Have a survey

This example report is a summary of the home’s exterior and interior and primary needs and general condition of the homeowner/s (in terms of vision, hearing, movement, strength). Then there is a breakdown for each zone; hallways, stairs (if present), kitchen, living room/dining room/breakfast room, main bedroom, main bathroom, secondary bedrooms, secondary bathrooms, utility room (if present), outdoor areas, garage and other areas. In all areas reviewing: movement and obstructions/hazards, ease of access to switches and devices, quality of lighting (vision, amount, intensity, colour, glare, natural or artificial) and overall functionality of each room including ease of maintenance. Once the survey is done you can then decide how you might put the report in action, highlighting areas of priority.

Prioritising key areas around the house that require updating.

Designing a beautiful kitchen is one thing but so many other considerations specific to the user needs should be included to make it safe and enjoyable to use; entering the room, flooring transitions, widths of corridors, types and locations of switches and window closings, addressing lighting (amount / intensity / colour / shadows), ability to reach for switches and appliances and all parts of the fridge/freezer; opening cabinets and drawers and retrieving items, dealing with reflection on surfaces and floors; making cleaning easier, and so much more.

After the kitchen the bathroom is probably the most important room, but it can also be the most dangerous for hazards, as such its essential to consider; entering, leaving the room (access, doorway width, style of door, lighting), privacy, modesty (door handles, locking mechanisms), using cabinets and cupboards (access, lighting, doorway style, vision, mobility, organization), opening and closing windows (if present - type, controls, height, obstructions), using sink, taps, and countertop (reach, depth, ease of use, lighting, height, stand or sit, access, flooring, vision, mobility, balance, stamina), using toilet (standing, sitting, balance, access, ease of use, supports), using bath, shower (size, access, ease of use, barriers, vision, lighting, handheld access, seating, footing, balance, coordination, stamina, function, supports, safety) and so much more.

Having a relaxing living room is essential, but it’s even better if everything has been considered and becomes effortless, taking into account; using electrical outlets (height, location, behind furniture), seeing with available lighting (natural and artificial and dealing with glare), sitting and standing (availability of seating, height, type, access, mobility), opening and closing blinds/curtains, walking about within the room (balance, non-slip, no obstacles), transitions between rooms, issues with the flooring (slippery, worn, colour, glare, appearance, mobility), watching/hearing TV (TV itself, location of it, sensory), visiting with guests or family (seating, vision, hearing, lighting) and so much more.

A significant majority of people want to live more sustainably. Sustainable design is important as it will save money over the life of the building by reducing heating, cooling and water bills. There are many simple ways to create an energy efficient home that will improve health and wellbeing. A house filled with natural light is a delight to be in and improves your overall outlook on life. Designing homes to ensure the orientation, floor plan and windows make the most of the sunlight.  An energy efficient home can be beneficial for clients who are susceptible to changes in temperature. Consider installing renewable energy such as solar panels and air source heat pumps and water saving devices.

Creating a space for hobbies/relaxing or additional overnight accommodation - garden cabins can be a great investment. Hobbies can be a great stress reliever - helping you explore yourself and your talents. The last one we built is being used for a 24sq/m model railway set - 18 years in the planning! Although not quite as big as Rod Stewart’s https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50403561

Just as the interiors of homes should be changed to fit the needs of seniors who wish to age in place and live independently, exterior spaces like patio and decks should be just as accommodating. The goal is to provide a safe environment for the user to enjoy that can be navigated easily and does not require extensive maintenance. Consider supplying shade, easy to move furniture, low maintenance composite materials, and highlight level changes and smooth access into the house.

Good planning is everything! So much of this work doesn’t end up getting seen but will affect the quality of the job for years. It is important to consider how you define the edging, installing good lighting and consideration to levelling the transitions between key areas.

Products powered by voice recognition have had a huge impact on the way people live. The Hasbro cats and dogs allow people to pet and interact with an animal without hygiene and contamination worries. PARO is a seal robot designed to help those with anxiety and dementia among other health concerns. As older adults are transitioning to smart phones, there has been a rise in apps that are geared towards offering them necessary services more seamlessly. Howz is a next generation approach as their flexible set of monitoring devices around the home feed into an app. It checks for changes in a person’s normal routine and makes sure that you are up at the usual time, points out that you have been up in the night or haven’t left the front door open. The system is installed around a person’s needs and if those change, more monitors can be added and alerts can be sent to your family and friends so they can call or visit you to check that everything is ok.