Livable Communities

“Universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities,” says Ginzler. It’s a growing area, too, she adds. “In an NAHB survey a year or so ago, builders reported that universal design will be one of the top 10 trends in the next A pull-down closet rod in the master bedroom makes dressing easier for a wheelchair occupant. Photograph by Mike Butler. © 2008 AARP decade. At the same time, remodelers report an increase in the proportion of home remodels designed to help people accommodate aging. We are excited to see this movement.” Universal Design Features Here are some of the universal design features Ginzler cites that make a home accessible and a potential AARP award winner: • Zero-step entryways • Wide doorways (at least 36 inches, to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs) • An accessible bathroom on the first floor with a walk in shower; • Lever handles on all doors • Conveniently located light switches and outlets • Multiple level counters and accessible appliances in the kitchen Community Awards The Livable Community Awards also recognized two communities in 2008. “A livable community is one that has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options, which together facilitate personal independence and engagement of residents in civic and social life,” Ginzler says. Here are the two developments that met these criteria and then some: Vineyard Lane on Bainbridge Island, Washington, is a 45-unit condominium community designed to be friendly to residents of all ages and abilities. It blends luxury residences and affordable ones and includes accessibility for wheelchair users in each unit and for pedestrians along its landscaped paths and in its neighborhood amenities. Its location couldn’t be more ideal either. Within a short walk of the neighborhood are a coffeehouse, a medical clinic, two grocery stores and restaurants, and the ferry to Seattle for culture lovers and commuters is located nearby. For more on this project, view the award video. Winooski Falls, Vermont, incorporates an historic town center with new planning concepts, combining small-town charm and urban amenities. The new residences are designed for energy efficiency, universal accessibility and access to public transportation. They’re intended for seniors, families and college students alike for intergenerational community spirit. For More Information Numerous organizations around the country are addressing the issue of livable communities. Here are additional resources: • National Association of Area Agencies on Aging • N4A’s "A Blueprint for Action: Developing a Livable Community for All Ages" • Partners for Livable Communities The nearby riverfront walkway, shopping, restaurants, university, hospital, downtown Burlington and Green Mountain vistas are all life-enhancing bonuses to a revitalized town center. For more on this project, view the award video. Award-winning communities like these, Ginzler says, “allow everyone to live comfortably and make it easier for people to age in place. They are communities designed to be user-friendly for people of all ages and abilities—from children walking to school and families with strollers to cyclists, soccer moms in minivans and people who use walkers or wheelchairs.” In addition to co-sponsoring the Livable Community Awards, the NAHB has shown its commitment to older Americans by developing its Certified Aging in Place Specialist program for professionals in a wide array of fields, (health care, law, finance, design, building, engineering and remodeling, etc.), who work with seniors.

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