- (BUILDING) Making Senior Living Barrier-Free; Construction Expert Shares Tips

The key to an intelligently-constructed retirement community lies in what is missing, says Joe Passkiewicz. A 30-year construction industry veteran and current vice president of operations at Jacksonville Beach, FL-based LandSouth Construction, Pazzkiewicz names barrier elimination as one of the most crucial elements in the design and construction of senior living environments. He urges the senior living sector to put aside big picture-thinking and focus on often-overlooked details. "Most facilities account for barrier-free travel but there are often other more subtle areas that can be a concern," says Passkiewicz, who shares with HSR his lists of the top five best practices and worst mistakes found in retirement community construction.

"The major areas are mobility, dexterity and reach," notes Passkiewicz. "Items to review carefully are flooring selections, thresholds and any changes in elevation. " The lack of accessibility figures heavily in his list of the most common errors found in senior housing:

Stainless steel grab bars: "Sometimes codes make it tough to substitute, but for any instances that you can- use colored grab bars."
Paddle faucet handles: "Same comments as above, but use an attractive lever handle."
Standard (too high) upper cabinets: "Most residents can't reach and don't use them. Any shelving or items over 60 inches in height will likely be a problem."
Uncovered entrances: "These need protected, allowing for the extra time needed to navigate through the doorways."
Long hallways/distances to elevators: "Long hallways are not popular and can be confusing. Break up long hallways with sitting areas and provide large and bright elevator lobbies to identify the space. Signs can be ineffective, but color coding can work. "

Passkiewicz also notes that doorknobs should be avoided at all costs in a senior living environment, as they can be difficult to grip.

Not surprisingly, accessibility is also at the heart of Passkiewicz's round-up of today's best senior construction practices:

Connections to outdoors: "Easy, safe and convenient access to the exterior of the building."
Adjustable shelving: "Make it adjustable so the resident can adjust to fit their height requirements."
Add built-ins: "Smartly placed built-ins can provide extra storage and places for display and knick-knacks for residents where standard furniture won't fit."
Paneled doors: "Use paneled steel doors where fire-rated doors are required instead of flat, or 'flush' doors."
Resort/health club amenities: "Include amenities that provide the appearance and feel of a vacation resort. Successful communities seek to use components commonly found in the hospitality industry."

A successful senior building construction begins with doing lots of homework, says Passkiewicz. "A careful review of materials and fixtures prior to installation can help to identify issues. The best test is examining the actual products or providing test installations and getting input from seniors." He recommends embracing new construction techniques and letting go of traditional practices that could potentially limit seniors' accessibility. "The marketplace is becoming increasingly global and is constantly changing," notes Passkiewicz. "You could be shortchanging the residents by continuing to do what you have always done in the past."

Info: LandSouth Construction has completed more than 6,000 multi-family units in the Southeastern United States. The company builds apartments, hotels, senior living, student and military housing, condominiums and townhomes. Visit LandSouth on the Web at: www.landsouth.com.

This story was sent to jackie@clockworkmarketing.com by jcmidero@gmail.com.