| Survey Cites Barriers to Assistive Technology Transfer Over the past five years, advances in assistive technology have offered new hope for people who desire improved function and independence. Yet according to a national survey conducted by Clarkson University and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, large numbers of these same people are also being left behind. The survey collected responses from more than 350 experts working in various aspects of assistive technology and rehabilitation. Only one in ten of the respondents thought that quality of life-enhancing assistive technology is readily available to the majority of the 49 million Americans living with disabilities. And nearly three-quarters of respondents felt that advances in assistive technology lag behind those in other medical and health technologies. The survey, "Barriers to Assistive Technology Transfer in Society" (BATTS), identified four key barriers that prevent people from benefiting from many of the latest assistive technology products: continued funding challenges; lack of public awareness about technology's potential and availability; a shortage of trained experts; and poor collaboration among researchers, clinicians and users. To learn more about the results of the survey, as well as recommendations for improving technology transfer, read the complete article or visit the Good Shepherd Rehab website for more detailed information. back to top Growing Demand Gauged for Seniors Housing A recent article in the Review Journal (Hubble Smith; November 2, 2004) reports that the seniors home industry is registering improved performance. Occupancy rates for the overall industry are strengthening and a growing number of investors are pursuing acquisitions, according to Gary Lucas, managing director of Marcus & Millichap brokerage's national senior housing group in San Francisco, Calif. Lucas explained that senior living facilities are categorized as independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and continuing care retirement communities, depending on the level of care needed by their residents. Occupancy had lagged, Lucas said, because of the time needed to absorb the boom in construction of senior care facilities over the last six to seven years. However, occupancy rates for the overall seniors housing industry have improved over the past 12 months and currently fall in the high-80 to low-90 percent range. Construction starts also accelerated this year, with developers expected to break ground on more than 32,000 units, up 12 percent from 2003. California and Illinois show the most construction activity. For more information, read the complete article. back to top Seniors Attractive Targets for Many Financial Scams A recent Associated Press article (Justin Bachman; November 20, 2004) reports that, when it comes to personal finance, older Americans face a unique and troubling situation. Those 55 and older, who control 70 percent of the nation's personal wealth, also account for 80 percent of the fraud complaints lodged with the Federal Trade Commission, according to Your Credit Card Companies, an association formed by a half-dozen of the country's largest card issuers. Additionally, a Federal Reserve study indicates that nearly 80 percent of this group has a credit score of 701 or higher, while another 10 percent are above 660 - scores that are very appealing to lenders and thieves alike. Consequently, these consumers need to be alert to scams that target older people. An increasing concern is an Internet scam known as "phishing," in which a legitimate-looking e-mail directs the user to a phony site to "update" personal data- possibly including credit card or account information. Another threat includes credit card offers that assess an "up-front fee" for processing. Reputable bank card issuers consider credit applications for free. To learn more, read the complete article. back to top Seniors Shape Up: More Older People Heading to the Gym According to a recent article in the Bradenton Herald (Dana Sanchez) , seniors are the fastest growing segment of health club members. This trend has grabbed the attention of club owners and medical insurance companies, changing the way they do business. Local club owners say that, rather than the 20-to-30 age group, seniors tend to make exercise a habit and stick to their gym once they join. And they're 50 percent more likely to renew their memberships than the 20- to 35-year-old group. Fears over rising prescription drug costs and education on the benefits of exercise are driving the movement. Additionally, insurance companies are beginning to give seniors incentives to stay healthy by offering free health club memberships with the financial backing of the federal government. Benefits for both members and business owners are numerous. Research shows about a 1 percent reduction in claims for active seniors. Although this doesn't sound like much, it can make a huge difference in the cost of care for seniors. For more information, read the complete article. back to top New Professionals Help Older Population Editors at www.MatureResources.org, a monthly Internet magazine and business resource directory, have prepared a "Senior Dictionary," for the December online edition. The Dictionary will provide descriptions of services, professionals, government and senior-serving agencies, plus Internet links and contact information for a variety of services and products. The Dictionary will help readers distinguish among services and professionals that provide