An assessment of housing needs, based upon current demographics, illustrates that one in
nine Canadians is currently over the age of sixty-five. By the year 2030 twenty-five percent
of all Canadians will be over that ‘retirement’ benchmark.

This is a staggering transformation in our population base. Devastating effects on our
health care system are anticipated regardless of action taken now. CMHC estimates that
Canadians must build or retrofit 55,000 housing units each and every year just to keep
up with this demographic shift.

The User Friendly Home clearly illustrates how minor modifications to common
building practices can extend the time in which a family may live in, and enjoy, their
"once in a lifetime" purchase.

While it is true that homes may become outdated and require stylistic and functional revisions
to take advantage of today’s conveniences, the well built home does not wear out!
The occupants, however, may grow out of the house due to:

IF A THING IS WORTH DOING…

Utilizing the principals of universal design, the cost to build it right the first time, is rather trivial.
For example:

E.G. #1 To remove the sill of an exterior doorway during the building phase is twenty to thirty dollars.
As a retrofit this cost will escalate to several hundreds of dollars and generate a fair amount of time,
inconvenience and general frustration.

In1995, three and a half million people in North America had tripping accidents in their homes,
which resulted in permanent disability or death. Many due to raised thresholds.

E.G. #2 To install a grab bar with reinforcements around the bathtub, the current retrofit
cost is approximately $250.00 per running foot. If the reinforcements had been put invisibly
in place during the original construction, the cost would only be about $2.00 per foot -- the cost
of the grab bar itself and the labour to install it. No need to rip out the tiles it took forever to find.

E.G. #3 If you’ve ever tried to replace a light bulb in the centre of a cathedral ceiling you will
understand the need for practical planning.

BE PREPARED…

Universal design is simply the Boy Scout method of building. Be prepared for anything,
especially a future with our families in the home and the neighbourhood we choose -- for life!

The User Friendly Home demonstrates the building techniques builders should implement
into all housing in the new millennium. Keeping your future adaptation requirements and costs
under control will mean the difference between staying in your home or moving to a neighbourhood
with a whole new set of standards, friends, social mores and a brand new, untrained paper carrier.

KEY PEOPLE

In addition to Patrick Simpson who wrote the book on USER FRIENDLY HOMES
and has previously produced the innovative, award-winning Telosky Village,
the CMHC User Friendly Home in Maple Ridge and the 1996 PNE Prize Home,
this project has brought together some of the brightest talents and decades of
experience in the building trades.

ONLY THE BEST…

From the ground up, only the best product and service-oriented companies were involved i
n this unique demonstration home. Be sure to save the "Sponsor List" from this issue of HOMESWEST Magazine.
Plan for your future home. Get started now!

Gail Ferrier is a freelance writer and media consultant who hosts a weekly talk show, ALL ABOUT HOMES on CFUN 1410 am radio in Vancouver. Contact her 604 931 4056 or visit her website www.abouthomes.com