At Lowe’s website Livable Home you can see an informative article explaining Landscaping Tips for an Accessible Home. The goal of a more livable home is to design a home that focuses on safety and accessibility, including landscaped areas and gardens. Good home safety and accessibility are very helpful for all people but especially for individuals with disabilities. This includes exterior landscaped areas and gardens.

According to the author, Holly H., “Making some changes in the way you use your landscape lets everyone enjoy the outdoors. The ability to move confidently through the landscape or garden is the key to enjoyment. Regardless of vision, dexterity, balance, endurance or mobility, it should be easy to find your way around. Remember to keep the design unobtrusive so that it blends with the existing landscape.”

The tips provided by Lowe’s include the exterior route to and within the landscaped areas including ramps, grips to hold onto, guides/signs for large areas, raised beds, benches, planters/containers, vertical gardens, tools, tool storage, water sources, patio furniture, and arbors.

Creating a safer and more accessible home should involve Universal Design (UD). The principles of UD contribute to the convenience and function of products and home spaces by making products and spaces safer, easier to use and, more accessible. Accessible landscape areas and gardens can help. For additional information about UD please see Universal Design.

Careful planning is important to creating a safer and more accessible home using UD. A safer and more accessible home should include aging-in-place considerations, including landscaped areas and gardens.

Universal Design is a key part of aging-in-place home modifications. A Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) is trained in the application of UD for home modifications to help aging and disabled individuals remain in their homes longer. CAPS consultants and UD incorporate the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA) into residential home design and modifications.

Richard Acree is a CAPS consultant with many years of experience as a home inspector and accessibility inspector. For more information about aging-in-place services please see Residential Accessibility.

Please call 615-752-0060 or email at inspections4ada@gmail.com for help with aging-in-place home modifications for you or your loved one.

Thank you.

DISCLAIMER: This article is not an endorsement or recommendation to buy or use any product or service offered or provided by Lowe’s or any other company or vendor. Consumers and contractors should do their own due diligence to determine what product or service best meets their needs.