Continuing to the importance of the Interior Design profession is the areas of design we address. Important designing concerns such as universal design and aging in place are becoming more and more important to incorporate into projects. Universal design is in my opinion designing a place that anyone can use regardless of ethnicity, size, shape, age, or beliefs. A more defined description is that universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extend possible, with out the need for adaptation or specialized design. Another important design consideration is aging in place, aging in place is a way of creating a space that elderly people can grow into. This prevents the need of assisted living or nursing homes because the needed things are already in place such as, grab bars, access for wheel chairs, ease of movement throughout the home, and low maintenance. Below are several really good articles to learn more about both topics and to see why including a designer is very important to get the best use out of a commercial or residential space to insure these things are incorporated properly.
http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/10/07/geront.gnr098.full
http://www.seniorresource.com/ageinpl.htm#place
Great article on aging in place as well as universal design
http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Does-Aging-in-Place-Mean?&id=3633846
June 8, 2012
this is an example of an access that can be used by someone in a wheel chair or on foot. These are the elements incorporated into universal design and aging in place. 
Another example of a space designed for someone who is confined to a wheel chair.
excellent video on aging in place. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ClaivKxSBA&feature=fvwrel
video on universal design
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