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July 25, 2010 marked the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). A recent article for Enable America (EA) praised the great work by the ADA in furthering the rights of people with disabilities—while simultaneously calling for new actions that will be necessary to advance those rights in the years ahead.

The ADA represents the world’s first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. On July 26, 1990, President George W. Bush noted, “With today’s signing of the landmark Americans for Disabilities Act, every man, woman, and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence, and freedom.”

Established in 2002, EA is a non-profit organization devoted to empowering people with disabilities to achieve independence through employment. The organization’s Community Connections, Business Connections, and VetConnect programs unite members of the disability community and business community to raise awareness and increase employment opportunities for the 54 million Americans with disabilities—including our nation’s wounded soldiers.

Through its research and outreach across the country, EA discovered millions of Americans with disabilities with employable skills, who want to work, but often face additional barriers to finding jobs. EA’s founder and CEO, Richard Salem, explained, “People with disabilities want what all of us want, an opportunity to pursue the American Dream.” Through employment advocacy, EA believes it is also strengthening the economy by adding to the diversity of skills and talents that people with disabilities bring to the workforce.

Salem personally understands that challenge because he lost his sight when he was a teenager. “The ADA represents an historic civil rights achievement, and we have much to be proud of as we look back at what we have accomplished over the past two decades.” He concludes, “At the same time, we must not rest on the past, when so much work remains. This anniversary is a time for celebration, as well as an inspiration for all of us to recommit our efforts to the work at hand.”

Advocacy groups like Enable America, groundbreaking legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and CAPS designated remodeling companies like Home Evolutions are all working diligently to provide people with disabilities more productive, safer, and independent lives.

Read more about this story in the next and upcoming issue of The Forever Home!

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

With the current heat wave hitting our region and much of the northeast with record-breaking high temperatures—first and foremost, everyone (especially seniors and people with disabilities) should be cautious and vigilant to not become over heated. Stay cool by remaining indoors with air conditioning and fans during the hottest times of the day, and remember to not do strenuous activities in excessive heat.

Since most people are running their fans more and their air conditioning lower and longer (especially perhaps seniors who are aging-in-place in their own homes), it is also wisely frugal and economically important to keep an eye on how much you are spending on energy through these hot days.

A recent article offers some tips on how seniors can lower their energy costs and save money during the summer. One way to do this is to reduce the amount of energy used every month. Here are a few ideas for ways that seniors can cut back and things they can change to help reduce monthly energy expenses.

In General

• Turn it off if you’re not using it! You could save 2% on your electric bill.
• Unplug appliances that aren’t in use—they still draw electricity.
• Replace air conditioning filters once a month.
• When re-charging cell phones (or other re-chargeable devices), only leave them plugged in as long as it takes to charge them.
• Install a whole house fan and save up to 5% on electricity.
• Install window shades or film to keep the house cooler. Shade trees also can help.
• Have your cooling ducts checked for leaks and sealed—this could save up to 20%!
• Make sure to adjust outdoor lighting timers to save money since it is daylight longer.
• Check and re-install weather stripping, seals, and caulk.
• Set your thermostat to 78 when you’re home and 85 when you’re away.
• Use ceiling fans to keep rooms cooler.
• Keep the blinds drawn to cool down your house.

In the Kitchen

• Cooking with your microwave uses 1/3 less energy than your stove.
• Use the dishwasher instead of washing by hand—it uses less water.
• Save 1% of your electric bill by air drying your dishes if you use a dishwasher.
• If you have a range hood, use it frequently to vent heat from cooking.
• Grill out to keep cooking costs down.

When Doing Laundry

• Do as much of your laundry in cold (or warm if need be) water. Always rinse in cold water.
• Dry your clothes on the line and save money on your energy bill (up to 5%).
• Always run full loads in the dryer when you use it.
• Clean your dryer filters for efficiency.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

A recent article by Paula Span for The New York Times discusses the many benefits of minimal physical activity for seniors and gives them another reason to keep moving.

Span focuses on a new Journal of Gerontology study that proclaims more good news about the role of exercise in preserving cognitive skills. “It made me so happy that I decided to call the lead researcher, epidemiologist, Dr. Catarina Rosano of the University of Pittsburgh, to learn more.”

“We already knew that exercise makes you sharper and makes your mood better,” Rosano explained. “But it wasn’t clear how much or how often you have to exercise, or how soon in life. Do you have to begin by 60? Can you wait until you’re 70? Do you have to exercise every day, or every other day, until you die?”

