The revolution has begun. Oldersters swinging from ropes to save youngsters. Grandfather power. Adventure in advanced age. Old villians. Love in the senior years. Extended intergenerational families. Old fashioned family values. Even a talking dog. Great animation and it will make you cry.

See the movie "Up" with your parents and grandparents and the kids. Take a hanky and cry with joy. Then go out for ice cream. Or better yet, eat at home, together.

   You have been asking for more information on universal design and how to package the concept. Here is are some insights:

Universal design is a concept, or perhaps a euphemism, for exterior and interior design that works for the individual as they age. First level  living,  few or no steps, grab bars, falls prevention design , wide bathroom areas for a potential wheel chair, wide doorways, showers with seats to assist home health aides and easy to enter bathtubs are all part of the equation.

Universal living takes the concept of aging in place, easy living as we age, and freedom to choose life style, and expands it past the home into the community. Mobility, safe streets, inclusion in community affairs, anti-ageism attitudes, respect for mature adults, and universal design in public spaces are all components of successful universal living in an age friendly community.

Age friendly and Age blind connotes that age is not a determinant factor for life opportunities. Phrases like “Livable Communities” are replacing age based phrases like ““Age Friendly Communities.” Further, a community that might have facilities that cater to mature adults might now call themselves, “A Life Continuum Community,” to indicate that one can be comfortable there at all ages.

For example, the AARP Public Policy Institute publishes an extensive manual of protocols for determining if your community is safe, mobile, well designed, and culturally rich for the mature adult. This evaluation guide is called,” Livable Communities.”

NORC or Naturally Occurring Retirement Community is a large residential building (usually an urban high rise) or a rural/suburban neighborhood where a large percentage of the population is aging in place. Several governmental and direct service programs offer stipends for home care, maintenance and renovation to include universal design elements, where qualified under grant application rules.

The so called “boomer,” is an age cohort that was born between 1946 and 1964. (In Australia slightly different years are selected). The thread that unites the 78 million of us called “boomer” is that we were born at the homecoming of soldiers during and after WWII. However, on close examination, it is clear that with the wide birthdate span a mother and a daughter can both be boomers. So age and even geography does not dictate boomer behavior.

Moreover, a “leading edge boomer”, the oldest of the cohort, now 60 -62 are close to retirement age, whereas the youngest of the boomers, 45 years old have not yet entered their peak earning years.

It is likely that these boomers will want very different things from a home and from life style in general. For example, Ethicist and thought Leader Harry Moody, emphasizes spiritual Aging as boomers become seniors. They embrace their legacy to leave the planet green. We are returning to the age as sage. And California’s Woman Sage is a fast growing club. The Longevity Club, which I founded several years ago, is planning an active trip to Costa Rica to look at new second home developments and to discuss UD features.  The same group sees part of their aging as becoming global citizens. Other trends like attractively plated (even in hospitals) gourmet delivered meals, and at-home gyms are also part of the concept of aging for the affluent boomer. It is important to note, that like high fashion, these notions trickle down to affordable choices, and in the field of aging to government supported programs.

 Psychographics, from a life choice and consumer point of view, categorizes people by their attitudes, and those are shaped largely by life experiences, and fundamental personality traits.  We concentrate on psychographics, rather than demographics, in order to position goods and services to attract that target group.

Here we look at the attitudes of the boomer and active senior who would be interested in universal design and in over all universal living.

Affluence is a definite factor. Many of the desires for holistic living, and freedom as we age can only be fulfilled if we have the financial capacity. However, in 1987 the “Journal of Medicine” stated that “Aging is not a disease.” Regardless of wealth span, we all expect a better health span.  We see ourselves as well longer. In fact life span has been replaced in significance with MEASURING HEALTHY YEARS, NOT JUST YEARS ALIVE, EVEN BY INSURANCE ACTUARIES.

It is also important to understand what universal design is not considered by the affluent/holistic boomer/active senior psychographic.   Universal design is not accessible design.  Accessible design was originally created for people with disabilities to vindicate their rights and to make them an integral part of our society after much discrimination. It took a federal law, the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, to insure that public buildings, even the right to vote with accessible booths, and Braille would be afforded the disabled.

The psychographic that favors universal design do not see themselves as disabled, were never disabled and have no experience with disability, expect for the natural aging process, and do not want the universal design concept confused with hard won rights of the disabled.

A major factor in the emotional make up of the psychographic that actively seeks out universal design in their home or community is that they want lifelong independence and freedom of motion and life choice so that they are no different than they were when they were younger. The expectation is that they will live a long time, stay healthy, and be engaged in life activities. The goal of design is to   eliminate physical obstacles, like steps out of reach shelves, and hard to turn handles, not just to make life more mobile, but also to prevent “reminders” of aging. That means that visible signs of accessibility are unwanted.