a range of functions, including cooking, cleaning, shopping, assisting with personal care, paying bills, balancing checkbooks, escorting or driving, offering temporary care to relieve caregivers, coordinating or providing social and medical services, offering new housing choices and relocation services, and facilitating moving. According to Sharon Sultan Cutler, a Certified Senior Advisor, senior-serving professionals are "the lifeline for millions of older adults living independently, in a senior housing facility, or residing with their 'sandwich generation' children." She added that "most of these professions and senior housing options have been created within the last 25 years or so, based on the needs of an enormous aging population living longer than ever before." The Senior Dictionary will be a regularly featured section of www.MatureResources.org. Other features of the monthly Ezine include articles and news on financial planning, legal issues, health and wellness, book reviews and self-help. The Senior Focus section focuses on eldercare, senior resources, retirement, relocation, housing, interesting profiles of seniors, caregivers and long-distance caregiving. For additional information, read the complete press release. back to top Looking for the Ideal Place to Retire? Create It Yourself According to a recent article in the AARP Bulletin (Ben Brown; November 2004), the appeal of "cohousing" developments is growing among older Americans. Cohousing allows residents to plan their own communities - residents own their own units, divide maintenance and gardening chores, and rotate responsibilities for fixing meals that are shared two or three times a week in a community building. Twenty-two percent of the 500 respondents aged 50 to 65 who responded to a poll conducted by MetLife Mature Market Institute and AARP last spring said they would be interested in "building a new home to share with friends that included private space and communal living areas." Currently, more than 5,000 people reside in nearly 80 completed cohousing communities in more than 30 states, and at least 100 more communities are in development, according to the Cohousing Association of the United States, the movement's umbrella nonprofit organization. Most are intergenerational communities that are already an attractive option for people 50-plus, who make up approximately one-third of the residents in existing cohousing communities. But the latest trend is cohousing exclusive to people ages 55-plus. At least three such communities will open in the United States in the next two years. In cohousing communities, the relationships between buyers and developers are reversed. The buy-in by would-be neighbors is followed by at least two years of building relationships, working out community rules and cooperatively designing the community they'll share. Although cohousing is not necessarily cheaper than conventional condos, supporters say that long-term savings can result from energy efficiency and cooperative living arrangements. Neighboring households may share a car, for instance. The most popular arrangement may turn out to be a cohousing neighborhood in an urban center or adjoining a mixed-use development. That way, residents get a little quiet in the common spaces and a little time with peers without isolating themselves from a larger, more diverse community. To learn more about the cohousing trend, read the complete article. back to top Universal Design Helps Speed the Approval Process, Create Interested Buyers In a recent article in Nation's Building News (November 15, 2004), Louis Tenenbaum, a CAPS Independent Living Strategist, describes how universal design benefits the building and development community. According to Tenenbaum, with proper marketing and awareness, universal design can help speed the approval process for developers and create a ready market of interested buyers for builders. In one recent project, Tenenbaum explains, universal design was the key to unlocking community support for what many - including the developer - expected to be no better than a long shot to earn approval. The developer, Gary Hill, of AML Development in Potomac, Md., wanted to develop to develop a 120-acre agricultural parcel in Fauquier County, Va. Because of a zoning amendment on the parcel that allowed for a senior care facility, Hill could easily get approval for a nursing home. But he knew that a nursing home was of little interest to the older citizens of the rural community. Instead, Hill's planned to develop an age-exclusive community for the 55-plus market that would feature a mix of housing types. Hill and Tenenbaum introduced the universal design concept to county residents, with positive results. According to Tenenbaum, many seniors understand that moving into a universal design home will keep them safe and independent - and in their neighborhood. Record numbers of residents became a strong and vocal force for the project, first encouraging the city council to approve it, then becoming the development's first customers. To learn more, read the complete article, or visit Tenenbaum's website. back to top Design Goal: Spaces for Those of All Abilities Disability and old age force millions of people to leave homes and disconnect from communities simply because their physical needs can't be met by their environment. According to a recent article in the Seattle Times (Marsha King; November 13, 2004), the answer emerging nationally and worldwide is universal design. A new Coalition for Universal Design - made up