New designs for the old

Considering that old age is inevitable, it is strange that so little thought is given to making living spaces elderly-friendly. Failing eyesight, slower reflexes, weaker bones and tentative grip are issues that we all succumb to with advancing years. So making houses barrier-free, accident-proof and easy-to-access make more sense than unsightly and ad hoc additions to the building as the years go by.

Subtle is beautiful. Right from floor plans to storage spaces, creating friendly spaces for the aged is possible without using overt and patronising fixtures. “Ideally, this should be incorporated into the design,” says architect Anuradha Naresh Rao, Aprobuild Architects.

“Right from the point of entry at the gate, have a gentle ramp leading up to the house,” suggests architect Sriram Ganapathi, KSM Consultants.

Try to accomodate the bedroom of the elderly person in a quiet spot of the house, with a view of the street. “At the same time, this room must be well-connected with the rest of the house so that the person can see and hear what is going on. On the other hand, a cry for help should also not go unheard,” says architect Pradeep Varma of Varsha and Pradeep Architects.

Along walkways, grip support in the form of pillars, seats and other structures can be installed rather than plain railings. Consider the grip bar that Aprobuild designed: a granite fence post embedded horizontally on the walls, which blends with the décor. Coating the granite grip bar with a layer of resin can help keep it moss-free, informs Anuradha. Provide grip supports in all spaces, especially the kitchen, washroom, and by the water closets and basins. Placing a cuddapah or granite seat under the shower would also facilitate a comfortable, seated shower or bath. “It is good to have hand railings along both edges of the stairway. When you have to stand aside and give way, this will provide a support to hold on to,” says Pradeep.

The shiny, smooth vitrified tiles that have become so popular now, are unnerving for most elders.

Moreover, if you walk for long on it, it hurts your knee or back, because you have to strain your body to retain grip when walking on the smooth surface. “Anti-skid, matt finish are advisable,” says Sumitra Vasudevan, Aprobuild. Also, maintain the same flooring material throughout the house.

If there are level differences in the floor, highlight it with colour or textural changes, so that an elderly person does not miss noticing the step. “Introduce a textural change just before it too, which alerts the elderly person of the step, because they may not be able to see as well as they can feel. Inputs from the two senses can work better than input from just one,” suggests Sriram. “Don't settle for a one-step level difference. If there are two or three steps, the level difference is difficult to miss,” mentions Pradeep.

Provide for good ventilation and natural lighting within the house, as elders are not going to get adequate exposure of the outdoors. If space permits, an open courtyard within the house can be a blessing, allowing housebound elders to experience the outdoors.

“A track of (low energy consuming) LED lights at a height of one and half feet from the floor level, can help light the way during elders' nightly walks to the washroom or other places,” suggests Anuradha. Ironically, toilets, the space most often associated with slips and falls get allotted dim bulbs. Have adequate lighting in the washrooms.

Doors should open into the room, rather than into the bathroom. “It is difficult to manoeuvre a wheel chair within the bathroom, to create space to swing the door shut. And from a wheelchair, it is easier to pull than to push,” says Sriram. For windows, sliding doors are easier to handle than pull-push doors.

Storage spaces such as shelves and drawers shouldn't be below the counter, because bending to take out things gets difficult with age. Having drawers is a better option. Remarks Sriram, “It is very trendy to have low-slung furniture, as it generates a sense of space; but when you sit on it, the knee bend is above the hip level, and aging knees find it a tough proposition to lift their own weight from a lower level.”