The key features of barrier free housing allow
people to reach the entrance from a road or parking area and enter
the property, move around the dwelling, and access essential rooms
including the bathroom and kitchen, operate all fittings, services
and controls.
Barrier free is defined as housing and its
environment that is designed to allow for the needs of almost
everyone. This includes:
- people with temporary or permanent impaired mobility due to
accident, illness or
- old age and who may use a wheelchair for some of the time;
- people who have difficulty with steps, bending down or reaching
or who lack
- dexterity;
- people with impaired sight or hearing;
- people with impaired memory, learning or reasoning;
- people pushing and manoeuvring prams.
Good practice in all housing design should give equal emphasis
to the needs of older and disabled members of society as it does to
the comfort, convenience, safety and security of the people in
general. Barrier Free starts from that premise, it is design which
is more convenient for everyone, it prevents people having to move
because their abilities have changed and it is more easily and
economically adapted to suit specific needs if this becomes
necessary during the life journey.
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