THE LIFESTYLE WE ENJOY.

(♪)

WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO AGE?

THERE ARE MANY HOUSING CHOICES AVAILABLE TO YOU

WHEN PLANNING WHERE YOU WISH TO SPEND YOUR GOLDEN YEARS.

MANY PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF SIXTY-FIVE WANT TO STAY IN

THEIR SINGLE-FAMILY HOME FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE,

AND MANY BELIEVE THEIR CURRENT RESIDENCE IS WHERE

THEY WILL ALWAYS LIVE.

HOWEVER, AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SENIORS ARE

LOOKING AT OTHER URBAN HOUSING OPTIONS,

WHILE OTHERS ARE DOWN- SIZING THEIR HOMES.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION

IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT IN

THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

BUT NO MATTER WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO AGE,

UNIVERSAL DESIGN CAN HELP MAKE THAT A REALITY

FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.

(♪)

UNIVERSAL DESIGN SEEKS TO PROVIDE A COMFORTABLE

ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DIVERSE ABILITIES.

A HOME PLANNED AND BUILT WITH UNIVERSAL DESIGN IN MIND, ALLOWS

EASY ACCESS TO ALL KEY SPACES WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF COMFORT.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN DOES NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE FOR A

HOUSE TO BE BIGGER IN ORDER TO PROPERLY FUNCTION, BUT

FOCUSES ON HOW THE SPACES AND FEATURES OF YOUR HOME

SHOULD BE CAREFULLY PLANNED FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.

LET'S EXPLORE WHAT A SINGLE- FAMILY HOME LOOKS LIKE

WHEN IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLES

OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN.

THE FIRST OF MANY ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED IS THE

ABILITY TO SIMPLY ACCESS YOUR HOME.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR USERS WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MOBILITY

TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THEIR HOME USING A NO-STEP ENTRY.

A NO-STEP ENTRY INCLUDES A LOW THRESHOLD OF NO MORE THAN

ONE-HALF INCH IN HEIGHT, WITH BEVELED EDGES TO ENSURE

SMOOTH ACCESS FOR ANYONE THAT

MIGHT BE USING A WHEELCHAIR OR WALKER.

A SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM

THE SIDEWALK OR DRIVEWAY TO THE FRONT DOOR CAN BE

CREATED BY MEANS OF A LOW SLOPE RAMP.

AS SEEN ON THIS PLAN VIEW, A SLOPED WALKWAY

IS CONNECTING THE DRIVEWAY TO THE FRONT PORCH

ON THE MAIN FLOOR, WHICH IS TYPICALLY AT LEAST

SIX INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND. A GENTLE SLOPE SHOULD BE USED,

WITH A MAXIMUM RISE OF ONE INCH PER ONE FOOT OF TRAVEL.

FOR EXAMPLE, TO RISE EIGHT INCHES, THE SLOPED WALKWAY

SHOULD BE AT LEAST EIGHT FEET IN LENGTH.

THIS ALLOWS A PERSON WITH LIMITED MOBILITY OR BALANCE

TO SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY USE SUCH A RAMP.

ADDITIONALLY, A NO-STEP ENTRY CAN BE USED TO

CONNECT THE GARAGE TO THE MAIN LIVING SPACES,

EITHER AT THE SAME LEVEL OR BY MEANS OF A RAMP.

IN BOTH CASES, THERE NEEDS TO BE ADEQUATE SPACE

WITHIN THE GARAGE TO MANEUVER AROUND A PARKED VEHICLE

AND SAFELY REACH A DOOR OR A RAMP.

AS A GENERAL RULE, THREE- FOOT WIDE DOORWAYS

AND THREE-AND-A-HALF-FOOT WIDE UNOBSTRUCTED WALKWAYS

ARE NECESSARY FEATURES TO EASILY MOVE BETWEEN SPACES

AND AROUND FURNITURE IN THE HOME.

OTHER NOTABLE UNIVERSAL DESIGN FEATURES INCLUDE

A COVERED AND WELL-LIT ENTRYWAY AND MOTION-ACTIVATED LIGHTS.

