Colleges Building Housing for Elderly Students As a growing number of older Americans are attending college, many schools are going to extraordinary lengths to accommodate them. According to a recent CBS MarketWatch report (05/25/04; Robert Powell), universities and colleges throughout the U.S. are creating or planning housing for seniors on or near campus. Experts estimate over 50 university-linked retirement communities (ULRCs) already built and 30 more planned. Communities may feature single-family homes or garden apartments, and be affiliated with or just close to a university. They may accommodate a variety of dependency levels. Schools are motivated by the growing number of retirees enrolling, and by the potential for future donations to university endowments. Many are wooing retired faculty and alumni who might return and then someday bequeath a large gift. The builder of a gated-retirement community at Georgia Tech is soliciting 100,000 former Yellow Jackets to buy into a $66 million, 600-acre golf course community featuring 206 homes on $240,000 lots. Seniors who return to campus can generally audit classes for free, but most university-linked retirement communities carry a hefty price tag, often called an entrance fee. According to Gerard Badler, managing director of Campus Continuum, a Newton, Mass.-based senior-housing research firm, the fee averages about $200,000, a portion of which is usually returned to the resident's estate. For more information, including examples of collegiate-affiliated retirement communities already built, read the complete article, available at http://www.abor.asu.edu/. back to top Seniors Find Their Way Back to Work A recent article by the Associated Press (Brad Foss;) highlights the increasing trend of seniors going back to work, driven primarily by financial and personal trends among seniors, as well as the thinning labor pool. Tvhe U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the number of people 55 and above in the work force rose to 22.7 million in May, up from 22 million in 2003 and 20.7 million in 2002. The need to work can be explained in part by money problems. The AARP estimates that 1 in 10 Americans age 65 and over lives below the poverty level. Though most seniors aren't technically poor, many nonetheless struggle to make ends meet because of limited savings, expensive medications to buy or the loss of a spouse. Other seniors find employment critical to their mental well-being. Simultaneously, would-be employers are changing their perceptions about seniors, and increasingly turning to the growing pool of older workers to fill positions. To learn more, read the complete article at http://www.detnews.com/2004/careers/0406/25/b02-194679.htm. back to top Home Depot Teams With AARP to Hire Older Workers The Orange County Register (06/02/04; Catrine Johansson) recently reported that Home Depot has formed a partnership with AARP to help fill some of the 35,000 new positions it plans to add this year. According to Jim Seith, national director for the AARP Foundation Senior Community Service Employment Program, the partnership with Home Depot is the first of its kind. While the foundation normally helps low-income seniors find employment, the Home Depot partnership will target all seniors. Those interested may apply at an AARP chapter, a Home Depot Store or online. Tom Greeley, a former business-development manager, found that his position at the Home Depot in Santa Ana, Calif., provided a satisfying outlet for his home-improvement interest without the pressures of being a corporate executive. Currently, many employers fearing a labor shortage are seeking ways to retain older workers and attract new ones. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of workers will all but stop growing as the baby boomers start retiring in 2011. According to Gary Geyer, a retired advertising executive who runs 50plusMag.com, an online magazine for seniors, an increasing number of corporations are beginning to see the value of hiring seniors. To learn more, read the complete article, available on HousingZone.com at http://www.housingzone.com/news2.asp?topicId=14531&docId=l:211283528. back to top Keynote Speakers Announced for NIC Conference on October 6-8 The National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industries (NIC) recently announced the keynote speakers for its 14th Annual NIC Conference, "At the Intersection of Wall Street and Main: Bringing Together Opportunity and Capital," which will take place at the Chicago Marriott Downtown in Chicago, Ill., on October 6-8, 2004. Thomas A. Scully, senior counsel at Alston & Bird LLP, and former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will discuss the upcoming 2004 elections and their impact on long term care. He will provide an assessment on Medicare and Medicaid funding issues for 2005 and share his perspective on the future of facility-based long-term care for the elderly in terms of access, quality and cost, and will offer other advice to investors and operators in seniors housing and care. Robert Reich, a distinguished economic leader who has served in three national administrations, will address issues related to the global economy, the state of the country's current business environment and how the upcoming