NATIONAL CENTER FOR SENIORS' HOUSING RESEARCH ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF "AGING IN PLACE" DESIGN COMPETITION This month the National Center for Seniors' Housing Research officially presented the winners of its third annual national student design competition, Aging in Place: An Open Design Competition for Students. The competition's goal was to solicit smart-aging residential design. Winners were announced at an open house held at the NAHB Research Center in early January. The first place winner is Travis Bunt, an architecture student at the University of Arizona. Competition judges observed that Bunt's design entry's low-scale and adaptable design fits into the historical context of the neighborhood. The units are also easily adaptable to meet residents' changing housing needs. Thomas McQuillen served as Bunt's faculty advisor. Robert Wilson and Zeel Ambekar, both of Texas A&M University, tied for the runner-up award. Robert Warden served as their faculty advisor. Coincidentally, both designs focused on sites in Philadelphia. Robert Wilson's Fishtowne community is a high-density redevelopment of a vacant industrial site along the Delaware River, whereas Zeel Ambekar approached the challenge by proposing shared housing between students and older adults in a dense urban area on the Schuykill River nearby both the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. Gaurang Sheth and the team of Dhiren Babaria and Ankur Deshpande, also students at Texas A&M, tied for honorable mention. Gaurang Sheth's Lake Travis community, a cul-de-sac cluster development, recognizes that aging in place concepts can be achieved in a typical suburban design. In contrast, Dhiren and Deshpande chose a wealthy residential resort area in Suffolk County, New York to place their Mill Pond Senior Housing Community. The design is a multi-unit oceanfront structure featuring natural light, accessibility, and controlled vistas. Mardelle Shepley served as the faculty advisor. In each of the three years that the design competition has been administered, Shepley has advised students who have submitted top-three entries. The design challenge this year encouraged students to address urban issues, such as infill housing and smart growth, as well as aging in place. Students were asked to design a community on a 10-acre urban site with the transportation and other amenities in close proximity. Over half of the competition entries came from students of architecture programs. Other disciplines included architectural technology, construction management/construction science, interior design, and occupational therapy. Research Center president Mike Luzier said, "We are impressed not only by the number of competition entries, but also with their high quality. The home building industry will certainly benefit from entrants' enhanced understanding of older adult housing issues, such as the desire to age in place." An esteemed panel of jurors met on January 9th and 10th to select the winning entries. All submissions were reviewed based on creativity, buildability, and livability. Jury members included: Margaret Calkins, Innovative Designs in Environments for an Aging Society; Peter Katz, author of "The New Urbanism: Toward an Architecture of Community"; Wolfgang Preiser, University of Cincinnati; Barry Rosengarten, The Rosengarten Companies; Katherine Salant, architect and syndicated newspaper columnist, "Your New Home"; and Gerald Weisman, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The competition winner received $1,500 and a trip for two to the 2003 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas, at which he had the opportunity to network with building industry professionals and members of the media. Additionally the NAHB Research Center will develop a virtual tour of the winning entry and publish "Spotlight on Ideas", a booklet showcasing the best design features from this year's competition. The runner-up and honorable mention awards for the competition are $750 and $250, respectively. For more information on this year's competition and results of the 2000 and 2001 competitions, go to http://www.nahbrc.org/ and click on "Seniors Housing." To request a copy of the 2001 "Spotlight on Ideas" booklet, contact the National Center for Seniors' Housing Research at studentdesign@nahbrc.org. back to top PRESIDENT TO PROPOSE PROGRAM TO HELP TRANSITION AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES FROM INSTITUTIONS TO COMMUNITY LIVING In his 2004 budget, President Bush will propose a new $1.75 billion, five-year program to help Americans with disabilities transition from nursing homes or other institutions to living in the community. Incorporated into the President's New Freedom Initiative, the program emphasizes a nationwide effort to integrate people with disabilities more fully into society. It is one of several new efforts included in the fiscal year 2004 budget. Proposals in the FY 2004 budget include: "Money Follows the Individual" Rebalancing Demonstration - This demonstration would assist states in re-balancing their long term care systems so that there are more cost-effective choices between institutional and community options. New Freedom Initiative Demonstrations - This initiative would fund demonstrations that promote home and community-based care alternatives. Spousal Exemption - This proposal would continue Medicaid eligibility for spouses of persons with disabilities who return to work.