THESE EXTERIOR DESIGN FEATURES ARE DESIRABLE BECAUSE THEY

PROVIDE AN INCREASED LEVEL OF SAFETY AND COMFORT.

LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW UNIVERSAL DESIGN FEATURES

CAN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN THE HOME.

>>MY SON ADAM IS A TYPICAL ACTIVE TEENAGER, BUT LAST WEEK

ADAM BROKE HIS LEG AT SOCCER PRACTICE. NOW HE IS IN A CAST

AND MUST USE CRUTCHES FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.

>>I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THIS TO MYSELF. TRYING TO GET AROUND

ON CRUTCHES IS THE WORST. BECAUSE OF THE STAIRS

I USUALLY JUST SLEEP ON THE COUCH.

BUT AT LEAST I AM ABLE TO USE MOM AND DAD'S WALK-IN SHOWER,

SO THAT'S COOL.

>>WE LOVE OUR BATHROOM WITH A WALK-IN SHOWER.

IT IS CONVENIENT FOR MY HUSBAND AND ME, BUT IT HAS BEEN REALLY

HELPFUL DURING THIS TIME FOR ADAM. HE CAN SAFELY

GET INTO THE SHOWER AND TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF INDEPENDENTLY.

>>THE SHOWER HAS A SEAMLESS NO- STEP TRANSITION BETWEEN THE

BATHROOM FLOOR AND THE FLOOR OF THE SHOWER AREA.

ADEQUATE DRAINAGE IS ACHIEVED WITH A CENTRAL DRAIN

IN THE SHOWER ITSELF, AND A LINEAR DRAIN AT THE THRESHOLD

TO PREVENT PUDDLES FROM FORMING.

THE SHOWER SHOULD INCLUDE A HAND-HELD FIXTURE,

AND MAY INCLUDE A PERMANENTLY ATTACHED FOLDING SEAT.

THIS BATHROOM DISPLAYS OTHER NOTABLE ACCESSIBLE FEATURES.

POCKET DOORS ARE HELPFUL FOR REDUCING OBSTRUCTIONS IN

PATHWAYS.

A COMFORT-LEVEL TOILET WITH A HIGHER SEAT MAKES IT

EASIER FOR ANYONE TO TRANSFER BETWEEN STANDING AND SITTING.

IN ADDITION, A LOWER VANITY COUNTER PROVIDES THE COMFORT

OF A PLACE TO SIT, AND MAY SERVE AS A MAKE-UP COUNTER OR BE

FITTED WITH A SINK. THIS BATHROOM DESIGN ALSO

INCLUDES PLANNING FOR GRAB BARS. BLOCKING HAS BEEN ADDED INSIDE

THE WALLS DURING CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE INSTALLATION OF GRAB

BARS EASIER AND MORE AFFORDABLE IN THE FUTURE.

ROSA IS VISITING HER DAUGHTER'S HOME TODAY TO BAKE COOKIES

WITH HER GRANDDAUGHTER SOPHIA.

>>I LOVE BAKING COOKIES WITH GRANDMA ROSA. MY FAVORITE PART

IS CUTTING OUT THE SHAPES AND ADDING THE SPRINKLES.

>>I REALLY ENJOY VISITING MY GRANDCHILDREN,

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE MEET AT MY DAUGHTER'S.

SHE HAS THE NEATEST KITCHEN, WHICH IS PERFECT FOR OUR

BIG BAKE-OFFS. THE COUNTERS ARE JUST THE RIGHT

HEIGHT FOR ALL OF US, AND THE ROLL-OUT DRAWERS,

WITH THE CUSTOM HANDLES... THEY MAKE IT AN ENJOYABLE,

PAIN-FREE EXPERIENCE FOR THESE ARTHRITIC HANDS OF MINE.

AND THE RESULT, IS AN FUN EXPERIENCE FOR ALL CONCERNED.

