Such a good point. Not having carpet can mean cold floors which can be uncomfortable at any age.

Hi Monica, it’s actually mind-boggling that we don’t plan better for this, isn’t it? We all age so you’d have thought we would have cottoned on by now that designing our homes for ageing in place in the first place is a much better investment.

Agree! It seems logical that we cannot wait another minute time incorporate logical and practical Universal Design into new housing construction immediately. Yet, it is not happening. Housing is rising in price and is such a major investment. It should be designed and constructed to be safe and functional for a lifetime. Yet, housing is not being designed with aging in place as even a possibility, most often.Expediency and flashy trendy design gets pushed onto consumers. With the price of housing, long-term investment and utility should take precedence over factors that are trendy. Later adaptation is expensive and sometimes not even possible as poor initial design makes redesign fir safety, accessibility, and optimal functionality are needed. What does it take to change the construction trends in a community? I am seeking help and ideas and advocates to help us with our family home and make an impact now in our home area of Lexington, KY. Thank you!

Hi Mike, thanks for your insightful comment. Hopefully, that will be changing soon. I was at a conference run by the US National Kitchen and Bathroom Association earlier this year and Aging in Place was one of the big trends that they talked about.