The Mind Shift: Universal Design Isn’t Just Aging in Place

In the accessible household, form blends with function in thoughtful designs that make home a beautiful and comfortable place for everyone.

When you consider aging in place, you likely call to mind a boomer or senior.  No doubt, as the enormous generation of baby boomers moves into their 60s, 70s and beyond, this thriving segment will continue to expand. However, when considering accessibility needs, you would be wrong if the aging population is the only one that comes to mind. Accessibility needs can affect anyone regardless of age, and there are many circumstances that call for Universal Design solutions.

It could be a homeowner in their 50s planning updates to their house to increase style, comfort and safety as they age. Perhaps it is a multigenerational household, in which younger and older family members live together in a home that caters to everyone’s accessibility needs. It could be someone with limited mobility due to a car accident or sports injury, or a Veteran injured in combat. It could be any individual with vision impairment, arthritis, illness, or other circumstances affecting mobility, who doesn’t want to uproot their lives by moving into an assisted care facility.

It all boils down to wanting to stay in the comfort of your own home to preserve your sense of familiarity, consistency and convenience.

Accessibility without sacrificing style.
It’s no secret that a significant percentage of American homeowners plan to explore Universal Design or aging-in-place projects for themselves or a loved one in the future. You may not have a person in your life with pressing needs today, but there’s a strong likelihood that at some point you will, resulting in the need to explore projects with Universal Design.

The demand for stylish Universal Design is rising. The perception is that these are for aging individuals or those with limited mobility. That’s not the case. People want products in their home to be stylish and functional, and to blend seamlessly into their home without looking institutional.

No longer limited to tasteless, unappealing designs, the good news is homeowners and designers alike can now find attractive and varied Universal Design products for the home project, including cabinets, plumbing products and home décor accessories worthy of all projects from mainstream to higher-end.
 
Enhanced accessibility can come in the smallest package.
When comes to Universal Design, increasing accessibility isn’t just about the larger safety-related enhancements such as walk-in tubs, medical alerts, shower seating or non-slip flooring. But for those with accessibility needs, living comfortably in the home also comes down to the small details.

Think how many times a day you or your loved ones might find it cumbersome to open kitchen cabinets to access dishes or the trash bin, open bathroom cabinets to retrieve toiletries, or open bedroom furniture to access clothing. Even the smallest details like cabinet hardware can make a huge difference to increase accessibility and ease of everyday use.  Not to mention, cabinet hardware is a relatively inexpensive update that can elevate the style of a space.

Looking for Universal Design in cabinet hardware?
Meet Amerock’s designated ADA-Friendly products. Rest assured, you don’t have to sacrifice trend-forward design with our 29 and counting ADA-Friendly pull styles. Plus, our products are available in finishes and styles that coordinate with your other selections from popular plumbing, lighting, and door hardware manufacturers. Click here to view suggested finish companions.

When it comes to ADA compliance, there are currently no hard and fast rules governing cabinet hardware. However, keeping accessibility and ergonomics in mind, Amerock has put in the work to identify those products in our offering that align with the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).

Amerock’s ADA-Friendly pulls feature the clearance necessary, based on the Dreyfus Human Factor Scale, to accommodate the hand of an average person. They are U-shaped, easy to grip and don’t require tight grasping, pinching or twisting, as prescribed in Section 309.4 of ADAAG.

Click here to view Amerock's ADA-Friendly pulls: Amerock_ADA-Friendly_Guide_090823.pdf
You can also find our ADA-Friendly pulls at Amerock.com (click Cabinet, then utilize the ADA-Friendly filter in the left navigation dropdown).


However, it’s important to note that not all Amerock pulls are ADA-Friendly, and there are a variety of other Amerock products that do not carry the ADA-Friendly designation:
1. Pulls with less than 3.2in (81mm) inner length between the posts.
2. Pulls with less than 13/16in (20mm) projection from the bottom of the pull to the mounted surface.
3. Pulls with an overhang on each end (not arc-shaped).
4. Cup Pulls
5. Edge Pulls
6. Finger Pulls
7. Pendants & Latches

Grab bars and assist bars: Don’t make this mistake.
If you are among the many who are looking to incorporate grab bars or assist bars into your Universal Design project, avoid making this common mistake.

To understand the difference, grab bars are designed to support the user's full weight while assist bars are not. ADA-compliant grab bars require installation hardware supporting 250lbs of impact weight and must have a diameter ranging from 1-1/4in to 1-1/2in.

It’s important to understand the above distinction in choosing the appropriate type of bar for the user's needs.  However, it’s crucial that cabinet hardware of a similar size – such as longer-length cabinet pulls or appliance pulls, or bath accessories such as towel bars – must not be used in place of grab bars or assist bars. These items are not suitable.
However, if you are looking to elevate the style of your Universal Design bathroom space, Amerock offer a variety of 12 bath accessory collections 
that coordinate with our ADA-Friendly pull finishes and styles.

Designed for everyone.
Accessibility needs affect not just older individuals, but can affect anyone regardless of age, ability level, or life circumstances. Beyond aging in place, Universal Design isn’t just about those larger safety-related enhancements. For anyone with accessibility needs, living comfortably in one’s own home also comes down to the small details.  Thoughtfully incorporating Universal Design products throughout the home – right down to home décor accessories like cabinet hardware – can elevate the style of a space while creating an accessible home that meets the needs of the family and provides comfort, stability, and convenience for everyone.