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Design for a Lifetime

Preparing Your Home for Successful Aging

NYPL FACILITATOR: Brigid Cahalan, MLSMODERATOR: Lorraine G. Hiatt, Ph.D. Environmental Gerontologist

PANELISTS:

Gail Ressler, Interior DesignerJoelle Lichtman, Interior DesignerManny Feris, Lighting SpecialistPhyllis Sperling, Architect

May 28, 2013 5:30-7:30Schwarzman Building South Court

Auditorium Design for Aging Committee

Design for a Lifetime - OUTLINE

What and Why This is Important

1. How to Make It (“Design”) Happen?2. Bath and Kitchen Design

3. Does Your Furniture Support Your?4. Lighting Solutions5. Auditory Solutions

6. Resources

Questions and Responses

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Lorraine G. Hiatt,Ph.D. Environmental

Gerontologist Phyllis Sperling, AIANational Design ArchitectConsultant and 44 Professor Emeritusyears Design Research City Tech CUNYlghiatt@aol.com phyllis.sperling@gmail.

comGail Ressler, BS

Interior Design griD.Business and

Residential Interiors, Manny Feris, LEEDSpecialized in Aging in ™ P, LightingPlace, Universal Specialist, LutronDesigngailressler@gm OEM Teamail.com mferis@lutron.com

Joelle Lichtman, MADesign Consultant, Brigid Cahalan, MLSand NY Home Safety Outreach LibrarianAssessments for Older NY Public LibraryAdults brigidcahalan@nyplJoelle.lichtman@gmail. .org

com

Gather Ideas, Work with Others

New York Times 12/14/1998 !

Rosemary Bakker, MS, ASIDRosemaryBakker.comrbdesign@earthlink.net

http://www.ies.org/store/product/lighting-and-the-visual-environment-for-senior-living-1032.cfm

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Combine Lists and Users’ Priorities

For more info:www.lghiatt@aol.com

Capabilities We Bring to Living

Visual Discernment: “See, Use with Contrast”:

Hearing/Understanding: Less Noise

Movement: “Building Balance, gility” Judgment: Safely Use What we Have

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Design for Living in One Place?

Memory Loss in Urban ApartmentsD. Memory for Safety• Can I Reliably Make Needs Known?

• Do I Follow-through on Important Aspects of Daily Life, SelfCare?

• Will I Exit Under Own Power from Signal, Instruction?• Am I Living Well?

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/24/staying-independent-in-old-age-with-a-little-help/

How to Make it Happen

Phyllis SperlingArchitect

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Do I need anArchitect

or Interior Designer?

http://seniorcarecorner.com/top-10-design-trends-for-aging-in-place

And, what’s is the difference?

Architect? Interior designer?

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In NYC you need an architect if you plan to make significantalterations to your apartment, or even to one room.

Moving partitions, changing plumbing locations and anystructural changes require that you file with the NYCDepartment of Buildings.

Only an architect or engineer can file with the DOB.

http://www.huduser.org/portal/publications/pdf/fairhousing/fairch7.pdf

A major modification like this will likely requirean application to the DOB.

http://mlkinteriors.com/aging-in-place.html

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If you decide to do a major renovation:

New York City Local Law 58 requires that allrenovations in multiple dwelling buildings(with elevators) must be designedto be adaptable to the needsof the disabled.

These changes include:

• Interior door widths of 2’ - 10”.•Corridor widths wide enough for a wheelchair.

•Reinforcement provided in walls behind the tilesfor future grab bars.• Minimum clearances in bathrooms and kitchens.

• http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/mopd/html/local58.html

‘Cosmetic’ upgrades, replacing plumbing fixtures in place,usually does not require an architect

or conformance to LL 58.

http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/real-estate/T029-S001-small-remodeling-budgets-big-upgrades/images/8.jpg

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Minor modifications to an existing bath to accommodateAging-in-place can be done inexpensively.

http://mlkinteriors.com/aging-in-place.html

Both an architect and an interiordesigner can help you selectfixtures, tiles and colors.

http://home4alifetime.com/Photo_Gallery___Links.php

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An example of a renovated kitchen conforming to LL 58.

Both before and after kitchens are too narrow for aWheelchair or a wide walker.