>>A KITCHEN PLANNED WITH UNIVERSAL DESIGN ALLOWS

EVERYONE TO JOIN IN. A LOWER COUNTER SURFACE

CAN PROVIDE A PLACE TO SIT WHILE TENDING TO KITCHEN TASKS

OR A PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO MORE EASILY JOIN IN THE

COOKING ACTIVITIES. A COUNTER SET A FEW INCHES

BELOW STANDARD COUNTER HEIGHT, AND WHICH PROVIDES AT LEAST

THIRTY INCHES OF CLEAR SPACE BELOW, ALLOWS ONE TO PULL UP

A STANDARD CHAIR OR A WHEELCHAIR TO THE WORKING SURFACE.

INSTALLING ROLL-OUT DRAWERS FOR CABINET STORAGE MAKES IT EASIER

FOR ANYONE TO ACCESS POTS, PANS, AND KITCHEN TOOLS.

IT IS ALSO HELPFUL TO SELECT EASY-GRIP D-SHAPED CABINET

PULLS. OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER

WHICH MAY INCREASE COMFORT, INCLUDE LEVER-STYLE

OR TOUCH-FAUCETS, AND STOVE UNITS WITH THE CONTROLS

LOCATED ON THE FRONT, RATHER THAN BEHIND THE COOKING SURFACE.

ALL OF THESE FEATURED ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ANY LOCAL BIG-BOX

HOME-IMPROVEMENT STORE, AND CAN EASILY BE INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME

JOE AND BEVERLY PLANNED AND BUILT A HOME WITH MANY

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FEATURES.

>>WE LOVE OUR NEW HOME. IT HAS SO MANY CONVENIENT FEATURES.

WE CAN COME HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE AND EASILY CARRY

OUR THINGS RIGHT INSIDE FROM THE GARAGE, WITHOUT HAVING TO USE

ANY STEPS. WHEN WE'RE COOKING,

OR REALLY WHEN MY WIFE IS COOKING, I DON'T HAVE TO

KNEEL DOWN ON THE HARD KITCHEN FLOOR ANYMORE TO GET POTS AND

PANS OUT OF THE LOWER CABINETS.

>>JOE LOVES THE ROLL-OUT CABINETS. AND WE ENJOY

HAVING OUR KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM, BEDROOM AND BATHROOM ALL HERE

ON THE GROUND FLOOR. IT KEEPS THINGS SIMPLE AND

EASY NOW, AND IT MAY BE A LIFESAVER ONE DAY WHEN WE

GET OLDER. THIS IS THE HOME WE PLAN TO

SPEND THE REST OF OUR LIVES IN. WE CAN STAY RIGHT HERE AND

CONTINUE TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS WE LOVE TO DO TOGETHER.

>>THE SINGLE-FLOOR LIVING CONCEPT DESCRIBES A HOME

WHERE THE KITCHEN, DINING, LIVING, AND A BEDROOM WITH

FULL BATHROOM ARE ALL LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR,

THEREFORE ALLOWING EASY ACCESS TO ALL MAJOR HOUSE ACTIVITIES.

IDEALLY THESE SPACES ARE ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER

AND ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN LAYOUT,

WHICH MAXIMIZES THE USE OF THE FLOOR AREA.

ON THE FLOOR PLAN SHOWN HERE, THE LIVING ROOM IS CENTRALLY

LOCATED, WITH KITCHEN AND DINING ON ONE SIDE AND BEDROOM AND

BATHROOM ON THE OTHER.

THIS PLAN ALSO INCLUDES LAUNDRY FACILITIES ON THE SAME FLOOR.

THE SPACES USED MOST OFTEN ARE OPEN, WHICH MAKES THE HOUSE

FEEL BIGGER AND MAKES IT EASY TO GO FROM ONE SPACE TO ANOTHER.

THE BEDROOM EASILY CONNECTS TO THE LIVING SPACES AND A FULL

BATHROOM WITH THREE-FOOT WIDE DOORS. EVEN THE BACK PATIO

IS CONNECTED TO THEIR HOME'S LIVING SPACES WITH A NO-STEP

TRANSITION, ALLOWING THEM AND THEIR GUESTS TO EASILY ENJOY

OUTDOOR SPACES AND THEIR RAISED GARDENS.

JOE AND BEVERLY'S HOME ALSO INCLUDES OTHER KEY UNIVERSAL

DESIGN FEATURES SUCH AS LEVER- STYLE DOOR HANDLES AND

ROCKER LIGHT SWITCHES FOR EASE AND COMFORT.

