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Industry Insight
5 min read
Helping retirees build homes for life
Homes are built for living, but often not for ageing. A new construction code is set to change that — and add to a rising array of options for older Australians.
74%
of Australians believe home design is very important to support ageing in place
5%
of new home builds comply with voluntary Liveable Housing Guidelines, despite being in place since 2010
22x
more expensive to retrofit accessibility features than to include them at the design stage
Most Australians want to grow old in their own homes. Yet few homes are designed with retirement in mind. As our population ages, this gap between expectation and reality is set to become one of the defining housing challenges of our time.
"As our population ages, the demand for accessible housing will increase," said the Building Better Homes Campaign. "Over the next 40 years, the number of Australians with a mobility limitation due to disability is estimated to increase from 3 million to around 5.75 million." Yet only 5% of new home builds comply with the voluntary Liveable Housing Guidelines, despite being in place since 2010.
A new construction code changes everything
Earlier this year, Australian Building Ministers agreed to include mandatory minimum accessibility standards in the National Construction Code, a landmark decision. The new guidelines will help achieve that goal across three performance levels.
SILVER
🥈
Mandatory baseline: level entry, wider doorways, ground-floor accessible toilet, reinforced bathroom walls for grab rails.
GOLD
🏅
Optional upgrade level, allows states and territories to voluntarily raise standards beyond the Silver baseline.
PLATINUM
💎
The highest standard, full implementation of all 17 liveable housing recommendations.
The estimated extra cost of fitting basic accessibility features at design stage is just 0.1%–0.3% of total unit costs. Retrofitting the same features to an existing home can cost up to 22 times as much, according to RMIT research, making early planning a clear financial priority.
"Surveys show that some people have limited knowledge about retirement decisions — such as managing longevity, the cost of aged care, and the operation of government policies. The family home can become a form of self-insurance even if it is not a suitable environment to age in."
— RMIT Report: Exploring the economic value embedded in housing built to universal design principles
Planning ahead. The earlier the better
It takes planning to maintain autonomy in retirement. While some people feel uncomfortable discussing their future need for care or acknowledging the impact of physical decline, starting the discussion early can avoid significant issues down the track.
A good time to start is when people are beginning to consider retirement and have a reasonable asset base, often just after 50 years of age. Good financial advice at this stage can help you plan not just for where you'll live, but how your home can support you for decades to come.
Technology is also changing the picture
Assisted living products is a booming area that now extends well beyond traditional shower rails and non-slip mats to home automation systems, fall detection sensors, and even house cleaning robots — giving retirees more tools than ever to stay independent in their own homes.
THE 17 LIVEABLE HOUSING ATTRIBUTES
1
Dwelling access
A safe, continuous, step-free path of travel from the street entrance and/or parking area to a dwelling entrance that is level.
2
Dwelling entrance
At least one level, step-free entrance into the home.
3
Parking to entrance
Direct and level entry from parking space to the house — enter and exit the dwelling easily.
4
Internal doors & corridors
Internal doors and corridors are wider than standard to accommodate mobility aids.
5
Ground-level toilet
The ground level has a toilet with 1,200mm clear circulation space.
6
Accessible shower
Easy, independent access for occupants, hobless shower recess for safe, step-free entry.
7
Reinforced bathroom & toilet walls
Walls reinforced so grab rails can be installed easily wherever needed.
8
Internal stairways
Continuous handrail on at least one side of any internal stairway.
9
Kitchen space
Adequate clearance in front of fixed benches and appliances for ease of movement.
10
Laundry space
Ease of movement between fixed benches and appliances in the laundry.
11
Ground-level bedroom space
A space on the ground (entry) level that can be used as a bedroom, with 1m–1.5m clearance space.
12
Switches & power points
Switches aligned to door handles; power points a minimum of 300mm above floor level.
13
Door hardware
Door hardware installed between 900mm–1.2m above finished floor level for easy access.
14
Tapware
Tapware are easy to use with a lever mechanism, no tight gripping or twisting required.
15
Family/living room space
Enough free space for residents to move in and around the room with ease, including with a mobility aid.
16
Window sill height
Window sills installed at a height that enables home occupants to view the outdoor space from a seated position.
17
Flooring
Floor coverings should be slip resistant throughout to reduce fall risk.