The cost of retrofitting for an ageing world
May 14, 2012 | By Kim Walker
Hotel chains in the USA are lobbying the government to delay implementing a rule requiring them to install permanent lifts or ramps for the disabled at all public pools by May 21st. In September 2010, the Department of Justice issued a final rule reinterpreting a provision of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) to mean that such facilities were required; previously, many pools had portable, temporary lifts. The permanent versions cost between $2,500 and $6,500, plus $1,000 to $3,000 in installation costs, according to the Los Angeles Times.
I’m usually very clear about the distinction between disability and ageing.
The point here is, that we KNOW the world is getting older and that business and society will need to adjust to make the world age-friendly.
It is far cheaper to anticipate such needs in new projects now than to retrofit them later when legislation demands, as it almost certainly will.
