Residential Design for Aging In Place

A guide to designing homes that allow clients to age in place gracefully

When designing homes for your clients, do you consider how these spaces will meet their needs as their lives evolve and change? "Aging in place" incorporates design concepts and principles that help your clients remain in their homes as they grow older and their needs and abilities change. Written by design professionals for design professionals and endorsed by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), this book shows you how to design for aging in place, helping you better understand the aging population and the design solutions and products available to meet their needs.

Both authors are Fellows of ASID and have served on the ASID Aging in Place Council. Their recommendations are based on many years of firsthand experience designing residences for aging in place on both coasts of the United States.

Among the key topics covered are:

Assessing the elder population, including the need for short–term and long–term care adaptations

Exterior and whole–house accessibility

Designing for the kitchen and bath

Laws, codes, and standards

Working with aging specialists, such as elder–law attorneys and physical and occupational therapists

In–depth case studies demonstrate how the principles and recommendations set forth by the authors translate into design solutions.

As the first wave of baby boomers enter retirement, the demand for beautiful, thoughtful residential design for aging in place has grown dramatically. In this book, the experts show you how it′s done.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction: GROWING UP AND GETTING WISER.

CHAPTER 1 Designs for Independence.

CHAPTER 2 The American Senior Tsunami.

CHAPTER 3 Laws, Codes, and Regulations.

CHAPTER 4 Assessing the Aging Process.

CHAPTER 5 Exterior Freedoms.

CHAPTER 6 Creating Living Spaces.

CHAPTER 7 Creating Private Places.

CHAPTER 8 Designing the Kitchen.

CHAPTER 9 Designing the Bathroom.

CHAPTER 10 The Rest of the House.

CHAPTER 11 Design Beyond Age.

APPENDIX A Building Professional Alliances.

APPENDIX B From Civil Rights to Universal Design and Beyond.

APPENDIX C Products and Vendors.

APPENDIX D Common Diseases and Disabilities.

Index.

Drue Lawlor, Fasid, is a certified interior designer and the owner of Drue Lawlor Interiors in San Gabriel, California. Ms. Lawlor specializes in residential interior design consultation for clients interested in aging in place. She is a principal with education–works, inc., an organization that develops, produces, and delivers continuing education seminars for design professionals, companies, and organizations. She has served as chair of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Aging in Place Council and previously served on the ASID national board of directors.

Michael A. Thomas, Fasid, caps, is president of The DESIGN Collective Group in Jupiter, Florida. He is certified as an Aging in Place Specialist by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). He was the first chair of the ASID Aging in Place Council and has served on the ASID national board of directors. He provides professional development workshops and seminars on a variety of business and age–related topics. Visit his Web site, www.IAgeInPlace.com, for more information.

" Residential Design for Aging in Place by Drue Lawlor and Michael Thomas is a comprehensive book written by two seasoned interior designers to show that universal design is good design. The book is well organized so readers can pinpoint a specific topic to learn about; however, I found myself so drawn into the information that I read the book cover to cover! The uniqueness of this book is the thorough research that Lawlor and Thomas conducted. They focus on designing homes that people can live in safely and independently throughout their lifetimes. With extensive footnotes throughout the book, readers will be guided to other documents on the subject." ( marvingblog.com, July 6, 2010)

"Michael Thomas is an expert when it comes to designing and remodeling homes suited to aging in place. The book, co–authored with California designer Drue Lawlor, has been well–received among builders, architects, and interior designers." (Palm Beach Post, 7/27/09)

"...is a new, definitive guide to the design of residential interiors for clients that are aging in place. Interior designers, architects, and home builders will find this book a "go–to" reference guide." (chicagoarchitecturetoday.com, January 2009)

"is a book for kitchen and bath professionals looking to better understand the design needs of an aging population. Incorporating design concepts and principles with discussion of design concepts and principles with discussion of design solutions and product options, this guide to designing homes explains how to meet the needs of clients who intend to age in place with style." (Kitchen and Bath Design, November 2008)

"...is a textbook for interior designers detailing design concepts and principles that can help design/build professionals execute projects that will allow homeowners to live independently in their homes longer. Case Studies clearly translate the authors′ key topics into effective design solutions and address exterior and interior room accessibility, working with aging specialists as well as laws, codes, and regulations." (CustomHomeOnline.com, 10/16/08)