Universal design improves quality of life for people regardless of age or ability.
Ten minutes later, she strains the pot of cooked pasta and finishes preparing the evening's meal in time for her husband, Bill, to come home from work. Pa. After evaluating and getting to know the couple, Weiner was able to transform a living space into something truly livable. Design is a crucial element of our livelihood, a determinant of what we can and cannot do in our activities of daily life, says Patricia Moore, MA, Med, visiting professor of design at Arizona State University. This is particularly true for the elderly and disabled. Post-acute care facilities are incorporating several design trends to attract residents, and many people are modifying their own residential environments to enjoy the comforts of living at home.