Have the days come when Mom needs a walker to make her way? Has dear old Dad, dizzy from blood pressure meds, taken a fall, the lethal combo of pharmaceuticals for seniors and slippery shower floors warranting a visit or two to the not-so-friendly ER? Is your own home ready for the golden years?

"Aging in Place" is the practical solution to independent living while we age. The term is used by building and interior design professional for construction modifications that address the living logistics for seniors during a remodel or initial build of a home. Broaching the subject of aging gracefully in one's own home may be a tough dialog to have with Mom, but ultimately, it's loving and pragmatic.

Aging in place designs offer the best of both worlds: Mom and Dad get to stay in the comfort and convenience of their own homes, and relatives feel comfortable and reassured about their safety.

Renowned interior designer, Mary Jane Grigsby, FASID, LEED AP of Adesso Design, Inc., has a personal passion for incorporating aging in place design elements at the very outset of construction projects.

"There's no need to compromise style or aesthetics to accommodate aging in place design features," Mary Jane explained. "The two are not mutually exclusive. And if you start from scratch with a designer who knows that an aging in place design is a primary consideration, it costs no more to achieve it."

Many of the rudiments of universal design are fairly simple:

· Wider doorways and hallways

· Higher toilets

· Removable hand held shower heads

· Telephones in bathrooms

· Non-slip, textured shower floors with no curbs

· Grab bars

· Ground floor bathroom and bedroom

· Lever type door handles

· Rocker light switches

· Full extension drawers and shelves

· Rounded edged tables

· Arms of upholstered sofas and chairs should extend to the front of the piece so the arms are convenient to grasp when getting up

"Over ten years ago," Mary Jane explained, "I attended one of the many continuing education seminars in my industry in south Florida at DCOTA Design Center. It was a workshop designed to engender a keen awareness in design and construction industry professionals about the perpetual challenges with which someone with disabilities lives. Forget about the actual disability itself, I'm just talking about navigating the terrain of life! We were each assigned to a wheelchair or walker for a few hours. The whole workshop functioned to give us a first-hand feeling for what a person with a disability experiences in merely facing everyday logistics. I've always championed conscientious adherence to building codes that abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act," she added, "but I got a whole new respect for the exhausting daily obstacles someone with a disability faces when the space around them has not been consciously designed."

In an age when people are living longer and desire to remain in their homes, many with reduced mobility, aging in place features in the first build or remodel make a lot of sense and, will likely increase the future value of the home.

"It's more than pragmatic planning for the future," Ms. Grigsby added, "Aging in place allow for 'visit-ability,' access by those who might not even be able to enter your home, or, if they managed to get in, certainly couldn't use the facilities."

ABOUT

Adesso Design, Inc. 772.595.0100, is an award-winning interior design firm whose work has been featured in many noted publications including Architectural Digest, Florida Design, Palm Beach Life and Woman's Day. http://www.adessodesign.net . Adesso Design, Inc. is a member of www.ReferredHomeServices.com , a website of respected, experienced, dependable businesses who meet or exceed RHS's rigorous review process which requires proof of proper licensing, certifications, insurance and ten verified customer references. Referred Home Services, 561-401-4004 www.ReferredHomeServices.com