Does Your Home Pass The Test?

Visitability ~ An Evolving Trend For Aging In Place
An issue facing many aging baby boomers is ensuring their homes can pass the “visitability” test — that is whether they are easy to visit by friends or relatives in wheelchairs or with other mobility problems. Some cities, such as Tucson, have passed visitability ordinances, requiring new homes to incorporate several features, such as entrances with no steps, wide doorways and light switches no higher than 48 inches from the floor.
 
Homes, whether new or existing, should be designed to have at least these three design elements...
■ One entrance with no steps and a clear route from the sidewalk or driveway. 
■ Doorways at least 32 inches wide. 
■ A half-bathroom on the ground floor that is wheelchair accessible.

​And Visibility Benefits Everyone . .
The young mother with a baby in a stroller, who doesn’t have to hump it up and down steps when she visits her friends.  And consider these others who would appreciate such features. . . 

• The UPS driver who brings your new cabinets and leaves them on your front porch
• The homeowner trying to get the new cabinets into the house from the front porch
• Grandma who wants to visit the grandkids but knows she won’t be able to use the bathroom when she visits
• The college kid moving out with all his boxes and belongings

It makes so much sense to incorporate such features and it adds to the property values as well. 

For more information.... visit:  http://www.visitability.org
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