Magnotta Builders and Remodelers

Universal Design refers to items and spaces which can be accessed and utilized by people regardless of their age, size, abilities or disabilities

Aging-in-place means growing older without having to move from your current home into a retirement home or some other place as you get older.

Universal design makes Aging in place possible.

Universal design is not just for those with a disability. Just as the term “universal” implies, it is for everyone. Those who incorporate universal design features into their homes now will benefit in several ways.

1. First, universal design will prepare your home so that you can stay there as long as possible as the inevitable onset of old age reduces mobility and other faculties. The time to make these accommodations is before they are necessary. This allows time to plan carefully and budget for these expenses.

2. Secondly, you are positioning your home to appeal at resale to the largest segment of our population, the post world war II “baby boom” market segment that makes up 25% of the entire US population. At the same time as the population boom took place there was a housing boom taking place and virtually none of the homes built had any universal design features. But today, with 10,000 people turning 60 years old each day and 1 in 3 people over sixty having at least one disability the demand for homes that are functional for the disabled is growing rapidly and will continue to grow for the next 2 decades.

So when you remodel your home be sure to follow universal design principles. It will allow you to stay in your home and avoid the high cost of assisted living and nursing homes and position your home to appeal to a growing market segment at resale. But most importantly, it will improve the quality of your life by allowing you to stay in the familiar surroundings of your home for as long as possible where you are most comfortable.