Accessibility: apartment gains solutions designed for the future of residents

For four decades, psychologist and gerontology specialist Laura Machado has helped elderly people and their families adapt to the aging process. Upon turning 60 – and meeting a new love –, she decided, alongside her husband, that it was time to also prepare her old age plan. And the first step should be to find a place where they could live well until the two of them were old together, even if, at some point along the way, one or both of them would have special needs or some type of dependency. "When we are well, active and independent, we don't think about how we will be in a few years. But the truth is that longevity is the great achievement of the century and we need to prepare for it. This reform was carried out for prevention. Because when dependency arrives, doing a project in a hurry with all the necessary adaptations, besides being more expensive, is much more difficult", explains Laura, with the wisdom accumulated by someone who, since the 1990s, has worked in national and international public policies for construction of dignified aging. For the project, which lasted almost a year, Laura counted on architect Mauricio Nóbrega – from the CASACOR Rio cast – who held weekly meetings with the owners and their team to make all the necessary adjustments to meet the needs (current and future) of the building. couple, as well as to respect all ABNT standards for an accessible property. The apartment in Ipanema (RJ) – a neighborhood chosen because it is flat, easily accessible and offers a wide variety of services – originally had four bedrooms spread over 150 m². "The project was a real 'puzzle' to meet these demands. We needed to think about how to create environments that could be transitional and adaptable, with multiple uses over the years, and also how to make the property light and airy and with space for wheelchairs to pass through, for example ", says Mauricio. The first measure was to enlarge all doors and openings to 90 cm . The bathrooms received special attention with showers and sinks that allow easy removal of glass and cabinets. Everything to facilitate the future use of wheelchairs, if necessary.

The cement floor (and not slippery) is the same throughout the apartment. The service area was designed to be practical and functional. And the kitchen is separated from the dining room by a sliding door that, when opened, allows plenty of natural ventilation and lighting. Another important change was in the configuration of the intimate area. The original four bedrooms were transformed into two suites separated by a sliding door. Today, the space functions as a single bedroom with a closet and a breezeway overlooking the beach, a family room, independent bathrooms for him and her and a beautiful view of the sea. But, when the daughter who lives abroad comes to visit, the door closes, and the use can be adapted. In the future, the second suite could also be occupied by caregivers, if necessary. The apartment also gained a home office integrated into the social area with sliding shutters , as today both Laura and her husband remain active and work hard. But, in the future, the space can be used for other uses, without the need for construction. The purchase and renovation of the property also meant another big change in the couple's lives. Before, they lived separately in much larger residences: she, in a three-story house full of stairs at the top of a hill; him, in a large 350 m² apartment that is not accessible. "It was also a great exercise in detachment. Thinking: what do I really need to live at this age? I need a lot less things than I have. So, since I started this new life project, and old age, I sold my car , I moved to a neighborhood where I can do everything on foot and I simplified my life by carrying only the essentials to live lightly and with quality for many, many years", concludes Laura.