Live In Place: Designing Homes for a Lifetime

Will your home be able to support you 5, 10 or even 20 years from now? The answer, especially in cities like Vancouver, is probably no.

A forever home can offer long-term financial and emotional stability, so this question is worth some consideration. There's no one stat - some say 7 years, others 10 years - but the consensus is that Vancouver residents tend to move often and the number of moves is increasing in frequency. Experts attribute this increase “to a combination of housing affordability issues and the country's aging population” (Rolfe, 2024).

All this is to say that there are a number of people who are looking for ways to plant deeper roots. This is where the terms universal design, aging in place and living in place come into play. While community planners, architects, and designers are well-versed in universal design principles, and there are ongoing improvements to code requirements for these principles in public, institutional, and multifamily sectors, many homeowners may be less familiar with how these concepts can affect their living experience and home-buying decisions.

Universal Design

“Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design” (What is…, n.d.).

Universal design is about creating spaces that are accessible to everyone, regardless of age, physical ability, or health. As one designer from my interiors program aptly put it: “Universal design is when someone is not made to feel “othered” or like an outsider by being made to use the space differently than everyone else. Accessibility allows people to get into the space, but universality means we all use the space the same way”

Aging in place and living in place design both incorporate universal design principles, but they apply them to residential spaces with slightly different (but complimentary) focuses.

Making Design Accessible by Claudine Casabonne

Aging in Place VS Living in Place

Many people associate aging in place with home modifications focusing on mobility-related adjustments such as adding grab bars and ramps. However, aging in place encompasses a broader range of strategies that support seniors in living independently. In reality, there are numerous interior adjustments to consider that can enhance the quality of life for individuals with varying vision, strength, and cognitive function. Elements such as sightlines, colour contrast, and material durability play important roles in creating a supportive environment. Another thing people often associate with age-in-place adaptations are spaces that feel cold and institutional, but they don’t have to be!

However, living in place takes this concept a little further, accommodating diverse needs right from the start, and reducing the need for home adaptations as people have children, age or experience changing physical abilities, yet “[less] than 5% of dwellings are designed/built according to the principles of Universal Design which really is not only a disservice to the user but is a missed opportunity for our industry” and we at Good Folk agree (Traetto, 2024).

Unlike traditional designs that may need retrofitting later, living in place and universal design requires flexibility and adaptability within the home to be able to handle different life phases, and the changing demands of the household. This approach is particularly valuable for multigenerational households.

Universal Design Principles for all life stages

Universal has 7 principles, and below is how each principle can be applied to the home in a way that is live-in-place friendly, helping homes to evolve alongside their residents:

Equitable Use: Features like wide doorways, accessible switches, and open floor plans that allow people of all ages and abilities to use the space without feeling limited.
Flexibility in Use: Spaces built to transition easily, like a room that can shift from nursery to playroom, home office, or bedroom, offer adaptability for changing needs.
Simple and Intuitive Use: Clear, easy-to-navigate layouts ensure that individuals of all cognitive abilities can operate home features without confusion.
Perceptible Information: Contrasting colours and good lighting assist everyone, from children learning their home layout to older adults with vision changes.
Tolerance for Error: Safety features, like non-slip surfaces and rounded edges, reduce risks and accommodate life’s unpredictability.
Low Physical Effort: Lever handles, touchless faucets, and automated systems minimize strain, making the home accessible to those with limited strength or mobility.
Size and Space for Approach and Use: Ample space for easy movement with strollers, wheelchairs, or other aids supports universal access for all family members

The 7 Principles by the Center for Excellence in Universal Design

Peace of mind for the future

Safety is another critical aspect of interior design and one key example of how universal design can effectively mitigate risks - by addressing fall hazards. Fall risks are among the leading causes of unintentional injury across all age groups, with many incidents occurring at home (Falls, 2021), which can be remedied with no thresholds, anti-slip flooring, appropriate railings and grab bars, resting zones, open sightlines, etc. Again, all universal, live-in-place strategies.

Beyond the immediate safety and health benefits, incorporating universal design helps ensure that your home is equipped to meet your future needs. This proactive approach can ensure peace of mind, knowing you won’t face unexpected renovations or moves due to common life changes, and can reduce both the cost and frequency of future renovations.

Should an event arise that does necessitate a move in the future, by incorporating these features into your home you are ensuring it can increase your home's desirability in the market. With projections that “by 2030, older adults will number over 9 million and make up 23 percent of the total population” (Jakobi, 2022). Homes that incorporate universal design are likely to hold a competitive advantage in a market increasingly appealing to older buyers and those planning for long-term livability.

Incorporating universal design and living-in-place principles transforms your home into a welcoming space that adapts to future needs. It represents a valuable investment in your quality of life, ensuring comfort and safety now and in the years to come.

Resources

Falls. (2021, April 26). World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/falls

Jakobi, J. (2022, March). Aging in place reflections from Canadians. University of British Columbia. Retrieved from https://aginginplace.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Aging-in-Place-reflections-from-Canadians.-STAKEHOLDERREPORT_final.pdf

Rolfe, K. (2024, January 21). Do Canadian home owners really move every seven years? The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-do-canadian-home-owners-really-move-every-seven-years/#:~:text=Canadian%20homeowners%20move%20every%20seven,real%2Destate%20industry%20for%20years.

The 7 Principles (n.d.). Center for Excellence in Universal Design. Retrieved from https://universaldesign.ie/about-universal-design/the-7-principles

Traetto, L. (2024, March 27). Aging & Living in Place. Retrieved from https://woodindustry.ca/aging-living-in-place/

What is Universal Design? (n.d.). University of Waterloo. Retrieved from https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/catalogs/tip-sheets/what-universal-design