Nothing is more crucial at an older age than feeling independent, safe, and included while navigating one's surroundings. Small changes can make a big difference.
Located in the scenic city of Ottawa, our Senior Living Community has been housing independent seniors for over three decades. Sprawling across 10 acres, its four buildings offer residents a comfortable and engaging place to spend their golden years surrounded by nature and community. Yet, as the community expanded over the years with minimal upgrades, accessibility, and safety challenges had increasingly become a pressing concern, especially for our visually impaired residents and guests with mobility difficulties.
As the Facility Manager for the past 5 years, I was noticing a steady rise in avoidable falls and instances of disorientation within our indoor and outdoor areas. Our residents frequently faced difficulties easily accessing key amenities and common facilities spread across the expansive grounds with minimal wayfinding support. During my regular safety walks, I realized many hazardous situations remained undetected, mainly due to the lack of tactile warning domes and non-slip coatings on stair tread edges. This was a serious liability risk and compromise on code compliance we could no longer overlook. I had to take urgent action to upgrade our accessibility.
I began researching compliant accessibility solutions matching our unique needs. Many senior housing counterparts faced similar navigation issues but offered limited practical advice beyond surface-level solutions. After reviewing various product options online, I found most tactile tiles and signage lacked longevity under our intensive footfall or didn't meet Canadawide accessibility standards for codes like AODA, CSA, NBC, and IFC. The options appeared unsuitable for withstanding our climate either.
I was feeling stuck on how to address this critical resident safety concern within budgetary and material constraints specific to our setting and resident demographics.
That is when I stumbled upon Tactile Solution Canada, a leading accessibility solutions provider. After contacting their expert advisors, I learned of their vast knowledge of Code regulations like AODA, NBC, and CSA B651, particularly relating to senior care facilities and multifamily residential buildings. Within a week of site assessments and consultations, they understood our unique circumstances and recommended tailor-made, durable, and budget-friendly solutions meeting all our criteria. I was impressed by their understanding, professionalism and passion for inclusive design principles.
Tactile Solution Canada proposed implementing Elan Porcelain tiles for their aesthetic superiority and lifespan exceeding 10-15 years under our facility's slipping and tripping conditions. These domed tiles offered slip-resistant truncated dome Truncated warning spanning key indoor and outdoor junctions between buildings and amenity zones for early hazard detection. Advantage ONE drilled single domes were chosen for accessibility-sensitive areas demanding precise spacing as per Code stipulations.
For consistent outdoor attention and wayfinding, they suggested to install Armor Tile modular pavers along accessible pathways and Access Tile flexible durable polymer strips guiding walks around landscaping. Access Tile's durability and resistance suited our climatic needs and their elastic composition accommodated irregular surfaces seamlessly. Compliant spacing was maintained as per Ontario's design requirements for tactile walking surface indicators.
Ecoglo photoluminescent stair nosings were retrofit onto all stair treads for effectively demarcating trip hazards, especially during night evacuations. Their glow evacuated under any light condition for at least 90 minutes and met United States of America (UL) and Canada (ULC) fire safety standards. Ecoglo exit signage and path markings further bolstered egress routes visibility during emergencies.
These implementations addressed critical code gaps while blending aesthetically into our natural ambiance. Residents felt more autonomous exploring the scenic grounds independently with the perceptible navigation support. Fall risks notably reduced as hazard detectability enhanced for all. Staff simply smiled knowing residents could confidently access activities of their choice safely. Our culture of inclusion has strengthened considerably, which is one fulfilling aspect of my responsibilities here.
We continuously get in touch with Tactile Solution Canada for tailored maintenance and training staff on periodic inspections that align with manufacturer and code guidelines. Quarterly deep cleaning under their supervision restores tiles' textured qualities. Damaged units are promptly replaced through collaborative scheduling, maintaining system functionality cost-effectively over the years. Tactile Solution Canada helps with conducting annual compliance audits, supplementing our internal reviews.
Resident surveys express appreciation for these enhancements, enhancing their sense of independence. Visitors too felt more oriented exploring our amenities independently. Witnessing positive impacts on our community's well-being drives me to continually strengthen accessibility provisions here through experts like Tactile Solution Canada. Safety must never be compromised for anyone at any age. Code-compliant tactile upgrades, when thoughtfully applied with stakeholders, empower communities and societies to progress towards inclusivity together.
Implementing accessibility provisions demands meticulous planning tailored to unique needs. I am glad we decided to partner with Tactile Solution Canada industry specialists for their unparalleled guidance on code-certified, tested solutions optimally addressing our resident demographic and infrastructure profile. Witnessing tangible improvements in independence, safe navigation, and inclusion motivates me daily in my role here.
Small changes truly can uplift lives significantly when implemented inclusively for all. Accessibility is indeed a journey of constant progress worth championing together.
