Universal Design – Why is Universal Design Necessary?

• Universal Design
• Why is Universal Design Necessary?
• Aging in Place
• Differences From Barrier Free
• More Features

Why is Universal Design Necessary?

With the aging U.S. population homeowners now more than ever will need to incorporate Universal Design in their homes.
Consider these facts:

• Only 10% of new homes include accessibility features
• 5% of homes are multi-generational
• 13% of the American population is over the age of 65
• Over 50% of the population intend to care for their aging parents in their own home

And finally, 9 out of 10 of those 50 and older plan to stay in their homes as long as their health allows them to. As kitchen and bath designers we strive to incorporate the principals of Universal Design to make homes usable and “visitable” while allowing individuals to “Age in Place”.