Summary. Although research and experience do not necessarily suggest that existing accessibility guidelines and common practices are wrong, they do indicate that current guidelines may be incomplete when the functional abilities, preferences, and transfer techniques of older adults are considered. Thus, while updating of ADAAG to meet the needs of an aging population is clearly warranted, codes are generally slow to respond to change. Thus, in institutional settings where ADAAG is mandated, it is often necessary to meet the minimum requirements and then design the rest of the facility to go beyond ADAAG in order to meet the needs of the older adults and care providers. Alternatively, when ADA guidelines are not mandated, such as in an individual’s own home, it is extremely important that providers of aging services are aware of alternative toilet and grab bar configurations and recommend designs that are individualized to meet the needs of the older resident(s).
From SAGE Newsletter, Vol 2 (2), 2002. Acknowledgements: The information reported in this paper was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service and the US Access Board.