national elections may impact both the economy, in particular regarding healthcare funding. The general conference rate is $1,345 if paid by September 1, 2004 and $1,595 thereafter. Facility operators are eligible for a special discount rate of $995 by Sept. 1 and $1,295 thereafter. For more information, read the complete press release at http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/. To register, visit http://www.nic.org or call NIC at (410) 267-0504. back to top Manager of Elderly Housing Site Earns National Award The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently named Robert Goldsmith as the "National Elderly Housing Site Manager of the Year" for his work as site manager of Arbor View Estates, a government-subsidized housing project in Spring Arbor, Mich. According to a recent article in the Jackson Citizen Patriot (06/08/04; Melissa Maynard), The USDA cited Goldsmith's exceptional upkeep and maintenance of the grounds, service to residents and the degree to which residents are satisfied with the facility as reasons he was chosen for the award. Gloria Mcilhargey, a multi-family housing specialist with the USDA, said Goldsmith's mix of good business sense and genuine concern for residents were among the attributes that led her office to nominate him for the national award. Goldsmith, 64, manages Arbor View Estates as part of his duties as president of Lloyd Ganton Retirement Centers. He will retire next year after 37 years at the centers. For more information about Goldsmith and the National Elderly Housing Site Manager of the Year Award, read the complete press release at http://www.mlive.com/business/jacitpat/index.ssf?/base/business-0/1086708988289810.xml. back to top Senior-Living Services Provider Introduces New Assisted Living Program for Seniors with Impaired Vision Sunrise Senior Living, Inc., a national provider of senior-living services, recently announced that it will soon introduce Bradford View(SM), a new assisted-living program for seniors with impaired or low vision. The program, which opened at Sunrise's Brighton Gardens of Arlington (Va.) community on June 24, offers enhanced features designed for seniors with low vision who seek to maximize their mobility and independence. The American Foundation for the Blind reports that over 5.5 million U.S. seniors age 65 and over are visually impaired or blind, and one-third of seniors over 85 have some form of visual impairment. As seniors become a larger part of the U.S. population, so will those with low vision. Bradford View provides a supportive environment for seniors with low vision by incorporating best practices and suggestions from experts such as the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, Prevention of Blindness Society of the Metropolitan Area and the Low Vision Information Center. Specific features include: Contrasting colored walls and carpeting, and glare- and shadow-reducing lighting in one section of the building; Assistive tools and devices, such as large-button telephones, oversized digital alarm clocks and specialized magnifying glasses in resident suites and in common areas; A closed circuit television (CCTV) reading machine that enlarges and projects printed materials for easier reading; books on tape, large print books, magazines and other reading materials; Support groups and resources for residents and their families who are struggling with the effects of low vision and vision loss; A dedicated staff trained in low vision sensitivity; and Resident-centered, assisted-living care and services focused on the needs and wishes of the resident including assistance with activities of daily living, meals, outings and activities.
To learn more about Sunrise Senior Living and the Bradford View program, visit http://www.sunriseseniorliving.com/. back to top Empty Nesters Join City Life Empty nesters are increasingly giving up their big houses in the suburbs in favor of smaller, lower maintenance urban apartments, according to a recent article published by the AARP (Wendy Smith; June 2004). The article reports that many older residents have discovered that cities are good places to grow old; the services they need and the amenities they enjoy are more plentiful and more accessible in the city. "It's the restaurants, it's the stores, it's the sense of vitality on the streets, the diversity of age and ethnic groups. It's a lively atmosphere to live in," says John McIlwain, senior resident fellow for housing at the Urban Land Institute (ULI), who adds that the movement downtown is a national phenomenon fueled by young professionals and empty nesters. The revitalization of downtowns and their appeal for newcomers have attracted particular scrutiny from urban scholars, public officials and developers. The 2000 U.S. Census showed a substantial number of cities reversing decades of population decline in the 1990s, with downtowns gaining residents even when the metropolitan area as a whole did not. Lower crime rates in U.S. cities have also made downtowns more appealing to seniors considering relocation, and safer streets make older urbanites feel more comfortable about venturing out. Additionally, an urban environment enables seniors to be more mobile and more social, according to Debra Alvarez, a legislative representative