A Home for Life By Charles Russell, CGR, CAPS, National Association of Home Builders Remodelors™ Council, Washington, DC
“Aging in Place”, “Your Home for Life”, certainly not novel ideas, but something we hear about more and more lately. Just what is aging in place and what does it mean for you and me?
Sitting on the edge of the Baby Boom generation, as well as working in the remodeling business, has made me realize that the time has come to consider staying in my home for life. Let’s face it, our generation, the largest single demographic group in the nation’s history needs a place to live. We all can’t move to retirement villages in Florida or Arizona. There just aren’t enough of them. Besides that, surveys say that an overwhelming majority of people prefers to stay in their own homes as they mature, surrounded by people and things that we know and love.
Consider this: Currently, people 55 and older represent 21 percent of our total population. 77 million baby boomers will reach retirement in the first few years of this century, and between the years 2000 and 2030, 82 million people will turn 65 years old with the over 85 age group becoming the fastest growing segment of our population.
AARP held a “fixing to stay” study and found that 89 percent of homeowners preferred to remain in their homes, and they want a reliable means of identifying professionals they can trust to help them remain there. Specialists, who are reliable, honest and trained in the proper skill-sets to design, that can modify and remodel a barrier free, safe environment.
The National Association of Home Builders Remodelors™ Council can introduce homeowners to professionals with the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) designation in their area. The CAPS program was created in collaboration with AARP to train professionals the techniques for designing and building barrier-free living environments including visitability, allowing people with all abilities access to a home.
So, who qualifies for aging-in-place remodeling? Virtually 98 percent of all housing designed and built in this country is for fully able-bodied and mobile people, while 80 percent of us at one time or another requires special housing needs. This huge disparity in statistics means most of us should qualify and think about aging-in-place remodeling.
Where do we start? Although most of us think about the future quite a bit, not everyone actually plans for all the possible situations that can occur. One thing is sure though, eventually we will have to make changes to our living and working spaces to accommodate our own personal changes. Fortunately today, there are many ways to plan for the future.
Answer the following questions to avoid common costly mistakes:
• Do you think you will live in your home through retirement?
• Are you planning to build a home for retirement?
• Are your parents, grandparents or grandchildren currently living with you or planning to?
• Does someone in your home have special needs because of physical, sensory and/or medical impairments?
• Does anyone have difficulties entering or exiting your home, moving from room to room, or using the kitchen or bathroom?
• Do you work from home or plan to?
• Have you engaged a design or building professional that is knowledgeable in adapting your living space to your lifestyle?
• Do you know what products or services are available that can help you?
• Do you need a plan?
• Did you know that many home improvements for disabilities are tax deductible?
If you or someone you know answers yes to any of these questions, you should consider speaking to a professional who is knowledgeable about aging in place mobility problems, sensory impairment, injuries, medications and other psycho-social-physical effects requiring an environment adapted to your taste and lifestyle.
The CAPS professionals can help answer your questions. Their training in aging-in-place modifications, solutions to common barriers and the unique needs of the older adult population make them an invaluable resource in the quest for a quality, secure and independent lifestyle.
So, if you are like me and 89 percent of the rest of the American people, you have been thinking about changing your living environment. Whether it’s because you want to or because your home no longer fits your needs, now is the time!
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