Kitchen flooring is an important subject for those who are designing or remodeling for aging in place. Not only is it a matter of safety but additionally it is a matter of comfort. The longer a person lives, their body begins to lose muscle tone, bone mass and inflammation of joints may occur. It is important to choose appropriate flooring to help reduce the discomfort these can produce. Flooring choices that are safer, have lower maintenance requirements and are more comfortable are beneficial to all family members including those choosing to age in place.
Ceramic tile has probably been the most used flooring in kitchens all over the country. I would like to suggest some alternatives to this popular choice. What is wrong with ceramic tile you ask? Doesn’t everyone want ceramic tile? Isn’t it a status symbol to have tile? Maybe so, but let’s think about this…
What is wrong with flooring being hard? There is no give or absorption on a tile floor. This creates fatigue and discomfort. Add to that a loss of bone density and muscle tone and standing for any length of time becomes a painful chore. A simple act of making a meal can become a taxing and uncomfortable experience.
What would be a better alternative to placing tile in the kitchen? Depending on the homeowners tastes and style, there are a number of better choices that range from cork flooring to laminates (check out Armstrong floors) to engineered wood and even hard wood (make sure it does not require stripping and waxing). These floorings have some give or bounce to them that will help alleviate some of the discomfort that standing for prolonged periods on a hard surface causes.
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing kitchen flooring is the slip factor. Ceramic tile can create a potential slip issue. Some tiles become very slippery when there is liquid on the surface. Think about what will happen when there is water on the floor from spillage and cleaning. Look for products that have a bit of a texture to them so that there is traction.
Consider not only the comfort of using cork flooring, laminates or engineered flooring, but also the fact that they are environmentally friendly, have cost benefits and have low maintenance requirements. I encourage you to explore the many flooring options available. Do not just settle for tile just because it has always been done that way or because everybody else is doing it. In the long run, we will all benefit from thinking ahead and designing for the future.
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me at alesha@aechurba-design.com. Take care.
The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the home. Because it is used so much and by so many, the kitchen design is an important consideration when remodeling. Picture this situation to get an idea what it is like to be 84 years old and still living in your own home:
You slowly amble into your kitchen to make a snack for yourself. It feels like you have rocks in your feet so you take it slow and easy, especially since you heard that Ella down the street had slipped and broken her hip just last week. You go to turn on the light and it still looks kind of dreary because your eyes are slightly blurred by cataracts and yellowed from natural aging.
You decide on a frozen dinner but you want a dish to put it on and the darn thing is on the top shelf. Your arm just won’t reach that high so you have to do without and hope for the best. You try to read how long the TV dinner should be in the microwave and you just can’t make out the type because it is so darn small! You stick the tray in the microwave and push the buttons. While it is cooking, you go to get a jar of jelly from the cupboard and your stiff fingers reach in and pull it out. As you go to place it on the counter, you miss-judge the edge of the counter and the jelly jar shatters onto the tile floor and splatters on the stainless steel clad dishwasher and nearby cabinets. Sound like a nightmare? It’s not; this is just a typical day in a kitchen not designed for aging in place.
Remodeling for those who are planning to remain in their home for many years, especially those aging in place, should keep ease of maintenance in mind as they begin to design. Consider the following areas:
Countertops: Laminate, quartz and solid surface countertops are the easiest to maintain
Flooring: Engineered wood, laminate (like Pergo and Armstrong floors), and linoleum are easiest to keep clean
Cabinetry: Easy access in addition to clean ability are the main considerations.
The above suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to designing a kitchen for those who are aging in place or looking to the future. Stay tuned for more design ideas for kitchens.
Want to see what the NKBA says about kitchen design? Check out their website for a design guide for everyone, not just those choosing to age in place. Remember that any CAPS will be able to assist with design choices too. Thanks for reading and please feel free to contact me regarding this or any of my posts.
Thinking about investing in your future by remodeling your home? Consider re-examining the position of the electrical plug and changing your choice of light switch style. Simple changes like the height of the plug and the style of the light switch will make it much easier to reach not just as you age but also right now in your daily life.
