Excerpt from: U.S. News (click for full article)
For many, living with a disability or a physical limitation that occurs late in life is a daily struggle. These challenges are magnified if a home's design restricts mobility. In some houses and apartments, every door, hallway or bathroom contains blockades that make the living space dangerous or simply uninhabitable.
Eight out of 10 people ages 45 and older say they want to stay in their homes and communities for as long as possible, according to a recent survey by AARP. As average life expectancy increases and more baby boomers enter retirement, the desire to "age in place" continues to increase—augmenting the importance of accessible home design. Architect Deborah Pierce says homeowners and architects need to work together to tackle this issue.
Pierce, author of "The Accessible Home: Designing for All Ages & Abilities," has practiced architecture in Newton, Mass., for more than 30 years. Today, she uses her specializations of residential remodeling and accessibility of public buildings to design unobstructed homes. U.S. News spoke with Pierce about common flaws in traditional home design, the rewards of working with clients with disabilities, and why accessible renovation isn't only wheelchair-driven.
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