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Do you want to Age in place?
There is a new Maine ADU Guide to help families learn more about their options for building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on their existing property. The guide was developed by organizations across the state and includes resources for getting started and designs for inspiration. As a small housing type that is intended to be flexible for different uses and residents over time the guide misses a key part for a target audience of older people who want to age in place. An added blog post to the guide’s website tries to address the missing guidance on designing ADUs that are accessible for older people and people with disabilities, but it does not provide the full picture of how to help families create an insurance plan when planning their ADU design.
Many of Maine’s existing homes are challenging and expensive to renovate for aging in place safely or when someone experiences an unexpected injury, diagnosis, or surgery. Planning an adaptable, universal design, or visitable entrance, bathroom, and kitchen from the beginning is more affordable and critical to make homes safe, work well as families change, and maintain social connections in communities. To be a guide that benefits all people in Maine, it is important to include adaptable ADUs plans for inspiration and universal design resources to let families make the best decisions for a significant home investment. Working with design professionals and contractors that do not encourage incorporating more inclusive design features from the beginning is a missed opportunity for future resale value and residents like any new home construction project.
Encouraging flexible ADU models will help normalize designs that include more users and increase the number of homes within existing neighborhoods where families of multiple generations can age in place. As we continue the conversation about good design for more affordable housing in Maine it needs to include access with all proposed housing types. Until inclusive and adaptable design for future flexibility becomes the home standard as good design in Maine, please use other resources that are available to help with planning an ADU like the AARP ABCs of ADUs, AARP HomeFit Guide, and the AARP Illinois Accessible and Universal Home Remodeling Guide.
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