Rosano’s subjects were all over 70 and had led sedentary lives until they were recruited for the study. One group became more physically active, with a goal of walking 150 minutes each week, and a comparison group met for health discussions, but didn’t do the walking. According to Span, the programs continued for a year, and Rosano’s team followed up nearly two years later with 20 seniors who continued walking at least one to three times a week.

But we are not talking about sprints and extreme calisthenics here. Rosano emphasized, “They didn’t hit the gym like crazy—they were walking.”

The participants then took a test that involved remembering numbers and symbols on a computer screen. “This is similar to functions of the brain we use every single day,” noted Rosano. The exercisers continued to do significantly better on the test—with greater speed and fewer errors than the control group. In addition, the imaging scans demonstrated that more parts of the brain were activated, and to a greater extent, in the group that had kept walking.

Span explained that even though this is a pilot study (which the researchers plan to replicate with a much larger sample—perhaps then answering more of those questions about how often and how much), this report adds to evidence that a low-cost, moderate approach to exercise yields cognitive dividends. Rosano concludes, “Some level of physical activity, even started later in life, can really impact the brain. Taking a walk with someone you like and having a chat—that’s always great.”

Exercise and activity are important aspects to aging-in-place—and they can help you to remain living healthy, safely, and independently at home.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

Naturally our blog is dedicated to encouraging seniors and people with disabilities to age-in-place. But one consequence of such encouragement is the resulting question of how people can finance their decision to age-in-place once it is made.

That is why we here at Home Evolutions also like taking opportunities to provide our readers with financing information so that they can afford to continue living comfortably, safely, and independently at home.

So whom can people age 60+ (who have already cashed in their retirement funds or are about to do so) turn to for retirement help? Well, there has been a growing trend of increased education for financial advisors to help people in retirement. But a recent article warns that seniors should be careful about several of the financial specialty designations that are currently out there.

One option is to consult with a Certified Retirement Financial Advisor (CRFA). A CRFA is a financial professional who has completed a program of study designed on the unique financial challenges faced by retirees. These programs are designed for experienced financial professionals who learn creative solutions to these important challenges. Upon course completion, graduates pass a closed book exam and are required to sign a pledge to abide by the Society of Certified Retirement Financial Advisors Code of Ethics. This Code embodies five fundamental principles of ethical conduct which assure seniors of honest and competent service.

Thus seniors can be assured to receive reliable retirement help from CRFA designated financial professionals because they must have at least two years experience in financial services. Different graduates from the certification program can also each have a different focus of expertise. For example, while one may be a specialist in health insurance coverage for retirees, another may be a specialist in retirement financial asset management.

CRFAs maintain specialized retiree-specific financial knowledge which covers every aspect of financial concerns to someone in their retirement years including:

• Avoiding tax on social security income.
• Liquidating assets for the lowest or zero capital gains tax.
• Utilizing section 72 rules for early retirees who need to tap their retirement funds before age 59 ½.
• IRS exchanges for tax deferrals.
• Minimizing taxes on IRA distributions and Roth IRA conversions.
• Building retiree portfolios for greater secure income.
• Creating low-risk equity portfolios.
• Training in estate planning and asset protection.
• Long-term care planning and related tax issues.
• Trusts, advance directives, and integration of retirement and estate plans.
• Beneficiary selection for retirement accounts and other assets.

Another legitimate designation is Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL), but this certification does not require as many retiree-specific courses.

The article also warns to be cautious of any other designations held by a financial advisor who contends that the designation has prepared him or her to give appropriate financial advice for people in retirement. This is because there are several designations that have no substance and they are simply programs designed to make a financial sales person look like a professional.

Here are some simple questions you should ask a retirement planner (If the professional cannot answer them easily, then move on):

• How can IRS section 1031 help me (it helps people divest real estate without current taxation).
• What is the lowest possible rate on capital gains that I could possibly qualify for (0% starting in 2008)?
• Can anyone convert their IRA to a Roth IRA (their modified adjusted gross income must be under $100,000 currently).
• If I want to leave my IRA to my three children, do I need to split it into three accounts (no—the children can split the IRA after your death into three accounts).
• Will a living trust help me save taxes (no—the benefit of a living trust that cannot be accomplished otherwise is the avoidance of probate and privacy).
• What’s the difference between an annuitant driven and owner driven annuity (all annuities are owner driven—if the owner dies, the owner’s beneficiary gets the proceeds).
• Can I lose money with an equity indexed annuity (yes—if you withdraw funds during the surrender period, the surrender charge could be larger than anything you have earned resulting in a loss)?
• Why shouldn’t I put my son’s name on my accounts as joint tenant so he inherits them directly if I die (you can be deemed to have given a gift which may have tax consequences and you have exposed jointly held assets to your son’s creditors).

