Universal housing designs good news for older Australians

An aspirational target that all new homes will be built to disability-friendly Livable Housing Design standards by 2020 has been set by various building industry stakeholders.

The announcement is the outcome of the National Dialogue on Universal Design, convened by Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, last year, to improve the availability of Livable Housing and get industry and disability groups working together to promote it.

Consisting of three levels, Silver, Gold and Platinum, the voluntary guidelines outline the key features required to meet each standard.

Mr Shorten said the aim is to build houses that can be adapted to meet the changing needs of residents over their lifetime, especially with an ageing population.

“These are houses which are easier to live in, can be adapted more cheaply, and will be easier to sell,” Mr Shorten said.

“Livable Housing Design is housing which meet the needs of all people, including people with disability and senior Australians,” he said.

“Families with young children, anyone who suffers a temporary injury, or has a friend with disability to stay the night, will also benefit from Livable Design.

“A few simple design features, such as a reinforced bathroom walls, a flat entry to the house and wide corridors and doorways can make a home suitable for an older person or a person with a disability at minimal cost.

“A Livable house can give a person with disability a life of independence and dignity, and improved their chance of employment and involvement with the community.”

The Older Persons Affordable Housing Alliance – Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) and the Council on the Ageing (COTA) said the agreement between housing, government and community sectors was welcome news as Australia prepares for unprecedented numbers of older people.

ACSA chief executive officer, Greg Mundy, and COTA chief executive, Ian Yates, said the Alliance has been a strong advocate for universal housing designs and COTA has been involved in the development of the standards.

“The Government is to be commended for its collaborative approach on this issue and acting to bring about these important changes,” they said.

“The new guidelines will pave the way for housing which will enable older people to stay at home for as long as possible in a safe and accessible environment.  

“It makes sense for us to build houses which facilitate easy living at all stages of our lives. Investing in our future for a minimal cost can only enhance our living standards.

“We urge all governments, developers, designers and builders to adopt the guidelines as part of a wider concept of lifetime neighbourhoods.”

The Gillard Government will invest $1 million over four years to drive an innovate partnership with leaders of the construction and property sectors to promote Livable Housing.

Although the standards are voluntary, key industry groups including the Property Council, Master Builders Australia and the Housing Industry Association have supported them and committed to the 2020 target.

Dialogue members have agreed to develop a national awareness campaign and brand for Universal Housing Design.

Property Council chief executive officer, Peter Verwer, said that developing the guidelines had been a great example of collaboration between the industry and the disability sector.

“Livable Housing has great potential for the future. It has low costs and huge returns both for homeowners and the broader community.”

Silver Standards for example include:

• A safe and continuous path of travel from the street entrance and/or parking area to a dwelling entrance that is level
• At least one level entrance into the dwelling
• Internal doors and corridors that facilitate comfortable and unimpeded movement between spaces
• A toilet on the ground (or entry) level that provides easy access
• A bathroom that contains a hobless (step-free) shower recess
• Reinforced walls around the toilet, shower and bath to support the safe installation of grabrails at a later date.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) research shows that between 1981 and 2003, the number of people with a disability more than doubled from 1.9 million to 3.9 million.

The ABS estimates that the number of Australians with disabilities will continue to increase through the first half of this century, due to the ageing of Australia’s population.