of experts on aging, transportation, housing and recreation - is pushing this agenda. "We're trying to pull our environments together to make them as usable as possible for all people," said Susan Duncan, a national expert on universal design and founder of ADAptations Inc., a Bellevue, Wash., company that designs places for people of all abilities. Aging baby boomers are adding urgency to this mission. They likely won't stand for social isolation because the world isn't built for the needs of aging people. Sandra Hartje, associate professor of interior design and housing at Seattle Pacific University, life expectancy is going to continue to increase, and the definition of "disability" has continued to broaden. This means that the number of people who experience a disability in their lives is increasing. Universal design is based on several principles set forth by the Center for Universal Design. Building and community design should be useful, safe and easy to use for people of all ages and abilities. It should go beyond the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which mandates that disabled people have access to commerce, recreation and travel. And it shouldn't stigmatize people or set them apart. Rather than installing a single lower sink to accommodate wheelchair users, for example, all sinks in a public restroom could be at staggered heights. Other elements include wide hallways, kitchen countertops of varying heights, level door entrances, door levers instead of knobs, single-lever faucets, and dishwashers that pulls out like a drawer so a wheelchair can come up alongside. To learn more, read the complete article. back to top What Builders Should Know About Boomers The NAHB Seniors Housing Council recently talked with Mark Goldstein, president of the Impact Presentations Group in Sam Ramon, Calif., and one of the nation's foremost experts on boomers and the impact this generation is having on various industries throughout the country. During the discussion, Goldstein explained that the baby boom generation has dominated the building industry's consumer base for decades - boomers own nearly half of all the homes in America. Now, the industry must stay focused on boomers as they reach 50 and older. While previous generations dialed down their lives in the second half of life, boomers may very well ratchet up theirs. Additionally, there is no "flagship" currently defining the new route for 80 million upcoming retirees, which offers a tremendous opportunity for builders. Goldstein noted several differences between boomers and previous generations. They are often more savvy, educated, affluent and demanding than previous generations and prefer an educational/experiential approach to marketing. They are also convenience-driven consumers who grew up in the era of fast food, ATMs and the microwave. "Wasting these consumers' time is worse than wasting their money," he said. They are also the most litigious of all consumers, and are likely to slap companies that "cut corners" and have poor follow-up with hefty lawsuits. Certain design features and amenities appeal to boomers, such as specialty rooms that can be used as home offices, media rooms or fitness rooms. Boomers also will seek more high-tech homes in the coming years. However, Goldstein explained that aging in place will be the battle cry of the future. He added that this presents a monumental challenge for marketers who must learn how to communicate these design features without implying that their customers are becoming old. This new product shouldn't just be a house: it has to be a lifestyle that is reflected in the home and even more so in the community. Goldstein also discussed how warm-weather states and market segments within the boomer generation will impact the 50+ housing market. For more detail, read the complete article. Goldstein will be a featured speaker at the 2005 International Builders' Show in Orlando, FL, hosting the session "Reinvention of the Building/Housing Market: Boomers & Beyond," beginning at 1:30 p.m. Friday, January 14, at the Orange County Convention Center, Room 308. back to top Older Americans 2004: Indicators of Well-Being Report Available The Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics has just released the "Older Americans 2004: Indicators of Well-Being" report, which covers 37 key indicators that portray aspects of the lives of older Americans and their families. According to the report, most older people are healthier, wealthier, and better educated than previous generations, but these gains have not been equal among today's older Americans. Key findings of the report include: In 2003, nearly 36 million people age 65 and over lived in the United States (just over 12 percent of the total population). During the 20th century, the older population grew from 3 million to 35 million and is projected to grow to almost 87 million by 2050. Women make up 58 percent of the population age 65 and over and 69 percent of the population age 85 and over. The report found that between 1974 and 2002, the median household income for people age 65 and over increased and fewer older people are living below the poverty threshold. And between 1984 and 2001, the median net worth of households headed by people age 65 and over increased by 82 percent (after accounting for inflation). Regarding health, the report found that Americans are living longer than ever before, and the age-adjusted proportion of older Americans with a chronic disability has declined. Additionally, between 2000 and 