AGING IN PLACE
Soon after Foster Lott and his wife, Katharine Alter, bought their two-story, 1945 house, they began talking about ways to improve it, and saving up to do so.
Sixteen years went by and they were still talking about it. But in 2016, Lott’s hip was giving him an increasingly hard time — he’s in his 70s and she’s in her 60s — and they realized it was time to actually do the remodel.
By then they had added an important priority to their plans: They would not only give the house an aesthetic upgrade but also adapt the main level for onefloor living so it would be possible to stay in the house as they aged and faced mobility issues.
The couple say they loved their neighborhood in University Park, Maryland. But their lackluster, 2,200-square-foot Cape Cod? Not so much. The 1,678square-foot first floor, in particular, cried for change. Alter had a head start in evaluating ways to make the house safe and functional for people with mobility or other challenges. As a physician specializing in rehabilitation for people with physical disabilities, she says, “I understand the needs.”
One of her longtime patients is the son of remodeler Russ Glickman. His firm in Rockville, Maryland specializes in accessibility, aging in place and universal design — an approach that incorporates safety and convenience features that blend into attractive home designs. Alter and Lott knew of many such projects that Glickman had done over the years and turned to him to handle their remodel.
A home that is comfortable and safe for aging in place generally has a number of features, including the option for one-story living; an open plan with wide passageways and doorways; rooms and showers large enough for wheelchairs to navigate; at least one stepless entry; and low thresholds.
Other features include: smooth floors; good lighting; storage and work surfaces that are easy to see and reach; easy-grip