In This Issue... |
City of Irvine, California Creates a Universal Design Program for the Homebuyer: Through a new and innovative program known as "Universal Design", homebuyers in Irvine, California can now design their homes to better accommodate family members and guests of all ages and abilities. More specifically, the Universal Design Program gives the homebuyer the ability to incorporate several different amenities into their home before construction begins. Amenities such as level exterior entryways, larger doorways and increased bathroom accessibility allow for persons of varying ages and abilities to live comfortably within their own home. The City of Irvine offers this particular program to builders on a voluntary basis through a collaborative effort between city officials, private sector business and the Building Industry Association of Southern California. The program originated through concerns of local residents that new single-family homes did not maintain the same accessibility standards as that of other dwellings within Irvine. For more information about the Universal Design Program, contact the City of Irvine Public Information Office at 949-724-6252. back to top |
Study Shows For Elderly, Falls Aren’t the Fault of the Home: The Yale School of Medicine has recently conducted a study proving no direct connection between potential in-home hazards and increased risk of elderly people having accidents. Instead, the study places blame of home accidents on the individual. More specifically, it cites health concerns such as poor vision and inadequate footwear as major contributors to accidents. In addition, the Yale researchers state that falls among the elderly are simply commonplace. According to the study, about one-third of people ages 65 to 79 fall each year. Moreover, about half of people 80 and older fall as well. The results of the Yale study were based upon 1,088 New Haven, Connecticut residents who kept records of their in-home falls over a three-year period. For more information about elderly in-home accidents, visit www.usatoday.com/ .
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Number of Elderly Drowning in Baths Increases 3.6 Times: Statistics recently released by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry reveal that over the past decade, bathing accidents involving the elderly have increased. More specifically, the number of elderly people who have drowned while bathing has increased 3.6 times. Moreover, a distinct majority of these drownings occurred while bathing in the home. According to the study, most of these accidents happen during the winter months when bath temperatures are excessively warm. The warm water effects the elderly because some are less able to regulate body temperature. The study suggests that shorter baths and heated changing rooms are a possible remedy to the problem. back to top
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Winners Chosen for National Student Design Competition: The winners for Aging in Place: A Smart-Aging Residential Design Competition were chosen on January 4, 2001 by a panel of judges. They included: Lynn Lehman of Minnesota University, Thane Eddington and Bhargav Goswami, of Texas A&M University. The runners-up were Wayne Baker and Aditya Dafre of Texas A&M University and Carolyn Bogert of Idaho University. Each winning team will receive cash awards and will be invited to attend NAHB’s International Buliders’ Show in Atlanta in early February. Winners will also be encouraged to attend Building for Boomers and Beyond: A Seniors’ Housing Symposium in Phoenix April 26-27, 2001. The design competition attracted more than 100 individuals and teams from schools all across North America. Open to students in schools of architecture, building construction and related fields, the competition was endorsed by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and funded under a cooperative agreement with the U.S Administration on Aging. The student design competition is one of many activities underway at the National Center for Seniors’ Housing Research, housed at the NAHB Research Center. For further information regarding upcoming events sponsored by the National Center for Seniors’ Housing Research, visit www.nahbrc.org and click on "Seniors’ Research". back to top |
Briefing on the Upcoming Seniors’ Housing Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona: The NAHB Research Center, in conjunction with the Seniors Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), will hold Building for Boomers and Beyond: A Seniors’ Housing Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona April 26 and 27, 2001. This symposium will bring together builders, land developers, multi-family housing owners and associated professionals interested in serving the growing and diverse needs for those 55 and older. It will feature two days of networking, seminars and exhibits to inform industry experts about new and innovative building, design and finance methods for those focusing on independent living and retirement issues. For more information regarding the seniors’ housing symposium, contact Leslie Marks at 202-822-0235 or lmarks@nahb.com. back to top |
