| Diverse 50+ Market Drives Major Changes in Today's Seniors Housing Industry During the NAHB 2005 Best of Seniors Housing Awards ceremony, held on January 13 in conjunction with the International Builders Show in Orlando, Fla., experts from the NAHB Seniors Housing Council highlighted the newest architectural, design and marketing trends in the diverse active adult and traditional seniors housing markets. According to experts, active adult communities have evolved greatly over the past decade. Although site-built single-family attached and detached homes are still the preferred housing type, for-sale, age-qualified multifamily condominiums have emerged as a favorite among active adults. Additionally, builders are building small or midsize communities, more often in close-to-home locations. A growing number of consumers also want to live in communities closer to urban centers or that are connected to the surrounding community. Among the biggest trends for the service-enriched industry, which includes independent living and assisted living, was the demand for communities in mid- to high-rise buildings in dense urban settings, and communities that embrace regional and ethnic traditions, capitalize on natural surroundings and incorporate sustainable design. For more information, read the complete press release. back to top Seniors Rewarding Themselves With Living Accommodations That Have All The Perks According to a recent article in the Dallas Morning News (Michael Granberry; January 22, 2005), luxury retirement homes are becoming more opulent and greater in number. Nationwide, dozens of additional luxury retirement centers are in the works, and according to experts, the movement toward luxury retirement could accelerate dramatically as baby boomers retire. Gordon Clanton, a professor of sociology at San Diego State University, attributes luxury retirement to two larger trends: the baby boom and the long economic boom of the 1990s. Admission to luxury retirement clubs comes with a luxury price tag, of course. Edgemere, located in Dallas, calls its $250,000-per-resident buy-in a "protectorate" against future health care costs. In return, the home offers on-site nursing-home care - everything except hospitalization. The deposit is 90 percent refundable should residents leave, and 90 percent refundable to their estates once residents die. Beyond that, monthly fees range from $2,500 to $4,500, covering essentially everything - rent, utilities, meals and, of course, lavish perks such as chauffeurs, daily maid service, a full-time concierge, and valet service. For more information, read the complete article. back to top Seniors Exercise Options The growing number of senior housing options can make the senior housing market more difficult to navigate, according to a recent article in the Washington Times, (Gabriella Boston; January 8, 2005). Housing types can include active adult communities, senior apartments, independent living communities, continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), assisted living residences and nursing homes. Although the growing number of options provides more innovation and choice, "the downside is there's a lot to find out about," says Don Redfoot, a senior policy adviser with AARP. "There is no one best choice. It's so individual." In general, senior apartments, independent living communities and active adult communities generally don't provide medical and care assistance, whereas CCRCs, assisted living residences and nursing homes do. When deciding whether to move and what type of community to call home, Redfoot suggests that seniors and their families should assess their needs and wishes, including their interests, resources, special needs and the importance of social interactions. Other experts suggest bringing a checklist of things that are of particular importance, such as the property tax rates, various fees, number and type of activities and demographics. Other items may include whether changes can be made to the condo or other unit and whether the community puts any restrictions on the number of guests a resident can host. For more information, read the complete article. back to top Boomers Scramble to Make It Happen According to a recent article in the Barre Montpelier Times Argus (Susan Tompor; January 30, 2005), many baby boomers are looking at a far less glamorous retirement than advertisements targeting them may suggest. Dreaming of tai chi classes on the beach? Kayaking in the Grand Canyon? Or maybe cruising off into the Caribbean sunset? The reality is that at least half of all baby boomers - about 76 million people ages 40 to 58 - will be in a serious cash crunch when they stop working. The first boomers turn 62 and are eligible to tap Social Security in 2008. Yet a recent New York University study found more than half of all households closing in on retirement won't be able to string together enough money - through pension checks, 401(k)s, other savings and Social Security - to cover 75 percent of what they're making now. Boomers will get crunched on a bunch of fronts. They'll pay more for health care in retirement than their parents, they'll most likely get less money from Social Security, and many won't see a traditional pension check. Additionally, it hasn't helped that many middle- and upper-income boomers tend to be bigger spenders than their parents. As a result, they'll be juggling more debt and extra bills in retirement. Faced with the choice of staying on the job, or living on a lot less money, many boomers will likely keep working well into their 60s and 70s. To learn more, read the complete article. back to top Housing Boom Spawns A Home-Repair Craze According to a recent article in the Boston Herald (Kenneth R. Harney, January 28, 2005), a new study finds Americans spend nearly $250 billion annually on home improvements, much of it on high-end kitchens or other big-ticket projects. Baby boomers especially spend big, according to the report, produced by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. Researchers