In millions of homes across our country, and in the homes of people we love, existing residences are slowly but surely becoming prisons for their occupants. This happens as the aging process inevitably removes our ability to successfully navigate stairs and perform daily tasks required to live and survive independent. Societal options exist to move from private residences into congregate living facilities, where oversight and care are offered at various levels for those facing challenges. But few are interested in thus surrendering their independence. We prefer to just age-in-place. 

It is possible to remain at home as physical and / or mental deterioration makes doing so more challenging. Given the amount of research that preceded establishing design standards to accommodate the handicapped, new structures can be designed which are far more user friendly to the elderly. Changes to existing homes can also be made in incremental steps as needs arise, just not as efficiently as doing so from scratch. 

The knowledge and technology to enable our elders to stay at home are well established. All that is lacking are finances to do so, the time to do so, the will to do so and wide-spread dissemination of knowledge on how to do so.   

The last of those issues is addressed in this work.

The student will have a thorough understanding of physical challenges that make aging-in-place more difficult.   

The student will have an increased awareness of cognitive issues that make aging-in-place more difficult.

The student will understand resolvable issues faced by the elderly while navigating outside the home.

The student will understand changes in typical lighting strategies that are beneficial to an aging population.

Understand the proper design of exterior amenities to facilitate increased enjoyment of nature by an older population.

Understand the impacts of different choices in finishes in reducing dangers faced while aging-in-place.  

Understand design choices that make common areas in multi-family housing more user friendly to the aged.

Understand changes in cabinetry needed to accommodate use by the handicapped.