The normal height of the electrical plug is generally one foot to the center of the receptacle above the floor (in the United States). Why is it this way? Because that was settled upon many years ago and was easy for electricians and contractors to remember so it became the normal location. Is there a code requiring that it be a foot of the floor? Nope: it is just the way it has been done. Is there a better place? Yes! You bet! Place it eighteen inches (a foot and a half) to twenty four inches (two feet) to the center of the receptacle off the floor. Imagine the ease of reaching over to plug the phone charger in and not having to stoop down and bend over to reach that plug!
Consider the light switch. Normal little up and down thingy next to the door, right? What if you chose to have a rocker switch with an illuminated switch plate? Easy to reach, turn on and off and safety at night. The location should be re-examined as well. The height should be lower than the traditional four feet off the floor to the center of the light switch. A better location would be to place it three feet off the floor to the center of the light switch. You will be able to reach it when you are 83 and ever so slightly hunched and your child or grandchildren will be able to turn off the lights right now.
Not sure about the locations, styles or choices? Consider consulting with a CAPS. They can help you with locations, choices and options. Do not let “tradition” keep you from having comfort and convenience in your home. Small changes make a huge difference in making things more convenient.
Seniors tend to run colder as they age and because of this, they tend to want to make their homes warmer, especially the bedroom. This can cause a possible unsafe condition unless precautions are put in place.
Seniors are typically colder due to lack of movement and circulation and frequently seek additional warmth in a number of ways including space heaters and radiators and/or electric blankets. First and foremost, make sure any heat source is being used safely and correctly. Keep these precautions in mind:
Furnace:
Space heaters:
Electric Blankets:
With some common sense and a few precautions, a senior will have a safe and comfortable bedroom. Seniors are often colder because of reduced circulation and sometimes need a little extra warmth for comfort. Give them the comfort and warmth they need but please make sure they do so safely.
My personal thanks to Art Dunn for helping me with extra electrical and lighting information for this article. Art Dunn has worked in various areas of electronics and electricity for over twenty-three years, and has been both a license holder and a qualified individual for California burglar alarm and electrical contractor licenses. His employer, NANLOW-DUNN incorporated www.yourhomeservesyou.com, is an authorized dealer for products such as GrandCare and Home Automation Incorporated and is associated with Connect Home. His E-mail is artdunn@yourhomeservesyou.com.
The number one key to designing for those Aging in Place is to design for the the person or people who are living there and not just make the space “pretty.” Take this scenario for instance, you have a nice space to design, walls are ready to be painted, no flooring has been chosen, basically a blank space has been given to you. Are you going to go with the current home trends found in most homes these days? Are you going to choose the generic brown or dark taupe for the walls and hard wood and tile for the floors? What if you wanted to create a home for someone who wants to retire in this home? What if your couple you are decorating for wants to age in place? Are you prepared for this client?
There are many things to consider for the client who wishes to make their home their forever home. As a person ages, their eyes also don’t see as well as they used to making their surroundings seem darker. If you have designed to the current home trend, the already dark space becomes a recipe for depression and even a safety disaster. What happens is older eyes require more light to see things clearly, the dark walls will absorb the light creating an even darker space. In addition to this, older eyes tend to view colors with a yellow cast to them.
Take those shiny wood floors and ceramic tile that is so sought after in today's homes; these finishes can create a slip factor that can be treacherous to someone who is older. Luxurious marble and tile are extremely slick yet often are placed in the bathrooms and showers. Yes, they look great but they are not the most functional for an older person. Consider flooring that has a higher slip resistance factor. Lightly textured surfaces tend to be more slip inhibiting than slick or highly polished material.
Our population is aging and the Baby-Boomers are already in their 50’s and even older. Chances are you will have more and more clients entering their active retirement years. Be pro-active and research the finishes you are looking at specifying and make sure that they are safe, require low maintenance and provide comfort for your clients both now and in the future. Sites like the NKBA and the AARP sites provide some guidelines. Consider working with a CAPS or consider becoming one yourself. Universal Design elements and pre-planning can go a long way to making your clients living safer and easier. The hippest, hottest trends may look really cool but will they stand the test of time- your clients time?