in AARP's federal affairs office. "Where there's more population density, that's where you're more likely to find public transit and more walkable communities, where services and offices and retail are closer to where people live and they can access them more easily." Del Webb, a company that has developed planned communities in Arizona, Nevada and Southern California, is aware of this trend and has put its recent projects "closer to city centers," on the outskirts of New York, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia, says Jim Zeumer, a vice president for the Del Webb parent company. To learn more, read the complete article, available on the AARP website at http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourlife/Articles/a2004-05-26-goodlife.html. back to top Abilities Expo Presents New Products, Educational Seminars across the Nation Abilities Expo, produced and managed by Advanstar Communications, Inc., offers people with disabilities, senior citizens, and caregivers an opportunity to discover new products and services. The Expo includes displays that allow attendees to easily see, test and compare new products, and hosts a series of free workshops and seminars. Moreover, Abilities Expo shows are held at several locations nationally. Remaining 2004 Abilities Expo shows include Chicago Metro on August 13-15 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont Ill.; Metro Detroit on September 17-19 at the Novi Expo Center in Novi, Mich.; and Northern California on November 12-14, 2004 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, Calif. To learn more about Abilities Expo shows, including ticket, exhibitor and educational seminar information, visit the Abilities Expo website at http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/. back to top Senior Move Managers Ease Difficult Transitions For many older homeowners, the process of downsizing, packing and moving to a smaller home can be overwhelming. A recent article in the New Jersey Star-Ledger (Dory Devlin; 03/10/04) highlights the emerging profession of "senior move managers" who aim to make this transition easier. Donna Wilmann and Margit Novack of Wynnewood, Pa., established the non-profit National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) in 2002 with 26 business owners. According to Novak, the owners "work almost exclusively with seniors or people of any age with a disability." In many cases, their clients are moving from homes they have been living in for 40 or 50 years into assisted-living and retirement communities, and need to downsize considerably. Although children and family members often want to help, they may live too far away, may be facing other obligations or may be seniors themselves. Senior Move Managers focus exclusively on the moving process, and to maximizing the dignity and autonomy of older adults during this process. NASMM reviews its members for insurance and experience prior to acceptance, and requires them to receive ongoing education. The Association is currently working toward a voluntary certification program to standardize ethics and practices in the profession. To learn more about the Association, visit the NASMM website at http://www.nasmm.com, or read the entire New Jersey Star Ledger article at http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/news/ledger/stories/20040310senior.html. back to top Flex Spaces Fit in with Current Interior Design Trends During a recent roundtable discussion consisting of NAHB's Design Committee members and other NAHB design professionals, participants discussed interior design trends currently influencing the residential market. Participants noted that three-quarters of all households do not have children under the age of 18, a statistic that is having a huge influence on home design trends. One notable trend is "flex space" - smaller rooms that allow space to be used creatively. Small rooms (5x5 or 6x8) off of the kitchen for computer rooms/home offices are becoming more prevalent, yet flex spaces are important options regardless of where they're located in the home. Additionally, "durability" is the watchword in interior design. For example, buyers no longer want to deal with cleaning and fixing wallpaper. Buyers are also willing to spend more money on making their homes individualistic. More interior design trends are highlighted in "Design Lines," in the June 21 edition of Nation's Building News Online, available at http://www.nbnnews.com/NBN/issues/2004-06-21/Design/index.html. back to top Housing Facts, Figures and Trends 2004 Available Online "Housing Facts, Figures and Trends 2004" is now available on the NAHB website. The popular guide includes essential information on trends in the U.S. homebuilding industry, including annual home prices, mortgage interest rates, characteristics of new homes and apartments over the last 13 years, the top 50 metro markets for housing permits, popular materials used in new homes and apartments and homebuyer preferences as determined by recent surveys. To download "Housing Facts, Figures and Trends 2004," visit the NAHB website at http://www.nahb.org/publication_details.aspx?publicationID=20§ionID=4. Copies may also be requested by contacting the NAHB Public Affairs office at 800-368-5242 x8254. back to top | 
