What You Will Learn
In a country with a rapidly aging population, many questions arise. Can older adults safely move around and live in their homes? Are there steps and stairways they must use every day? How about baths without handrails or grab bars and kitchens with inaccessible cupboards or appliances?
Although almost 40% of homes today have a bedroom and a full bath on the first floor, the accessibility of those rooms is sadly insufficient. In this session, LaDonna Eriksen, will guide those attending through the important features that are needed to create healthy, functional homes for everyone.
Learning Objectives:
- Compare and contrast the standard home to a home designed as visitable.
- Characterize the benefits of a liveable home.
- Compare the household needs over time in relation to physical capabilities.
Featured Presenter
LaDonna Eriksen
LaDonna Eriksen, BS, MS, CLIPP has been an educator all of her life. She has extensive education experience with over 41 years of teaching with the final 24 years at the Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska teaching Anatomy/Physiology and Genetics to Health Care pre-professionals. Her extensive knowledge of how the human body functions is what she attributes to much of her understanding of how correct design is invaluable to making a home functional, safe and healthy to meet the individual family’s needs.
Her involvement with design and construction began in 1985. She has worked with many clients creating beautiful, yet functional environments in their homes. Her first work with a Full Access home was in 1990, before the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed. She is especially proud of her work in the area of developing kitchens and bathrooms that meet the needs of today’s blended families. LaDonna used many of her past unusual concepts in designing the newly constructed home that she and her husband Mike own. She has established many outside-of-the-box designs and solutions that surprised craftsmen working with her.
To make living easier for her clients, she incorporates smart technology, human centric lighting, biophilia and wellness concepts with classic features. LaDonna served on the NKBA Nebraska/Kansas Board for 11 years and is currently the President of the Construction Education Consortium.