2002, 73 percent of people age 65 and over rated their health as good or better. However, the increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese older adults has been dramatic. Medicare pays for slightly more than one-half (54 percent) of the overall health care costs for its enrollees age 65 and over. Additionally, the age-adjusted rate of nursing home residence among the older population declined but the number of current nursing home residents has increased. For more information, including how to obtain a free hard copy of the report, visit the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics website. back to top New Law Passed by Governor Pataki Protects the Rights of Elderly New Yorkers The AARP is celebrating a new law that will provide consumer protection in New York State. The Assisted Living Reform Law, just passed by Governor George Pataki, will protect older New Yorkers living in assisted living facilities. Assisted living is the fastest growing form of housing for older Americans in the U.S. Unlike other kinds of housing, assisted living places were not regulated in New York State. The new law provides for a resident's bill of rights and better consumer disclosures, including all information on services provided, rates, staffing levels and payment procedures. By passing the law, New York State joins 40 other states that have similar consumer laws governing assisted living. More information on the new assisted living reform law is available on the AARP website. back to top Affordable Home in Tulsa Able to Withstand Tornado-Force Winds An affordable, energy-efficient demonstration home in Tulsa, Okla., which has been built to withstand tornadoes, could serve as a model for new construction as the city seeks to replace its stock of 6,300 sub-standard houses for moderate- to low-income families. The 1,200-square-foot Millennium House, built by Don McCarthy, an 81-year-old retired engineer, with assistance from Neighbor to Neighbor, a non-profit umbrella organization, was completed this summer. The home was built on a concrete slab and uses cutting-edge technology and structural innovations to provide shelter that is durable, inexpensive to operate and extremely healthy. The home has Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) walls, which are tied to the concrete slab and footings with No. 4 rebar and four-foot centers. Roof trusses are secured to the walls with hurricane straps so that the structure can withstand an F3 tornado and winds as high as 205 miles per hour. The home also features a safe room built to withstand F5 tornadoes, which can generate winds of more than 260 mph. To make the home more fire retardant, McCarthy chose electric over gas and used nonflammable materials such as ICFs, steel studs and an ancillary steel framework. Currently, researchers from the University of Tulsa and the American Lung Association are conducting tests on the home's performance. To learn more about the Millennium House, visit the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) website. back to top Seniors Agree Spouse Will Care for Them, But Women Not Sure Men Can According to a new study, men are just as likely as women to expect to be the caregiver for their spouse or partner if their spouse becomes disabled. However, the study also found that women are more likely to view their spouse or partner as unprepared to take care of finances and to manage health issues should they predecease them. They were also more likely to see their children as the future caregivers. Most men and women felt that they were emotionally prepared to live alone if they outlive their spouse. Yet when asked how prepared they believe their spouse or partner is to live alone, more men felt that their wife or partner could cope, while fewer women felt that their husbands would be prepared. The study, "Gender Differences: Do Men and Women View Long Term Differently?," is a MetLife Mature Market Institute poll conducted in coordination with AARP Health Care Options. Additional findings included perceptions about financing long-term care, including how misconceptions about how individuals believe they can pay for long-term care. Three in ten men and women think they can pay the largest share of their long-term care costs with sources that are not designed to cover these expenses like Medicare, health insurance and disability insurance. For more information on the study and its findings, read the complete press release. back to top More Seniors Take a Gamble According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times (Dave McKibben, November 21, 2004), thousands of senior citizens in California have become regular customers of the state's growing number of American Indian casinos, which now look to the elderly for half their business, experts say. The casinos actively encourage the trend by dispatching fleets of buses to retirement communities and senior centers and by offering incentives such as buffet vouchers. The trend is not limited to California: a study by the federal National Gambling Impact Study Commission in 1999 found that the fraction of U.S. seniors who gambled jumped from 20 percent in 1974 to 50 percent in 1998, a surge unmatched by any other age group during a period when casinos proliferated across the country. Although some experts worry about gambling addictions, many retirees say casinos have improved the quality of their lives by providing a change of pace and intellectual stimulation. For more information, read the complete article. back to top | 
