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IN MANY Filipinos homes today, we may find a member of the family, revered for his or her wisdom, entrusted

with the supervision of our precious children, or simply regarded with fondness -- the grandparent. Despite the apparent sophistication of todays lifestyle, the quaint trait of respect for our elders remains strong. Unlike in western cultures wherein older folks are shuttled off to nursing homes or retirement farms, the average Asian family still offers personal care and attention to its senior members. For this reason, it may be a good idea to look at our homes and ensure that these are suitable for our beloved elders.
Excerpt from the article of Archt. Marcos de Guzman, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 09 September 2009

As Japan proceeds rapidly toward an aged society, housing designed especially to provide greater safety and comfort for the elderly and physically disabled, with no steps at the entrance and handrails on the stairs and in the bathtub, is becoming more and more common. The Ministry of Construction has formulated guidelines for the building of these elderly-friendly homes, and the government has adopted measures for the promotion of housing that follows them, including extra loans and preferential interest rates. The building of houses for a comfortable life in old age is attracting widespread attention.

Respecting Independence, Preventing Accidents Take the case of a man in his seventies living in Tokyo who recently rebuilt his home so that he and his wife could live together with his son and daughter-in-law. First of all, he designed the hallways with a width of more than one meter so that in the future they would allow free movement in a wheelchair. Then he made sure that the stairs had a gentle incline and that each step had double the usual width. He also installed handrails on the stairs, in the hallways, and in the bathroom and toilet. Furthermore, he planned the layout of the house so that the elderly and younger couples could live separately on the first and second floors, respectively, though with a common living room on the first floor where they could all get together. As a result of the house's design, the man reports, there has been an increase in intergenerational interaction as the two couples help one another with the household chores and enjoy chatting.

One of the most important factors in the design of comfortable housing for the elderly and physically disabled is the proper consideration of safety. When building new homes or renovating existing ones, an increasing number of families now pay consideration to this aspect and take the opportunity to incorporate such conveniences as handrails and slip-prevention mats in the bathtub and on the stairs. In the case of two- or three-generation households, these measures to prevent accidents are essential. But there is also an emphasis on layout designed to maintain the feeling of independence and activity of elderly people. For example, space is ensured for them to enjoy hobbies or to move easily to and from the living room or garden.

To respond to these needs, housing-related companies are beginning to make various efforts to promote housing construction for elderly people. For example, one leading home builder's research institute on special housing for the elderly conducted a questionnaire survey of 868 persons aged 65 or over who visited the company's housing exhibit site or purchased a home. The aim of the questionnaire was to investigate the relationship between old people's zest for life and their housing. The results of the survey, which were released in September 1997, showed that between 20% and 40% of respondents who required some kind of care in their lives cited "no emergency alarm," "cannot use a wheelchair," and "difficult to use the bathroom" as reasons for their concern about housing. These figures were all 10 or more percentage points higher than for healthy persons.

Also, in the case of elderly people living together with parents or children, while they were satisfied in terms of family interchange and feelings of safety, many people expressed dissatisfaction that they did not have their own room to relax in or a personal kitchen, thus bringing the importance of room layout into relief.

At the same time, while 64% of respondents who replied that they were extremely satisfied with their housing reported that their mental health condition was good, conversely only 28% of respondents who were dissatisfied with their housing reported a good mental health condition and 31% even reported a bad mental health condition, which suggests an even closer correlation than expected by the research group between mental health and the degree of satisfaction with housing. The institute has stressed the need for housing construction that goes as far as considering the mental health of elderly people.

Convenient Housing for a Better Aged Society As a result of the increasing population of elderly, the number of households with elderly members has been rising year by year. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in 1995 households with elderly members aged 65 or over accounted for 31.1% of the total, up 5.8 percentage points in the 10 years from 1985. The increase in the number of elderly households is especially prominent. Households consisting only of couples aged 65 or over accounted for 5.1% of the total, a large increase over the 2.7% figure for 1985.

