Aging in place on LI, with good design

Fifty years ago, Beverly and John Hales bought a ranch in North Massapequa that they considered a starter home. The couple made improvements to the house as their family settled in, and they decided to stay put. Now in their 70s, the Haleses say they realize they may need to make additional changes if they want to be comfortable and safe in the home where they've spent most of their lives.

"Right now, we're very active," says Beverly, 76. "There will come a time when things will be more difficult to take care of."

While Long Island's population is growing older, many seniors are choosing the comforts of home over retirement communities and assisted living facilities. The "aging in place" movement has created a new niche in interior design.

Recently, students in the interior design, occupational therapy and health sciences-mental health counseling programs at New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury collaborated to come up with home modification ideas for older adults, like the Haleses, living across Long Island. The project allowed the students to learn about the real challenges that people face as they age, such as balance and vision problems and decreased mobility. They also tried to make the changes aesthetically pleasing.

"We want students to anticipate what aging seniors' needs are going to be," says Tobi Abramson, a psychologist who heads NYIT's Center for Gerontology and Geriatrics. "The whole idea is to help before the crisis hits. And we want them to become aging specialists in their careers."

The student teams were not limited by budgets, so some of the changes may be beyond their clients' means, but it allowed them to maximize their creativity. They recently presented their projects at the school:

Herz and the other students employed the principles of universal design, the concept of building spaces that can be used, and enjoyed, by people of all ages and varying needs.

"The design should last the whole life of a home," Herz says.

The homeowner limits trips to the second floor because she has to climb the steps from the living room in order to get to her stair lift. From the living room, there are three steps up to the front entrance, and from that she has to climb one more step on the bottom of the staircase where the lift sits. If she is coming from her family room, there is an additional step up to the living room/dining room level. She also has trouble seeing contrast in patterns that are the same color and enjoys baking but doesn't do it often.

Krug says the project was a great learning experience, since her group worked with someone who already faces difficulties navigating her home.

"Working with someone who already had needs presented different challenges than with someone who was aging in place," Krug says. "We had to think of what would make her life easier, but with designing you have to think about what makes everyone's life easier."