Last year, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson created a new Office on Disability within HHS to coordinate activities across the Department and serve as a focused contact point for disability issues. "Improving our programs for people with disabilities, including the need to tackle the institutional bias in some programs, is a daunting task," Secretary Thompson said. "It will require sustained effort over many years. We've made a start with the most comprehensive survey ever taken of problems and opportunities in federal programs, as well as new structures to support our efforts. The President's budget proposals will take us to the next level, with substantial demonstration activities and more help for Americans with disabilities to enter and stay in the workforce." For more information go to http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030123.html back to top HOMEOWNERS CONTINUE TO REINVEST IN HOMES Despite lagging consumer confidence levels and job growth weaknesses, homeowners continue to remodel their homes at a steady pace, according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies Remodeling Activity Indicator (RAI). Low interest rates and thus affordable financing seem to be keeping the market afloat. "Homeowners are continuing to reinvest in their homes. Last quarter's modest growth has been sustained as homeowners take advantage of interest rates near historical lows," said Nicholas P. Retsinas, director of the Joint Center. "In spite of problems within the broader economy, indicators more directly related to remodeling: home sales and retail sales of building materials, are running well above last years levels" explained Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Future Program of the Joint Center. As an indicator the RAI is an annual figure that is released quarterly and derived from four components: manufacturers' shipments of floor and wall tile products; retail sales at building materials and supply stores; sales of existing one-family homes; and the bank prime loan rate. Prior to the RAI, measurement of these homeowner expenditures was limited to the Commerce Department's quarterly Expenditures for Residential Improvements and Repairs. For more information go to http://www.jchs.Harvard.edu/media/rai/rai_02_4.htm back to top WATCH FOR HOME HEATING REPAIR SCAMS AS TEMPERATURES FALL With the recent gust of freezing temperatures and snowflakes reaching as far south as many can remember, it's time be on the lookout for home heating repair scams. Older adults can be particularly susceptible because they are more likely to live alone and be home during the daytime. Scammers use numerous ways to gain entrance into a residence and once inside they will fabricate a problem or make a minor repair seem monumental. Scammers have been known to loosen an oil-line fitting, drop a few nuts and bolts into the blower, or even turn off the heating unit's emergency switch. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that homeowners are persuaded into buying a new furnace or paying for unnecessary repairs by contractors using scare tactics. According to the BBB, "Con artists may try to frighten you with warnings that your system is leaking dangerous gasses that could explode." The BBB advises consumers not to panic in the face of a high-pressure heating scam. Their second recommendation is to get a second opinion before authorizing any work. Most practically, they offer common sense and ask consumers to consider that people you've never met or seen or heard of almost never come to the house. It is safe to assume that strangers offering free inspections and other services are at your door to sell, not serve. For more information go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A59951-2003Jan29?language=printer back to top VOICE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP AGING For the aging, the ability to remain independent within the home is a common concern. An Australian company, i2net, has introduced a new tool that makes living independently easier through voice technology. I2net's Orion software acts as an "electric partner" in the home and makes simple tasks like turning on a light or the TV easier. Orion can potentially be used for home security or as a monitoring tool for an older relative. The system can allow others, such as far-away relatives, to log onto the system to check the user and see, for instance, if the lights had been turned on that morning. Orion uses Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software so that a user can dictate instructions via keyboard, handheld or wireless microphone. "We build the word associations into the system, so users don't have to learn a set of defined words," said i2net founder and managing director Brian Hanisch. "Users can use everyday language to control their environment." For more information go to http://www.i2net.com.au/products/. back to top SCIENTISTS RESEARCH CAUSE OF FALLS One in three people aged 65 or older falls each year. Of those, one in ten suffers a serious injury; the government counts 2.2 million who need medical attention. Most problematic are the 340,000 broken hips, which often trigger a downward spiral. A quarter of those with broken hips die within a year; 