Even in over 55 age based communities the words retirement or leisure communities have been replaced with “next stage life style,” and “second home community.” Sizes of homes may be large, but upkeep is easier. Basics of universal design, like, grab bars, non-slip floors, 32-36 inch door entries, low or no thresholds, barrier-free showers, handrails where there are stairs, ramps, varying work height kitchen cabinets, single lever faucets, big print thermostats, electric outlets 15 inches from the floor,  and switches 48 inches from the floor are the details included in the design.

Which brings us to what universal design could become for builders in general, who are targeting the still young home owner, as well as the mature. That evolution may be called “adaptable design.” There is a younger, healthy cohort that views universal design as valuable for their future. They want to be able to easily and conveniently adapt their home “just in case” their mental or physical status changes in the years to come. So, a reinforced wall to include a grab bar later on, a first floor bedroom layout, elevator options, and cabinet height options, are desirable because a major component of the psychographic is their EXPECTATION that they will age in place.

In targeting the perfect market we look for a cohort that is not only in the market for building or renovation, or buying a home, but who is a planner and who wants features associated with lifelong independence, not preparation for old age.

However, it is also important to relate universal design for the “go-go” psychographic with that of the older consumer. At advanced ages or where there is a mental or physical disability ADA requirements such as available para-transit or accessible public transportation, ramps, signage, also becomes part of universal living. Even for those with disabilities, UD is a road to healthier aging. At home, safety sensors to monitor movement, alarms and computer driven medication management and online health management become important. Alzheimer’s sufferers also can live out their lives at home when issues of “wandering” are addressed spatially.

This interface between the realities of aging for the well home owner have resulted in wall niches for eventual wall sensors, wireless devices for easy installation, and the smart stoves that turn themselves off, and more to come.

Universal Design and the Government

A 2000 AARP study revealed that 90% of persons over the age of 65 prefer to stay in their current residence for as long as possible.  “AARP Fixing to Stay.”  Fair Housing Act 1988 section 6a make it illegal to disallow tenants to make modifications that help them age in place, if they pay for it. Also dwellings of four or more units must have reinforced walls, wheelchair accessibility, accessible outlets, thermostats and switches. So there is public and private recognition of the desire to age in place. And the consumer driven market is bolstered and paralleled by laws meant to protect the disabled, and now applicable to a maturing population slowly becoming a disability market.

That is why there is a new nexus between designers, builders, social workers, aging advocates, disability advocates, technology pros, gerontologists, financial planners and marketers.

There is another interface of utmost importance in examining the psychographic qualities of the boomer/active senior.  That is their emotional desire to stay current, and to accept trends and make them their own. This may be a major reason that it is becoming impossible to separate universal design which is rooted in physical and mental accommodations as we age naturally, with notions of “green,” water conservation, and restricted carbon footprint. As a draftsman overlays simple drawings to create three dimensional design, universality, environmentalism, spa atmosphere, health and wellness, continued good looks are all compatible values that overlay the consumer choices of our psychographic. A feature, fixture, or design that combines as wish to install wall sensors or alarms.

There are 12 million caregivers; their average age is 46, most work. Of all 60 year olds, half have at least one living parent. Housing for bringing parents home, or using family money for aging in place is a national concern. To read more about the possibilities and issues for retooling the home of the adult child or the parents’ home for aging in place see www.homeinstead.com, and the Too Close for Comfort Calculator www.homeinstead.com/resources/familyresources/toocloseforcomfort/default.aspx .

We have just scratched the surface of the nexus between aging, good living and universal design. From sky scraper to powder room, watch out, here come the boomers!

SOME RESOURCES

AARP-WWW.AARP.ORG

CENTER FOR UNIVERSAL DESIGN –WWW.DESIGN.NCSU.EDU

AMERICAN HOMES AND SERVICES FOR THE AFED WWW.AAHSA.ORG

National ASSOCIATRION OF HOME BUILDERS-WWW.NAHB.ORG

I am promoting two seminars for my New Jersey clients this month.  One is for Dr. Vincent Tavormina of Tavormina Dentistry, at Care One Assisted Living. He is lecturing on “Attaining the Ageless Smile.” The other is for Esther Adler an Inspirationalist, at Whole Foods. She is lecturing on bringing miracles into your life.

I am lecturing too, on “Aging With Choice,” at the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerville, NJ.

First, I am thrilled with EMMA, the data base and auto responder I am using to get the e-word out. Second, I like the access I get to the age beat press through my subscription to www.seniorcaremanager.com.

Check these out.

But which topic do you think will garner the most attention and attendance? I will let you know after June 5 when all the results are in. Maybe an upset like Idol!