found that 60 percent of baby boomers completed home-renovation projects in 2003, spending a collective $72 billion. The study also found that, although homes worth $400,000 and up represent just 11 percent of total owner-occupied units, owners of these homes accounted for 43 percent of all 2002-2003 spending on additions, and about a third of expenditures on kitchen and bathroom remodeling. All but 15 percent of the $40 billion the high-end homeowners spent on home renovations in 2003 went to professional contractors. By contrast, those who owned homes worth $100,000 or less spent some 33 percent of their home-repair funds on do-it-yourself projects. Additionally, some 41 percent of Gen Xers' home-improvement spending went toward do-it-yourself projects. By contrast, only 26 percent of baby boomer's home-improvement money covered do-it-yourself work. To learn more about the trends uncovered by the study, read the complete article or visit the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies website. back to top As Seniors Log On, New Tech Opens Some Quality-of-Life Doors According to a recent article in the Washington Post (Annys Shin; January 30, 2005). The notion that technology is the key to maintaining not only the health of mature adults, but also their social lives and their minds is taking hold in boardrooms, research labs and government agencies. That high-tech companies are even focused on mature adults marks an industry sea change, said Ken Dychtwald, a gerontologist and president of Age Wave, a San Francisco marketing firm. When the Internet came along, "it was a party, and older people were not invited," he said. "All the language, the media, the marketing, Wired magazine, was about the new, the young, the hip, the cool, the next - not about Grandma. To their amazing credit, even though they weren't invited, seniors began climbing the castle walls and crashing the party." While computing technology gave older people a new way to communicate and access information, in the future it may help them stay out of an assisted living or nursing home setting for as long as possible. Examples include "smart houses" that can monitor behavior and alert family members if there may be a problem and souped-up caller IDs that not only identify who is calling but reminds recipients of how they know the caller as well as the subject of their last conversation (see related article, below). Toilets that check the user's temperature, test urine and stool, and send the results to the user's doctor are already available in Japan. In assisted living facilities, high-speed internet connections are becoming more commonplace, as are web cams that allow remote family members to be part of the aging process and "wander bracelets" that allow staff or family members to keep track of a residents that may stray from the premises. The only voices of criticism so far have been those of privacy advocates, who question whether the technology is for the elderly, or for adult children who want to keep an eye on them without having to leave work. Aging experts contend that technology can fulfill the needs of both generations, if not emotionally, then at least in practical ways, such as allowing older people to live in their homes longer. For more information, read the complete article. back to top Homes without Stairs Have Big Appeal, but May Lack Accessible Features A recent article in The Oregonian (Kendra Hogue; January 13, 2005) investigated an increasing trend toward one-story housing among new homebuyers. According to the article, even buyers that currently have no mobility issues often find one-story houses appealing as they look toward the future. A home without stairs can be very attractive to those who have difficulty climbing them, as well as families with young children who might tumble down them. However, stairs are only one of the components that can make a ranch home accessible to those who use wheelchairs. One-story homes may not include other accessible features, such as ramps or sloping floors leading into the house or from one level to another, showers that can be rolled into, grab bars near toilets and bathtubs, wide hallways and lever-style door handles instead of knobs. Additional accessible features include windows placed at lower levels so that the homeowner can enjoy the view, and the eating bar, countertops and closet rods set lower to make them easier to use. One Portland-based designer stated that among his portfolio of 570 plans, only two were accessible. For more information, read the complete article. back to top Artfully Accessible; Innovative Design Concepts Home Functional And Beautiful Universal housing is based on the notion that any building should be attractive and usable by all people, regardless of age or physical ability. Experts say this is a new model for home design that everyone should embrace, even if they are young and active. As the idea is increasing in popularity, homebuyers, designers and manufacturers are looking for ways to incorporate universal design without compromising on comfort or style. According to a recent article in the Hartford Courant (Hilary Waldman; January 7, 2005), many universal design options do not have to be more complicated or expensive. Most people will have to live with a mobility problem during at least some portion of their lives, whether from aging, an illness or injury. As a result, some designers say any home renovation or new construction should include accessibility features such as no-step entrances, extra-wide doorways, lever door handles, no-lip showers and at least some lower counters and under-sink leg room in the kitchens and baths. And nobody should be able to notice these changes. According to one designer, meeting the challenges of accessible design is only slightly different from what it might be for any other residential client. For example, there are many simple and inexpensive ways to improve access in the kitchen. Easy-to-reach drawers can replace under-counter cabinets, and countertops can be placed