A home for life
“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?
Let’s face it, those sitting on the edge of the Baby Boom generation, the largest single demographic group in the nation’s history, need a place to live. We all can’t move to retirement villages in Florida or Arizona. There just aren’t enough of them. Besides, surveys indicate that an overwhelming majority of people prefer to stay in their own homes as they mature, surrounded by people and things they know and love.
Consider this: Currently, people age 55 and older represent 21 percent of the nation’s total population. Some 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 with the over-85 age group becoming the fastest-growing segment of our population.
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) did a “fixing to stay” study and found that 89 percent of homeowners preferred to remain in their homes, and want a reliable means of identifying professionals they can trust to help them remain there. Consumers want specialists who are reliable, honest and trained in the proper skill-sets to design, modify and remodel a barrier free, safe environment.
The Spokane Home Builders Association (SHBA) Remodelors Council can introduce homeowners to professionals with the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) designation in our area. The CAPS program was created by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 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 require 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 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 who 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. CAPS professionals can 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.