Against the background of this change in the household structure and increasing interest in the role that housing plays in realizing a fulfilling life, the Ministry of Construction in 1995 compiled guidelines for the building of housing for elderly people. The guidelines encourage barrier-free design so that elderly and physically disabled persons can live comfortably and provide for an extra loan of 1.5 million yen (12,000 U.S. dollars at 125 yen to the dollar) from the governmental Housing Loan Corporation for new construction or rebuilding of housing that fulfills certain conditions. An extra 3 million yen (2400 dollars) is added to the loan if the household has a member aged 60 or over. And preferential interest rates are available if the construction or remodeling conforms to certain barrier-free building standards.

Even if people do not have the opportunity to build new homes or rebuild existing ones, they can employ various ideas to reduce the anxiety and stress in daily life. Many housing-related goods for elderly people are now available, such as sloping blocks for steps and slipprevention mats for stairs and bathtubs. These efforts to remove obstacles and improve the quality of life in the aged society look set to continue.

Singapore 's population is ageing rapidly. The first batch of baby boomers (born between 1947 and 1964) will reach 65 years of age by 2012. The number of elderly aged 65 and above is one out of every 12 Singaporeans. By 2030, it will be one out of five. To achieve successful ageing in Singapore , we have to be well-prepared to face all the challenges of an ageing population. The family as the first line of support should look after the physical and emotional needs of their senior members. Individuals can improve their existing homes to create an elder friendly environment whereby elderly can enjoy an independent and active lifestyle.

Home Improvements To Create An Elder Friendly Environment The Main Entrance- Visual doorbells with vibration or light indicators, in addition to audio doorbells were recommended for elderly with hearing impairment. - For elderly on wheelchair, a clear manoeuvring space of minimum 1250mm by 1500 mm at the entrance within the unit is recommended Clear Manoeuvring Space at the entrance within the unit (Minimum 1250mm by 1500mm) - Free of any obstacles, projection & protrusions at the common corridors, main entrance and within homes

The Living Room - To facilitate elderly on wheelchair, eye viewers of appropriate height installed on the main door is advised. - Vertical grab bar should be located at accessible distance from the main door, to provide support when opening the doors. - Grab bar should be of groove patterns to give better and extra grip

- Provision of support hand bars along the main circulation path leading to bedroom and in bathrooms/toilets. - Free of dangerous overhanging & unprotected falling hazards. - Telephone lines and electrical wires to be kept neat and tidy so as to prevent fall accidents. - Repaint is recommended to incorporate effective contrast of building elements. Walls and ceilings should be finished in plain colour (not complex patterns, which can be confusing) of light tones (to help diffuse light around the room) and matt finishes (to avoid unwanted glare or reflection).

The Bedroom - Provision of an unobstructed accessible path on at least one side of the bed to facilitate movement. - Wardrobes to be of appropriate height designed for seniors on wheelchair. - Sliding doors in lightweight material are recommended for wardrobes. - Two-way light switch at maximum 1200 mm above the finished floor level are highly recommended as elderly does not have to cross the room in the dark to turn the light on or off. One of the light switches should be installed near the bedside table or bed frame while the other should be installed near the bedroom door .

The Kitchen - Kitchen sink tap with a lever handle and a pull-out flexible hose that can be extended to the stove for easy filling of pots. Sink tap with a lever handle and a pull-out flexible hose

Two way opening swing door by pressing the metal plate - Door designed to be easy to open. - Taps to facilitate easy usage (e.g. lever tap). - Provision of sufficient secured grab bars. - Accessories (e.g. soap dispensers) to be of accessible reach and will not hinder the main circulation path within the area. - A shower head with adjustable heights is recommended. It will be good if the shower head comes with a flexible hose of at least 1500 mm long.

Switches and Sockets - Light switches and sockets to be installed at a comfortable height, between 600 mm and 1200 mm above the finished floor level. - Easy-touch rocker light switches are highly recommended for the elderly. Large, easy-touch rocker light switch - Two-way light switches are recommended for the control of lighting within comfortable reach.

