---
title: "Aging in Place Home Design Accessibility | AVANORTH"
canonical_url: "https://avanorth.ca/blog/aging-in-place-home-design-accessibility-features"
last_updated: "2026-03-10T07:33:47.621Z"
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description: "Aging in place guide: universal design principles, accessible bathroom, kitchen, and entrance features, smart home technology, and cost comparisons."
"og:description": "Aging in place guide: universal design principles, accessible bathroom, kitchen, and entrance features, smart home technology, and cost comparisons."
"og:title": "Aging in Place Home Design Accessibility"
"twitter:description": "Aging in place guide: universal design principles, accessible bathroom, kitchen, and entrance features, smart home technology, and cost comparisons."
"twitter:title": "Aging in Place Home Design Accessibility"
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AVANORTH Home
**Residential Trends**·May 8, 2026· 4 min read
# **Aging in Place: Home Design with Accessibility Features**
Design features that support aging in place allow homeowners to live safely and comfortably as mobility and abilities change. Universal design principles benefit all ages and can be incorporated attractively.
**AVANORTH Team**
AVANORTH Construction
Canada's population is aging rapidly. By 2030, approximately 23% of Canadians will be 65 or older. Research consistently shows that the overwhelming majority of older adults want to remain in their own homes as they age rather than move to institutional care. "Aging in place" means having the home environment, services, and support systems that allow this. The key to successful aging in place is a home that accommodates changing mobility, strength, balance, vision, and cognitive abilities. Building these features into a new home or renovating an existing one is far less expensive than moving to assisted living.
---
## Universal Design Principles
Universal design creates spaces that are usable by all people, regardless of age, ability, or circumstance, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. The seven principles of universal design are:
1. **Equitable use:** The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities
2. **Flexibility in use:** The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities
3. **Simple and intuitive use:** Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of experience or knowledge
4. **Perceptible information:** The design communicates necessary information effectively, regardless of sensory abilities
5. **Tolerance for error:** The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of unintended actions
6. **Low physical effort:** The design can be used efficiently and comfortably with a minimum of fatigue
7. **Size and space for approach and use:** Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use
---
## Key Design Features by Area
### Entrances and Circulation
| Feature | Standard Home | Aging-in-Place Design |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Main entrance | Steps with railing | Zero-step entry (flush threshold or ramp integrated into landscaping) |
| Doorway width | 32 inches (810 mm) | 36 inches (915 mm) minimum, 42 inches for main entry |
| Hallway width | 36 inches (915 mm) | 42 inches (1,065 mm) for wheelchair/walker passage |
| Door hardware | Round knobs | Lever handles (operable with closed fist) |
| Thresholds | Raised (up to 19 mm) | Flush or beveled (maximum 6 mm) |
| Flooring | Mixed (carpet, tile, hardwood) | Consistent, non-slip surfaces with minimal transitions |
### Bathrooms
| Feature | Standard Home | Aging-in-Place Design |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shower | Tub/shower combo with step-over | Curbless (zero-threshold) roll-in shower with fold-down bench |
| Grab bars | None | Blocking in walls for future grab bars at shower, toilet, and tub (install as needed) |
| Toilet height | Standard (380 mm / 15 in) | Comfort height (430-480 mm / 17-19 in) |
| Vanity | Cabinet-mounted sink | Wall-mounted sink with knee clearance underneath (wheelchair access) |
| Floor space | Minimum code (varies) | 1,500 mm (60 in) turning radius for wheelchair |
### Kitchen
- **Counter heights:** Vary counter heights (two levels: standard 36 inches and lower 30-34 inches) for seated access
- **Cabinets:** Pull-out shelves and drawers instead of deep shelves. Upper cabinets lowered or with pull-down shelf hardware.
- **Appliances:** Wall oven at counter height (no bending). Side-opening oven door. Cooktop with front controls. Side-by-side refrigerator.
- **Sink:** Shallow sink with lever faucet. Consider touchless or single-lever faucets.
---
## Technology Integration
- **Smart home systems:** Voice-controlled lighting, thermostat, door locks, and appliances reduce the need for manual operation
- **Lighting automation:** Motion-activated lighting in hallways, bathrooms, and stairs eliminates fumbling for switches in the dark
- **Medical alert systems:** Wired infrastructure for personal emergency response systems (PERS) and video monitoring
- **Video doorbell and smart locks:** Allow identifying visitors and unlocking the door without walking to the entrance
---
## Cost Considerations
> **Key Insight:** Installing aging-in-place features during new construction adds only 1-3% to the building cost. Retrofitting the same features later can cost 10-20 times more because it involves demolition, structural modifications, and extensive finishing work. Even if the homeowner is young, including these features is a wise investment that increases the home's market appeal to a broader range of buyers.
| Feature | Cost at Construction | Retrofit Cost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wider doorways (36 in vs 32 in) | $0-50 per door | $500-1,500 per door |
| Blocking for future grab bars | $30-50 per location | $200-400 per bar (includes wall repair and finishing) |
| Curbless shower | $200-500 premium over standard tub | $3,000-8,000 (requires floor reconfiguration) |
| Zero-step entry | $0-500 (grade design) | $2,000-10,000 (ramp construction) |
| Main floor bedroom and full bathroom | $0 (design choice) | $15,000-40,000 (addition or conversion) |
> **AVANORTH Approach:** We include aging-in-place features as standard in our home designs. Every home we build has at least one zero-step entry, wider doorways, blocking for grab bars in all bathrooms, a main floor bedroom option, and curbless shower capability. These features are invisible when not in use and add minimal cost, but they can be life-changing when needed. We believe good design serves everyone at every stage of life.
#aging-in-place #accessibility #universal-design
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