EACH ROOM HAS ADEQUATE, CONTROLLABLE LIGHTING TO

IMPROVE VISIBILITY AND ENSURE THAT THE HOMEOWNERS CAN SAFELY

ENJOY ALL OF THEIR ACTIVITIES. ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SWITCHES

ARE PLACED NO MORE THAN FOUR FEET ABOVE THE FLOOR

AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS ARE PLACED ALMOST TWO FEET UP

FROM THE FLOOR TO REDUCE BACK STRAIN.

OTHER CONTROLS SUCH AS A SECURITY SYSTEM PANEL OR

THERMOSTAT SHOULD BE PLACED WHERE THEY CAN BE EASILY

REACHED, AT A HEIGHT OF FOUR FEET ABOVE THE FLOOR.

SIMPLY KNOWING TO ASK FOR THESE FEATURES CAN IMPROVE

YOUR HOME'S COMFORT AND QUALITY WITHOUT ADDING COST.

>>WHEN WE PLANNED OUR CURRENT HOME, MY WIFE AND I CREATED

A LIST OF FEATURES THE WE FELT WOULD ALLOW US TO LIVE

COMFORTABLY HERE FOR A LONG TIME, AS WE AGE.

WE WANT TO GROW OLD HERE AND HAVE A NICE PLACE FOR OUR

GRANDKIDS TO COME AND VISIT. I SAID WE PLANNED...

ACTUALLY MY WIFE DID MOST OF THE PLANNING. MY BIGGEST

CONCERN WAS FOR MY FAVORITE CHAIR TO BE PERFECTLY PLACED

IN FRONT OF THE TV, SO NO ONE WOULD WALK BETWEEN ME AND MY

FAVORITE SHOWS. YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT CAN BE.

>>WE MET WITH AN ARCHITECT AND A BUILDER WHO WERE EXPERIENCED

WITH UNIVERSAL DESIGN. THEY HELPED US APPLY OUR IDEAS

IN MORE PRACTICAL TERMS AND MADE VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS

TO KEEP COST DOWN AND MAKE OUR HOUSE ATTRACTIVE AND EFFICIENT.

OUR HOUSE IS REALLY NOT VERY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER WELL-

DESIGNED HOMES, BUT WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT IS

CONVENIENT AND ACCESSIBLE. AND OUR HOUSE IS ALSO

ENERGY EFFICIENT, WHICH LOWERS OUR MONTHLY UTILITY BILL.

SOME UNIVERSAL DESIGN FEATURES ARE CURRENTLY PART OF OUR HOME

SUCH AS WIDE DOORS AND HALLWAYS, COMFORTABLE CABINETS WITH EASY-

GRIP HANDLES, AND A NO-STEP SHOWER, WHICH I LOVE.

OTHER FEATURES CAN BE INSTALLED AT A FUTURE DATE IF WE NEED THEM

SUCH AS GRAB BARS AND A LOWER BATHROOM SINK.

BECAUSE WE PLANNED AHEAD, ADDING THESE FEATURES IN THE FUTURE

WILL BE VERY AFFORDABLE. WE FEEL THAT BEING AWARE OF

UNIVERSAL DESIGN HAS EMPOWERED US AS INFORMED

HOMEOWNERS AND IMPROVED OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

>>MANY OTHER FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE IN ADDITION TO

THE BASIC AFFORDABLE OPTIONS. THESE UPGRADES MAY INCLUDE

SMART HOME AND WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH CAN BE

CUSTOM-TAILORED BY YOUR DESIGN PROFESSIONAL.

THIS COUPLE INCORPORATED UNIVERSAL FEATURES INTO THE

HOUSE THEY ARE BUILDING BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO MAKING

THINGS MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN GRANNY COMES TO VISIT,

THESE FEATURES MAKE THEIR HOUSE MOVE LIVABLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

FOR EXAMPLE, LOWER ELECTRICAL SWITCHES AND COUNTERTOPS

AS WELL AS LOW THRESHOLDS ALL ADD CONVENIENCE AND SAFETY.