Lightings Elderly will normally require about 2 to 3 times more illumination than a younger person and other aspects of eyesight may also become less reliable in older age. - Provision of adequate natural and artificial lighting. - To have adequate illumination, a comfortable lighting LUX (SI unit of illuminance, equivalent to one lumen per m2) level for visibility should be provided.

Singapore Standard 531:2006, Code of Practice for Lighting of Work Places Part 1 Indoor Lighting, Singapore - Direct and reflected glare should be minimized. - Direct glare can be minimized by ensuring strong light sources, such as windows and light fittings are effectively screened. - Reflected glare can be reduced by eliminating reflective surfaces especially on floors and walls and by attention to the location of light sources relative to mirrors, glazing and the light.

Doors - Sliding doors, which are easier to operate, are recommended if adequate wall space is available . Sliding doors are easier to operate - If swing doors are used, outward opening would be preferred as rescuer finds it easier to enter if elderly falls behind the door. - Doors with push-pull mechanisms, U-shaped handles or lever handles are also recommended to facilitate ease of use.

Lever Handles - Door knob is not recommended as elderly have difficulties in grasping and turning the knob. - Doors to be of mid-tone colour in order to contrast with walls, and skirting, architraves and doorframes should be of dark tone colour to help define surface junctions and openings while contrasting with floors, walls and doors.

Floor Surfaces - Stable, firm, level and slip-resistant. - Avoid any projection, drop or variation in level. - Where changes in level are unavoidable, contrasting colour bands are to be provided to alert elderly of the change in level and handrails and grab bars are recommended. - have colour and tone that are contrasting with the walls, otherwise the skirting must provide a clear distinction between the floor and wall. - Shiny and reflective floors (e.g. granite, marble, glazed tiles) are not recommended as they could be hazardous especially when they are wet or greasy, or if they have been highly polished. Floor surfaces of kitchen, bathroom and toilet are particularly hazardous, as these may be slippery when wet with soap solution. - Keep dry as much as possible.

EXAMPLE OF AN ELDER FRIENDLY HOME

The Living Room Quad stick with long handled reacher to pick up light objects on the floor Corner guard to minimize fall injury Remote control is within accessible reach

The Bedroom Corner guard to minimize fall injury Rope ladder to assist elder gets up bed easily Laundry bin for collection of dirty clothes Non-slip shoes

The Kitchen
Jar tipper serves the purpose of pouring water without lifting up the jar

The Bathroom / Toilet

Architects have come up with a new `universal' concept as a guideline in designing homes that help make the golden years shine Parista Yuthamanop Local property developers and architects are starting to design housing that accommodates the needs of those in their golden years. The concept will inevitably become a main marketing strategy for developers in future years. Taking the elderly to natural surroundings, rather than making them sit in a room with TV sets, will refresh them, advises Mr Eggarin. Sinn Phonghanyudh, president of the Association of Siamese Architecture, said the concept of "universal design" that seeks to increase access for physically disabled persons and the elderly had begun to be recognised in the country.

"There are many details to take into account in designs for elderly-friendly homes, like steps of floors and hand rails. The so-called universal design will soon become a transition in local home design to allow all people to live with dignity," he said. "Features like warning systems for caregivers will be a necessary design for the elderly." Public buildings including shopping malls, condominiums and hospitals have been increasingly ensuring access for physically challenged people. "There are special parking and wheelchair services and ramps in many buildings for the elderly," he said. "The issue is no longer in the interest of just the sick people."

Mr Sinn said local lecturers in architecture were drafting a code of practices for designing barrier-free buildings for the disabled. "The code of conduct will dictate what are the features that public buildings like hotels should have for disabled persons," he said. Kittipol Pramoj Na Ayudhya, managing director of the developer Sammakorn, agrees that home design that can suit the needs of the elderly will be increasingly important in the future. Sammakorn's projects have included flexibility for adjustments to suit the needs of the elderly.

