Thoughtful design allows aging in place

Melissa Hammond, Communications Manager, Community Housing Partners

Challenge: Some 80 percent of people aged 45 and older want to remain in their homes as they age, yet many of their houses were built for people who function independently. Older residents are more likely to live in homes that require substantial modifications and are less energy efficient than newer homes.



In 2012, the New River Valley (NRV) Planning District Commission in Virginia's southwestern region was awarded a federal grant for a three-year project aimed at developing livability strategies for businesses, community organizations, local governments and individuals. The resulting report, Home in the New River Valley, finds that by 2030 the number of the region's residents aged 65 and older is expected to double and that the area's existing housing stock is aging.

Homes occupied by the elderly often have stairs, inadequate lighting and bathing facilities that are difficult to use and unsafe. Older adults no longer able to drive have few transportation options. By the time they are 85, two of every three people have some type of disability, regardless of income levels. These challenges increase isolation and health risks, which are significant factors that drive premature placement into institutionalized care — an extremely costly housing option for older adults, their families and the public.

In 2013, Community Housing Partners (CHP) facilitated an aging in place workshop with over 80 community members including architects, building contractors, elected officials, aging service providers, community planners, housing professionals, academics and residents. The group discussed the meaning of aging in place and and new intentional housing options. The result was a Design Strategies and Implementation Guidebook for "lifespan-friendly homes" which ultimately led to the creation of the Grissom Lane Apartments. This affordable rental community for seniors has universal design features to make it usable residents regardless of their age, size or disability. To maximize resident health and comfort, CHP employed green design and construction practices that improve each apartment's energy efficiency, air quality and ability to regulate temperature fluctuations.

Grissom Lane Apartments is the first certified EARTHCRAFT Net-Zero development in Virginia, meaning each home produces as much or more energy than it uses with electricity generated by a solar photovoltaic system.

The rental community, managed by CHP Property Management, has four duplex cottages on a 1.25-acre site with a community garden and central gathering area where residents can create an interactive and supportive community.

The community includes these universal design features:

• At least one step-free entrance into the home
• An accessible bedroom, kitchen and full bathroom on the ground floor
• Wide doorways and hallways to allow accessibility
• Controls, switches and outlets that are reachable from either a seated or standing position
• Easy-to-use handles and switches
• Low- or no-threshold stall showers with built-in benches or seats
• Non-slip floors, bathtubs and showers
• Raised toilets
• Appliances installed within the universal reach range of 15" to 48"

"It's so nice that the apartments are all on one level. It's clear that they thought about all of my needs, from hand railings and lower cabinets to wheelchair accessibility,” says Grissom Lane Apartments resident Patricia Lewis, adding: “It's also great that I am located so close to everything, from my neighbors to the stores and restaurants downtown. There is no instance where I've wished they had done things differently."

The development of Grissom Lane Apartments is recognized as a best practice by the region, the town, the residents and CHP. The eight apartments were fully leased months in advance and eligible residents were selected through a lottery. There is currently a one- to two-year wait for a vacancy. Financial contributions include $600,000 in community development block grant funding from the Town of Blacksburg and $400,000 from the NRV HOME Consortium.

The Grissom Lane Apartments allow residents to age in place in a healthy and comfortable environment. Winter drafts have been mitigated through a combination of airtight construction, high-performance windows and super-insulation. The homes are healthier than the average home due to finishes and paints with low to zero volatile organic compounds and the installation of hardwood floors and ceramic tiles instead of carpeting. They feature a ventilation system that expels stale air from the center of the home while bringing in fresh air to areas where the tenants spend most of their time.

The lessons learned through this project include:

• Universal design features enable residents, regardless of age, size, or ability to live safely and comfortably in their homes, even as needs and abilities change.
• A collaborative planning process harnesses the talents and energies of all interested parties to create and support a plan based on a shared vision that results in real sustainable and transformative community change.
• Green building techniques increase a home's energy efficiency and therefore its affordability and support healthier and safer living conditions that contribute to successful aging in place.