On Jan. 17, 2008, the Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch ran a story on visitability.

"Design concept aims to keep people in current homes longer," wrote Tammie Smith, a reporter for the paper. The design concept, she wrote, is known as "universal design" -- which is really broader than the "visitability" concept.

Smith wrote,

Universal design features allow people to "age in place" and accommodates changing physical needs as people age or even if they are temporarily or permanently disabled by an accident or illness, for instance.

The concept includes such features as curbless showers, stepless entries, first-floor bathrooms and bedrooms, wider doorways and lever door handles instead of knobs.

"The idea being universal design is the design that works for the largest number of people possible," said Louis Tenenbaum, an independent living strategist and one of several speakers at a recent meeting titled Special-needs Housing for the Frail, Elderly and Homeless. "It's for the young and fleet of foot and the older and frail," he said.