Accessible shower for low vision users featuring satin nickel metal finish, matte tiles, adjustable LED lighting, color contrasting gab bars and custom inset tile create an inviting retreat for soothing shower suited to the low vision user.
Adjustable light controls.
“Lighting, color and space planning are the key to independent living with low vision,” says Michelle Molloy, founder of Penates* Design. It has particular importance to her because her mother has low vision. She has helped her make changes to her living space which has made it safer.
Michelle has a number of recommendations for making home modifications to support low vision starting with controlling light to help the eyes adjust to different levels of light. This can be accomplished by filtering or shielding light from:
Coming into rooms in the home
Coming into the eyes of the users
Additionally, making changes in the home environment to:
Show the edges of things
Increase light and reduce glare
Use light controls that are adjustable
Light objects and tasks
Shield direct light from eyes
Arrange furniture so light comes over the shoulder
Use visual and tactile texture to distinguish surfaces
Matte finishes should be used instead of gloss
Contrast paint hues
Control glare
Michelle Molloy, LEED AP, CAPS, ASID, founder of Penates Design, has remodeled and redesigned homes for over 12 years. She serves the greater Seattle and Snohomish County communities in Washington. She brings a “soul satisfying” approach to her work. Penates Design is Pro Bono Project Designer for 2009 AARP Recession Remodel contestant winner, designed aesthetics of aging-in-place concept with finishes selected for beauty and function for users with low-vision criteria. This project won the 2010 Dream Home Awards – Community Service Project of the Year Award.
* Penates (pe-nay-teez) was known in ancient Rome as the guardian of the hearth and treasured home belongings.
One of the biggest challenges to designing for aging-in-place is the use of space – or rather, lack of it. This is especially true with the bathroom. Many older homes have very tiny bathrooms which makes it difficult to use a wheelchair or walker to get in and out of the bathroom.
“We often see bathrooms that have doors which open right against the toilet making it impossible to use a walker in the bathroom,” says Adam Fine of Accessible Design & Consulting.
A great solution is to replace the door and adjacent wall with a “pocket door” which slides in and out of the wall. The entire wall becomes a sliding door and creates a larger opening to the bathroom allowing plenty of space for going in and out.
This larger opening aids caregivers and users, especially those that require a wheelchair or walker for getting around their home. The pocket door creates space where there wasn’t any before.
If there isn’t enough wall space to create a pocket door, the next best alternative to creating space is to reverse the door so that it opens to the outside instead of the inside of the bathroom. Swing-Away Door Hinges are another great way to add space. They are very inexpensive and can add up to 2-inches to the doorway opening.
Adam Fine is the founder and president of Accessible Design & Consulting, Inc. specializing in residential & commercial accessibility assessment, ADA consulting, and Accessible project management.
Originally posted: 02/19/11 by AIPatHome Staff 1 Comment
“One of the distinguishing features of universal design is that the result needs to work well for a wider range of users than standard design while looking good,” according to Richard Duncan, Executive Director of the RL Mace Universal Design Institute. “Another key characteristic is that the design should be flexible – easily adapt from one use to another.”
A bathroom is a good example of where flexibility is needed.
The base configuration of this bathroom, pictured on the left, was designed to provide enough space next to the toilet to accommodate maneuvering room for a person who uses a wheelchair or a caregiver if needed.
Is that the best it can look?
One concern that some have with this bathroom design is that they think the extra space is wasted and looks unappealing. This picture (on right) shows the same toilet area with moveable furniture and accessories that make it more attractive as well as creating more storage. And the bonus – zero cost adaptation. If and when the space is needed, for those using equipment or needing care giving assistance, the furniture and accessories can be easily removed.
Mr. Duncan has spent nearly 25 years in the field of architectural and product accessibility and universal design in residential, public, and transportation environments. He has extensive experience in the design, costs, materials, and products in residential and nonresidential settings. His work includes the subjects of affordable housing and home and repair financing and transportation accessibility as well as community design for constituencies that include people with disabilities and aging households.
Comfort Height Toilet, Fold Down Grab Bars and more
Recessed track with a removable plate on one end to add the lift if needed.
FSC certified maple floor with slip-resistant finish.
Water-saving toilet with no tank.
“Comfort” height toilet is easily used by tall people, wheelchair users, or older people with reduced upper body strength.
Fold-down grab bar supports hidden behind removable tile. Just pull out the tile (attached by magnets) and set the grab bar in place. No tools, screws or bolts are necessary.
Walls of glass and mirror to increase light levels.
Bathroom cabinets, wall mounted at 42” a.f.f. to reduce bending. Because they are wall mounted, they can be lowered at a future date (for shorter people and wheelchair users).
Michelle Molloy, LEED AP, CAPS, ASID, founder of Penates Design, has remodeled and redesigned homes for over 12 years. She serves the greater Seattle and Snohomish County communities in Washington. She brings a “soul satisfying” approach to her work. Penates Design is Pro Bono Project Designer for 2009 AARP Recession Remodel contestant winner, designed aesthetics of aging-in-place concept with finishes selected for beauty and function for users with low-vision criteria. This project won the 2010 Dream Home Awards – Community Service Project of the Year Award.
the inside of the bathroom. Swing-Away Door Hinges are another great way to add space. They are very inexpensive and can add up to 2-inches to the doorway opening.
according to Richard Duncan, Executive Director of the 
Mr. Duncan has spent nearly 25 years in the field of architectural and product accessibility and universal design in residential, public, and transportation environments. He has extensive experience in the design, costs, materials, and products in residential and nonresidential settings. His work includes the subjects of affordable housing and home and repair financing and transportation accessibility as well as community design for constituencies that include people with disabilities and aging households. 
