Building a house & land layout for wheelchair/ aging concerns

thanks for all the ideas and books to look into.

We still have lots of time to plan, so am taking notes.

Anything you've run into in terms of outdoors aside from proches, walkways? Mor liek land lay out for garden, chickens, barn, workshops that I should keep in mind?

We're dealing with this with Mom right now. Her house is a disaster from a handicapped person's point of view, and she just fell and broke her hip at age 83. We've found her an apartment nearby, and will be selling her old house. When we build in SC, it will be universal design, both for the possibility of an elderly relative living with us, and for ourselves- both in our 50's now. Don't think you need it? My SIL had a knee replacement done, and guess what? She couldn't maneuver through much of the house! In addition to all of the other great suggestions here, pay attention to little things, such as the height of electrical outlets and switches. Those outlets a couple inches off of the floor are a long way away to an arthritic person. And why are switches so high? They are way higher than doorknobs, yet they both are intended for normal people. Switches tend to be too high for someone in a wheelchair. Another good idea, even for healthy people, is a countertop in the kitchen that is open underneath. Not only can a person in a wheelchair sit at it to do kitchen work, but so can you! Sure beats standing all day to process a big harvest of veggies! I guess a lot of the same ideas could apply for outbuildings. If I was confined to a wheelchair, a few hours in the barn would be the highlight of my day!

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"What one generation tolerates, the next generation embraces." -John Wesley