40 percent need a nursing home and half who make it to rehabilitation still never walk unaided again. Factors that influence the risk of fall include: age; a dip in blood pressure when suddenly standing up; osteoporosis; arthritis; impaired vision, balance, or muscle strength; dementia; and using four or more prescription medications- specifically certain antidepressants, epilepsy or heart medications that can skew balance. The specific physical changes that determine why one senior who slips will fall while another doesn't are not well understood. For example, as we age and walk slower our heels hit the floor harder, increasing slips. Understanding why this occurs might lead to more skid proof floor surfaces or shoe soles. Certain precautions can reduce falls- getting rid of throw rugs, avoiding certain medications, and wearing hip protectors are among them. Researchers at Virginia Tech however, are working to pinpoint the age-induced physiological changes that make seniors prone to falling. They are also searching for new and better protections against falls. For more information go to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ back to top FALLS AFTER STROKE OFTEN OCCUR WHILE DRESSING Almost half of people fall during the first year after stroke, and a study released this month shows that falls often occur when patients experience balance problems while dressing. Remnant stroke symptoms including dizziness, spinning, or overall balance problems increased a person's risk of falling more than five-fold, according to a study by Coventry University in the United Kingdom. In this study, female stroke survivors who reported difficulty maintaining balance while dressing were seven times more likely to fall than women who didn't have residual balance problems, says lead author Sarah Lamb, professor at the Interdisciplinary Research Center in Health at Coventry University. The study also found that common risk factors, including the use of hypnotic or sedative medications, incontinence, walking problems or a history of falls were less useful in predicting risk of falls in stroke patients, according to Lamb. "What is important here is that it is not the initial stroke symptoms but what you are left with - the residual stroke symptoms - that have a significant impact on fall risk," said Lamb. For more information go to http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/20792/360192.html back to top REAL ESTATE AGENTS SCHOOLED IN THE WANTS OF OLDER BUYERS While consumer products companies fight for the attention of the young, real estate businesses are already aware that older adults represent a huge marketing opportunity. It should not come as a surprise then, that classes training real estate agents to sell homes to older adults are popping up all over. Century 21 was the first to step into this market in 2001 with its Mature Moves program. The online classes offer to train company agents about the needs and wants of the older homebuyer. Century 21 agents who complete the three-hour course receive a certificate and designation as a Mature Moves specialist. "Seniors represent a huge opportunity," said John Greenleaf, senior vice president of marketing at Century 21. "But we start with what the consumer is looking for." Another program, sponsored by the California Association of Realtors and available to any real estate agent, designates its trainees as Senior Advantage Real Estate Specialists. To receive this designation agents take a three-day course on how to work with older homebuyers, pass a test on the topic and complete three transactions on behalf of seniors. A listing of agents who have received this certification is available online at http://www.seniorsrealestate.com/ or by calling 800-500-4564. For more information go to http://www.chicagotribune.com and search the archives using the title of the above story. The full article must be purchased. back to top STUDY: ADS RIDICULING SENIORS FOUND OFFENSIVE, DANGEROUS According to the Census Bureau, 40 percent of adults will be seniors by the year 2025, while the under-49 audience will remain at a constant. Though consumers over the age of 50 have 52 percent more disposable income than average consumers, advertisers have long focused on people age 18-49. A recent survey of people with a median age of 71-72 found that 61.5 percent would stop buying products featured in a "negative or offensive" advertisement. "Advertisers may have underestimated the sensitivity of seniors to their own images in advertising," said Robert Gustafson, of Ball State University, who conducted the study with fellow journalism professor Mark Popovich. Furthermore the study discovered 67 percent of respondents said negative portrayals are potentially harmful because they lower older people's self esteem and reinforce negative perceptions of seniors by younger people. "This study supports previous findings that stereotyping any generation or group of people may have potentially harmful side-effects," he said. "Marketers and advertising agencies should be more concerned with the unintended effects of their efforts. The advertising industry needs to be just as concerned about its social esteem as it is about selling effectiveness. In the long run, the two are related." For more information visit http://www.bsu.edu/news/article/0,1299,7273~8336~850,00.html back to top | 
