Jacqueline Scott, owner of Legacy Kitchen & Bath in Lynden, recently became a Certified Aging In Place Specialist, a designation given by the National Association of Home Builders.

Aging-in-place specialists help home owners of any age and ability adapt their homes for easier accessibility and improved functionality using universal design.

“I call it smart design,” Scott said in a press release. “In this style of designing, homes are tailored for each individual regardless of age, ability or status in life.”

As a kitchen and bath specialist, Scott focuses on solutions for living comfortably in these two most frequented spaces while looking to the future changing needs in the home overall.

Considerations frequently include installation of grab bars to minimize falling, adding comfort-height toilets, building no-step showers and widening doorways to allow for mobility-assistance equipment such as wheelchairs.