When Leo and Nancy Mortimer moved into their Columbia apartment, they were sold on the promise of a peppy lifestyle, not its amenities, which could serve them as they grow old there.
“I feel young. I refuse to be old!” Nancy Mortimer said, looking over her apartment in the Evergreens complex for people ages 55 and older.
But the lever-style doorhandles and support bars over their toilet and tub will allow them to stay in their homes as they age.
As baby boomers retire to new locations, more houses in the county will have to be built with elements of Universal Design.
“The key with housing is access. The common goal is to maximize access, making sure everyone can age in a place,” said Maurice Bellan, chairman of the Howard County Commission on Disability Issues.
About 52,000 people older than 55 live in Howard County. By 2020, that number is expected to rise to about 90,000, according to the Howard County Human Services Master Plan, 2005-10.
The Homes for Life Coalition of Howard County is working to educate residents and builders about the importance of adding these amenities early:
» Doorways and hallways that are at least 3 feet wide to allow wheelchair and walker access
» Bathrooms with grab bars, clear pathways to the toilet and lever-style faucets
» At least one no-step entrance
Howard County also has more than 30,000 residents with disabilities, according to the National Organization on Disability?s 2004 survey.
“Access puts people who happen to be disabled on a level playing field, to enjoy a quality of life no different than anyone else,” Bellan said.
More on the meeting
» At the annual meeting of the Homes for Life Coalition of Howard County, representatives will report on which residences in the county are most likely to incorporate universal design features, and the state of county housing for people who are aging and disabled.
» The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. June 29 at the Bain Center on Ruth Keeton Way in Columbia.
