The Art of Visiting: How to Help Individuals Visit the Places and People They Love Jane F. Dailey, AAHID

The Art of Visiting It is likely that everyone of us will experience some type of physical challenge in our lifetime A range of needs & abilities throughout the life span - Young children Older adults - People of short stature----Tall people - Thinner people ----Heavier people - People with temporary----permanent disabilities

The Art of Visiting Design Pioneer and Visionary of Universal Design Ron Mace was a nationally and internationally recognized architect, product designer and educator whose design philosophy challenged convention and provided a design foundation for a more usable world

The Art of Visiting Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. –Ron Mace

The Art of Visiting VISITABILITY GUIDELINES One zero(no) step entrance (At front, back, side, or garage) All doors at a minimum of 32 inches width Halls and other rooms at a minimum of 36 inches in width

The Art of Visiting VISITABILITY GUIDELINES Reinforcement in bathroom walls around the toilet & bathtub/shower for future installation of grab bars Light switches & environmental controls between 15 and 48 inches above the floor.

The Art of Visiting SIMPLE HOME SAFETY One floor living is optimal Increased lighting and adjustment to the lighting fixtures by utilizing dimmable switches Smaller toggle light switches can be replaced with larger easier to operate paddle switches and located where the user can more easily turn appliances and lights (off & on).

The Art of Visiting SIMPLE HOME SAFETY Flooring should be a non-slip, resilient material that helps reduce fatigue while standing, and yet not heavily padded. (low pile carpet, lino, cork) Newer, easier to open windows (casement windows provide great egress for emergencies

The Art of Visiting Bathrooms in older homes Walk in shower with plenty of light and a bench seat to sit down while bathing. A hand shower seems to work best while sitting for most people. If the residents balance is in question—Glass doors may not be a wise choice! A chair and a sit down vanity with plenty leg room is practical and looks attractive.

The Art of Visiting

ENVIRONMENTAL CUES Help clients know what to expect Put the client in the situation that will trigger the right pattern Use colors are textures to provide information Reduce distracting stimulation

The Art of Visiting COLOR CONTRAST Helps to distinguish between different types of objects Healthy older person requires 3x as much contrast as younger person Increase contrast to help see better – light floor, dark table, light plate – contrasting colored edge on surfaces

The Art of Visiting