The Lifetime Home
This pattern is shaped by
Problem
When homes are designed for the able-bodied adult, every inhabitant who is young, old, pregnant, injured, or disabled must adapt to the building rather than the building adapting to them. The result: costly renovations, dangerous falls, forced moves to care facilities, and the loss of independence.
Evidence and Discussion
Universal design — building for all ages and abilities from the start — costs roughly 1% more during construction but saves enormously in renovation costs and healthcare. The key features are well-documented: zero-step entries, 36-inch doorways, hallways wide enough for a wheelchair, at least one bedroom and full bathroom on the entry level, reinforced walls for future grab bars, lever handles, rocker switches.
This is not about designing for the elderly — it's about designing for *every body that will ever inhabit this building*, including your future self.
Therefore
design every new home so that a person using a wheelchair can enter without steps, reach a bathroom and a sleeping area without stairs, and move through doorways and hallways without difficulty. Reinforce bathroom walls for future grab bars. Use lever handles everywhere. Place at least one full bathroom and one bedroom on the entry level. These are not elderly accommodations — they are the baseline for any body that might live here.