Accessible living: When everyone benefits

When people think of accessible living, they often have images of wheelchairs and walking frames in their heads. But accessibility should be considered for everyone - as a matter of course and in every building construction. Only then will it become widespread. REHACARE.com spoke to Martina Koepp, Managing Director of GGT, about current challenges and solutions for age-appropriate and accessible living.

"I consider it a basic need to be able to live and grow old in a self-determined, independent and dignified manner within one's own or rented four walls," says Martina Koepp. Many people would certainly agree with her. Nevertheless, according to a recent study, there is a shortage of 2.2 million apartments suitable for senior citizens in Germany. For the Managing Director of GGT, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gerontotechnik (German Association for Gerontotechnology), this is an untenable situation that urgently needs to be changed.

Accessibility is comfort for all

The GGT has been working for years to improve the lives of older people. It collects information about their needs and advises companies on how they can meet them. It also ensures that products for senior citizens are of good quality so that they can live safely and independently. Martina Koepp has been working here as Managing Director for over 20 years and knows exactly what challenges need to be overcome on the way to barrier-free or low-barrier living.

In her opinion, accessibility should not just be restricted to older or disabled people. It should be seen as a general convenience for everyone. Wide doors, step-free access and ease of use are not just an advantage for wheelchair users. Parents with baby carriages, travelers with heavy suitcases and people with temporary disabilities also benefit. For GGT and its Managing Director, "accessibility" therefore means thinking about all phases of life and designing living spaces in such a way that they are flexible and adaptable.

Thinking about tomorrow today

This also means that the construction of accessible apartments must become the norm, not the exception. "The persistent prejudice that barrier-free housing is much more expensive to build is simply wrong," emphasizes Martina Koepp. A study by TERRAGON and the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB), for example, shows that the additional costs are just 1.26 percent. Significantly cheaper than retrofitting.

However, accessibility means different things to different people. What is essential for wheelchair users may not be important for people with cognitive impairments. This issue must therefore be approached flexibly and in a tailored manner.

"If we think about future needs during construction, we can make adjustments easily and cost-effectively later on. Imagine we lay empty conduits above doors during construction or plan additional power connections in the bathroom. This allows us to retrofit a door automation system or a height-adjustable toilet without much effort. Forward-looking planning creates living spaces that can be adapted to changing needs and save money in the long term. That would be a big step forward," says Martina Koepp.

Scandinavia leads the way

According to Martina Koepp, Scandinavian countries are far ahead of us when it comes to accessibility. Ramp solutions instead of steps, for example, have long been standard there. It is time that we in Germany learned from these examples and took accessibility for granted.

What she describes here is currently becoming increasingly known as the curb-cut effect. This describes the phenomenon whereby measures that were originally made for a specific group ultimately benefit everyone. Lowered kerbs, for example, which were originally intended for wheelchair users, now also make life easier for other road users. Surprisingly, improvements for one group can benefit many others - and thus become established in the long term and across the board.

Home lifts: the new trend for age-appropriate living

According to Martina Koepp, a current trend in age-appropriate living could also become established in all new buildings in the future. We are talking about the use of small home lifts instead of stair lifts. These elevators are a stylish and practical alternative to stairlifts, which are often perceived as stigmatizing and are removed again after use. Home lifts, on the other hand, add value to properties and make them future-proof. They make it easier to transport heavy objects to higher floors and are particularly useful for families with young children. The trend shows how modern technology can make accessibility more attractive and functional.

Accessibility as a matter of course

"The bottom line, however, is that I would like to see a future in which we no longer have to talk about accessibility because it has become the absolute norm," says Martina Koepp. It's all about breaking down barriers in our minds and in our environment. This is the only way we can create a society in which everyone can live in dignity and comfort, regardless of age or disability. Accessibility is not a luxury, but a basic need - for all of us.

Jennifer Meyer
REHACARE.de