at various levels to accommodate people of many heights, including those in wheelchairs. A bathroom vanity can be used to create a lower island or work station in the kitchen, and standard bathroom cabinets, which are generally lower than kitchen cabinets, can also be used in the kitchen. Although it might be difficult to disguise adapted bathroom furnishings, there are ways to make the space attractive. As more people live into old age, more companies are manufacturing products such as lever door handles, more accessible tubs and sinks, and attractive grab bars, all of which were once custom-made. When designing a home for a wheelchair user, it might make sense - and reduces costs - to eliminate some interior doors. Also, expensive molding can be dispensed with because dings and dents are inevitable during wheelchair passage. Eliminating bottom cabinets to allow leg space for the wheelchair user may also save money. To learn more, read the complete article. back to top Suite Solution for Seniors: New Care Center Aims for More of A Homey Feel A recent article in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Diane C. Lade; January 31, 2005), highlights a new housing center that is planning to provide an innovative solution for rural communities nestled on the eastern shoulder of Lake Okeechobee in Southern Florida. Although there are thousands of senior citizens living in these communities, there are no assisted living centers or retirement homes nearby. However, this should change over the next few years. An affordable housing consortium is planning to build what would be one of Florida's most innovative assisted-living projects in the area. The McCurdy Senior Housing Center is being designed in conjunction with the Green House Project, a New York-based organization dedicated to humanizing nursing home and long-term care. Green Houses are a spin-off of The Eden Alternative, a concept Dr. Bill Thomas, a nursing home physician, started almost two decades ago. Dissatisfied with traditional institutional care, Thomas recommended what were considered radical things: allowing pets to live in care centers, letting residents make more decisions about how a home is run or giving nursing aides more of a say in care plans. Existing nursing homes can apply to be "Edenized" through a certification process. Green Houses, however, are built from scratch. A Green House consists of several small buildings housing eight to 10 elderly people, each in their own private suites, instead of one giant building with long hallways. All doors open into a large central room filled with plants where residents can gather to talk or share meals cooked in a small kitchen. One attendant is assigned to do most of the care tasks for each resident, encouraging them to develop personal bonds. The McCurdy Center was one of four new projects around the country that was awarded grants by Green House organizers last year. When completed, it will be the only Green House in Florida and the only Green House assisted living center in the nation. To learn more, read the complete article. back to top Seniors Research How to Age Gracefully Many seniors may feel as if their generation and the subject of aging have been studied to death, usually by researchers many years younger than themselves. But according to a recent article in the London Free Press (Sheryl Ubelacker; January 31, 2005), an innovative pilot project developed by the University of Calgary (Canada) has recruited and trained seniors as researchers to talk to others in their age group about the challenges of making the so-called golden years live up to their billing. Having seniors perform research is not unique, says Nancy Marlett, a professor in the university's community rehabilitation and disabilities studies program. "What's really important is that this is the beginning of a process here where the research agenda itself is set by seniors," Marlett said. "It's about making sure they understand how to make science and research work for them." The Calgary project involves about 20 seniors trained by retired university professors to research the keys to happy and healthy aging. The seniors chose to research resilience, and the role it plays in growing old gracefully. Finding a single definition for resilience was difficult, but the common thread among all the seniors' stories was that the trait came with their upbringing. When the year-long study is completed at the end of next month, the seniors will begin analyzing their data, which will find its way into academic papers and workbooks for other seniors. For more information, read the complete article. back to top Helping the Elderly Remember Who's Calling ABC News (Jim Hickey; Jan. 28, 2005) recently investigated how Intel is developing technology to help the elderly recognize and remember who's calling on the phone. Not being able to identify a caller, even though the voice sounds familiar, can be an embarrassing moment for anyone. Although Caller ID systems can help, Intel is readying a system that takes such setups a step further. The "context ID telephone" is designed specifically to help memory-impaired elders. When the phone rings, the monitor displays the phone number of the party calling, as in traditional caller ID systems. But since Intel's ID system is controlled by a computer and network technology, a photo of the person associated with that number and a brief synopsis of the last conversation can be displayed as well. For now, this data is entered by family members who are connected to the Internet, but researchers hope that future versions could use speech-recognition technology to automatically store and display conversations using specific key words. Intel says the enhanced caller ID system is designed to help ease the daily stress faced by aging seniors. By reminding them of who's calling and past chats, researchers are hoping that elders won't shy away from phone calls and social interaction because of embarrassing memory lapses. To learn more, read the complete story. back to top | 
