Homes that work forever.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Brief article

As people age, keeping them in their homes is difficult. More than 30 percent of homeowners have trouble walking and using stairs, and 7 million use scooters, wheelchairs, canes, crutches or walkers. In fact, most people seek nursing home care not because of physical ailments but because they can't maneuver in their homes. Allowing people to remain in their houses, however, saves them the high cost of nursing care.

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At least 60 percent of single-family dwellings will have at least one disabled resident during its lifetime, most likely an elderly person, who requires special features not commonly found in community planning or building codes.

Making housing easily accessible to people with limited physical capabilities is known as "visitability" within the "smart growth" movement. It means the house can be visited by anyone and requires four things:

* At least one entrance without a step.

* A bathroom on the entry level.

* Accessible electrical...