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This kitchen is good for a contortionist

Adaptable kitchen design

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Other accommodations for successful aging:

A decorative grab bar

Color contrast at the edge of the steps

What are your rights?

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Reasonable Accommodation for Personswith Disabilities in Housing

The City Human Rights Law protects the rights of peoplewith disabilities. It requires that landlords, (co-ops andcondominiums) reasonably accommodate the needs ofdisabled tenants, (shareholders or owners) in theirapartments or in the common areas.

Reasonable accommodation can be structural, such as aramp or installing grab bars in the bathroom.

You can get help

The law provides guidance in assessing requests for‘reasonable accommodation’. It takes into account the natureand cost of the proposed accommodation and the financialresources of the landlord.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation, youshould inform the landlord and identify the type of

accommodation you need. You may have to give the landlorda note from your doctor or other health care professionalstating that you have a disability and describing the functionallimitations that your disability imposes.

If you need to file a complaint, call (212) 306-7450

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Bath and Kitchen Design

Joelle LichtmanInterior Designer

Aging-In-PlaceAccording to an AARP survey, over 80% ofolder adults wish to remain in their currenthome for the rest of their lives.

Over 70% of falls occur in the home for those65+.

We need to ensure their home environment isa safe place to live.

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Principles of Universal Design“The design of products and environments tobe usable by all people, to the greatestextent possible, without the need foradaptation or specialized design.”

1. Equitable Use2. Flexibility in Use

3. Simple and Intuitive Use4. Perceptible Information

5. Tolerance for Error6. Low Physical Effort

7. Size and Space for Approach and Use28

Universal Design

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Bathroom: Before

30Phillips Lifeline. Falls Prevention and Safety Plan. From: http://www.learnnottofall.com/servlet/DownloadServlet?id=784

Bathroom: After

31Phillips Lifeline. Falls Prevention and Safety Plan. From: http://www.learnnottofall.com/servlet/DownloadServlet?id=784

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Bathroom: Clear, Visible Pathway• Keep a clear path to the bathroom

• Light the pathwayProducts:

• Motion sensors• LED lights or glow tape

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Bathroom: Bathing Safely• Most falls in the house occur in the bathroom!nceProducts:

• Grab bars (not the same as towel bar!)• Walk-in shower

• Shower chair/transfer bench

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Bathroom: Bathing Safely• Utilize tools to control water flow, temperatureProducts:

• Handheld shower• Anti-scald valve• Lever controls

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Bathroom: Bathing Safely• Keep surfaces slip-free

Products:• Non-slip mat or tape

• Shower caddy• Bathmat outside of tub

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Bathroom: NYC example

Bathroom: Modifications

http://home4alifetime.com/Photo_Gallery___Links.php

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Bathroom: ToiletingProducts:

• Comfort height toilet• Attachable bidet

• Bedside commode

For individuals with visualimpairments, use highcolor contrast and forindividuals in wheelchairsremoving the bathroomdoor can allow for morespace.

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Kitchen: Before

39Phillips Lifeline. Falls Prevention and Safety Plan. From: http://www.learnnottofall.com/servlet/DownloadServlet?id=784

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Kitchen: After

40Phillips Lifeline. Falls Prevention and Safety Plan. From: http://www.learnnottofall.com/servlet/DownloadServlet?id=784

Kitchen: Accessibility• Organize items based on use

• Utilize appliances with front controlsProducts/Modifications:• Pull out/down storage and appliances

• Counters at different heights

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Kitchen: Accessibility

Kitchen: Low Physical Effort• Utilize tools with easy to grip handles• Modify cooking activities with gadgetsProducts:

• OXO Good Grips products• Lever controls

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Kitchen: Low Physical Effort• Utilize products with visual and auditory cuesProducts:

• Timer (auditory and visual aids)• Grabber/Reacher• Sturdy stepstool

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Kitchen: Low Physical Effort• Simplify cooking with one touch, easy-to-useor single use products

Products:• Chopper

• One-cup coffee maker

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Does Your Furniture Support You?

