Inclusive Design and the Ageing Population
Martin Walker, CEO of Methven UK, discusses the role played by technology and design in the creation of usable bathrooms for the ageing population and what this means for installers.
Thanks to improvements in healthcare, advancements in technology and a higher standard of living, the population of the UK is now living longer than ever before. Whilst clearly a cause for celebration, this also presents new issues which, as an industry, bathroom manufacturers must address. More than 11 million people are now aged over 65 and a third of us are aged 55 and over, whilst the number of living centenarians has increased by 73% in the last decade(i). With this shift in demographic comes the necessity to ensure that society is prepared to meet the needs of the elderly.