For example, there is one main bedroom downstairs with a separate bathroom. Residents may not use the room right now. But it gives them a chance to modify it, say in the next 15-20 years, should there be a need," he said. "Assistance tools like hand rails in the bathrooms would be an option that residents can install in their bathrooms later," he said. It has also focused on details that ensure safety, like rough-textured tiles and contrasting colours on each floor to avoid accidents. "We also ensure that there is enough light in bedrooms. There are windows at two walls of the room for the benefit of ventilation," he said.

It is not necessary to have bathtubs in every bathroom. However, the bathtubs might be an option for children. While the grown-ups rarely use it, the kids love bathing in it." Eggarin Anukulyoghin, dean of Kasetsart University's Faculty of Architecture, said houses with ample outdoor space also would benefit the elderly. "The elderly want to have interaction with the outside world. They are likely to be depressed to stay in a closed room for a long period of time, regardless of expensive furniture," he said.

"Taking the elderly to natural surroundings would refresh them, rather than making them sit in the room with TV sets and nice pictures."

Orlando Custom Homes, BRC Custom Homes Elder Friendly Homes Whether you are building your dream Orlando retirement home, or simply planning to live in your new home for a long time, you may want to consider designs that are friendly to senior citizens. As people age, they often experience limitations in mobility and sight that can become dangerous. The good news is that risks can be minimized by designing a home with older people in mind.

Lighting People over 65 generally require three times more light to see clearly than younger people. If their homes are not designed accordingly they are at risk for falls and other accidents. Some easy ways to increase lighting and visibility include: Use contrasting colors as much as possible. Like a darker colored sink than the countertop or darker bathroom floor tiles than the wall tiles. Skylights and large windows will not only bring in sunlight but much needed vitamin D. Track-lighting provides both better lighting and easier use than multiple lamps.

Senior citizens often have limited mobility and relatively fragile bones. This can make moving around a crowded area both inconvenient and dangerous. Easy tips to design a safe home include: Keep things level. Keep stairs and inclined outdoor paths to a minimum. Use sturdy guardrails for the stairs at an easy-to-reach height. Likewise these are also good to install in the bathroom shower area or bathtub. Minimize slips and falls. Rugs should be placed over non-skid backing. Carpets should not be easily frayed. Better still, no rugs or carpets should be used.

What is a Mobility Friendly Home?


A mobility friendly home is a purposely built villa in Spain designed to accommodate the specific needs of our clients, easy access. Off street or unrestricted on-street parking within 25 metres. No steps between the car parking and the entrance to the villa, plots with gradients will have ramps. Level access to at least one entrance to the property. The entrance may incorporate an access ramp or a small threshold. Level access to all main living floor rooms. A WC on the same level as the entrance to the property (or lift access to WC on another floor)

Wheelchair friendly kitchens A bespoke design will mean that every aspect of the kitchen is made to your exact tastes, measurements, and user ability. You will not have to lose out on looks, and you can have a fully functional space made for just the disabled user, or one that is multifunctional for both the disabled and ambulatory alike. Many fear that such quality will come at a high price, but it is possible to get great design at low cost.

Bathroom If you or a member of your household is elderly or handicapped, manoeuvring in the bathroom is very difficult, if not impossible. By making a few adjustments at the design stage we incorporate 100% wheelchair friendly bathrooms to meet each individual clients needs, by working closely together with our clients and our architect we can create the perfect living conditions.

Toilets The toilet is higher than average toilets. Three and a half inches higher is the recommendation. The seat is elongated rather than round and the individual should have support, such as a hand rail, available to help him or her move from the chair to the toilet and back again without assistance.

Even the western countries have started to be conscious today of providing a good environment for the greying generation. By making age-friendly changes both inside and outside of homes, we can help break the link between old age and dependency. We dont need to spend much to make our beloved elderly enjoy a happy, dignified existence. In fact, what they need most is our love and respect that would make them feel an important part of the family.

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