Gail ResslerInterior Designer

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Lighting Solutions

Manny FerisLighting Control Specialist

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Lighting Solutions

Livable New York Resource Manual

http://www.aging.ny.gov/LivableNY/ResourceManual/Index.cfm

Joan E. Roberts, PhD, Professor of Chemistry Fordham UniversityLIGHTING FOR MAXIMAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Lighting is not neutral, but has either a positive or negative effecton health. Correct spectrum and timing of lighting is essentialbecause lighting modifies brain neurotransmitters andneuropeptides which, in turn, alter both mood and the humanimmune response. Proper lighting can improve health and well-

being while poor lighting can alter mood and increase stress andthe risk of disease…lighting in individuals' homes, apartmentbuildings, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings must be specifically designed to compensate for thedecrease in visible light reaching the retinas of those who are over50 years old, as well as for those individuals of younger ages whohave visual impairments.

Lighting SolutionsRecommended FootCandle Levels (IESNA)Library

Ordinary reading, stacks 20-50Book repair and binding 20-50OfficesAccounting 50-100Audio-visual areas 20-50Conference areas 20-70Corridors, stairways 20(k)Drafting 50-200General and private offices 50-100Lobbies, lounges & reception areas 0-20

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Why 2700° - 4500° choices?

natural lightelectric light

12000 K twilight

8000K cold white LED65000 overcast sky

550KK noon natural white LED

4500K cool fluorescent

daylight CFL, warmLED3000K sunrise/sunset halogen2800K incandescent

1800K candle

Kmidnight

Lighting Solutions

increase the energy efficiency of the United States (enactedin 2007)

• incandescent light bulbs are not being ‘outlawed’- new regulations (~30% more efficient) just makes themobsolete

• the new standards will phase in over 3 years starting in2012 for medium-screw-base, general service bulbs

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Lighting Solutions

• bulbs can no longer be manufactured, but…inventory can besold...until depleted:

Screw-base Lamp Wattage Effective Date

100W 1/1/201275W 1/1/201360W & 40W 1/1/2014

• many decorative and specialty incandescent bulbs, and allbulbs less than 40 Watts and more than 100 Watts areexempt

• MR-16 and AR-111 (low-voltage, halogen) bulbs are exempt

Lighting Solutions

• distributed RF wireless lighting control mini-system

• dimmers, switches, plug-in lamp dimmersand appliance modules

• RF remote control keypads

• occupancy/vacancy, daylight sensor

• system size: up to 10 RF dimmers

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Lighting Solutions

Wall box sensors Countdown TimersOccupancy - Auto On & Rated for 600 watts or 3A

Auto Off SwitchVacancy - Manual On & Timers - 5-60 Minutes

Auto Off Eco version - 30 Minutes

Auditory Solutions

Phyllis SperlingArchitect

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Hearing Loss

There are many household accommodationsfor people who are deaf or hard of hearing

Amplification phones for the hard of hearing.

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Ear phones that plug into the TV are useful for peoplewith hearing loss.

..as is closed caption TV.

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A CapTel (Captioned telephone)uses voice recognitiontechnology to display text of theconversation on the telephonescreen.

Strobe lights, or devicesconnected to lamps, cansignal incoming telephonecalls or someone at the door.

This combination alarm clockand fire alarm comes withstrobes and a bed shaker.

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For more information contact:

The Center for Hearing and Communication,50 Broadway, NYC

Resources

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Resources: CAPSCertified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)

“…aging-in-place means living in one’s home safely,independently and comfortably, regardless of age,income or ability level. It means the pleasure ofremaining in a familiar environment throughout one’smaturing years, and the ability to enjoy the familiar dailyrituals and the special events that enrich all our lives. Itmeans the reassurance of being able to call a house ahome for a lifetime.

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Resource: Age-friendly NYC

“urban areas are attracting residents in their50s because they provide walkable, mixed-useliving opportunities that are more amenable toaging in place.”

• Libraries• Architects

• Businesses

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Resource:

New York City Commission of Human Rights

40 Rector Street

212-306-7450

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Resource: Design for Aging Committee

AIA NY Design For Aging CommitteeMission: Increase public awareness of the needs of seniors living in an urbanenvironment, and encourage design that accommodates those needs

Vision: Create an Age-Friendly City for all to enjoy

Learn More, Get Involved:Contact

Jerry Maltz, AIA212.777.5131

njmaltz@earthlink.nethttp://boomingboroughs.org/contact/

http://main.aiany.org/eOCULUS/newsletter/

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Thank you!

any questions?

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