Once you’ve consulted the right CRFA about financing your retirement future, be sure to then contact a CAPS certified remodeler like Home Evolutions for all of your aging-in-place needs.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

A press release issued last week out of Washington, D.C., identifies strategies designed to ensure that affordable, accessible housing connected to vital services will be available for older adults in the future. According to trends, this group is expected to grow by 30% in the next 20 years alone.

Ensuring that the nation’s housing stock is affordable, accessible, and connected to essential services is key to meeting the rapidly growing housing needs of America’s over 50 population. A new report released last week by AARP’s Public Policy Institute and authored by the Center for Housing Policy, entitled Insight on the Issues: Strategies to Meet the Housing Needs of Older Adults, provides a comprehensive look at available and new research on the housing needs of older adults and is intended to help state and local policymakers address the unique housing needs of the senior population.

This report comes at a pivotal time when the Census Bureau is predicting that the number of Americans age 50 and up will increase 30% in the next 20 years alone—growing from 100 million in 2010 to 130 million older adults in 2030. Specifically, the report emphasizes the importance of building and preserving a wide-range of housing options that are sufficient to meet future demand, as well as being located in livable communities that provide affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options.

The Center for Housing Policy chair, John K. McIlwain, (who is also senior resident fellow and the J. Ronald Terwilliger chair for housing at the Urban Land Institute), explains, “With the population of older adults on the rise, this report helps to identify the essential housing policy strategies that can help them to balance their increasing needs with a desire to continue to stay closely connected to their families, communities, and society.” Susan Reinhard, AARP senior vice president and director of the AARP Public Policy Institute, adds, “These resources will be invaluable for policymakers at the state and local levels as they adapt to the changing needs of an aging population.”

The report summarizes findings outlined in a series of nine fact sheets, which has been expanded into an online toolkit on HousingPolicy.org—the Center for Housing Policy’s online guide to state and local housing policy solutions.

The report and toolkit are divided into the following three sections:

Accessible, Safe and Affordable Homes
The first area focuses on providing accessible, safe, and affordable homes for older adults that are not only designed to accommodate a variety of physical abilities, but are also affordable to those with fixed or limited incomes. Among the topics in this area are subsidized housing, universal design and visibility, and the weatherization of homes to improve energy-efficiency and lower utility costs.

Social Services and Transportation
Improving access to social services and transportation options for older adults is the second area of focus which also includes highlighting the importance of designing communities in a way that allows older adults to age-in-place—ultimately providing them with access to the services they need, and want, in order to live independently.

Housing Options Geared to Older Adults
The third area explores housing models geared to older adults who do not wish to live in a nursing home. One example is supportive housing, which is an umbrella term used for residential (versus institutional) settings that have been developed specifically to provide services such as meals, housekeeping assistance, and the monitoring of chronic health conditions. Co-housing, whether for all ages or for older adults only, is another option for those who want to age-in-place among friends and neighbors.

Online Toolkit
A general overview of the housing challenges and solutions is provided by the report and fact sheets—while the online toolkit also links to a wealth of other resources that are provided within HousingPolicy.org, authored by AARP’s Public Policy Institute, or published by other organizations.

Learn More about Housing Solutions
Last week’s announcement is part of Housing Solutions Week 2010—a series of events and announcements being hosted by the Center for Housing Policy and its affiliate, the National Housing Conference. Both organizations are focused on framing the nation’s housing challenges, while at the same time providing some of the solutions necessary in order to meet those challenges.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

Last week’s AARP study of Washington, D.C.-area seniors who joined aging-in-place networks say the move has made them feel more engaged in their communities and more comfortable with their decision to stay in their homes.

According to the organization, it is clear from AARP research on the local level that the vast majority of seniors would like to remain in their homes and neighborhoods as they age versus going to a retirement community or nursing home.

The question is how to make aging at home safer and more comfortable?

Organizers in several DC communities, indicated that the best way to make that happen is through a Village. By that, they mean a grassroots membership organization, modeled after Beacon Hill Village in Boston, through which neighbors help neighbors access support and services to age in place.

“That could mean anything from a ride to the doctor, home repair referrals, or someone to take in your mail when you’re on vacation all the way to 24-7 home care,” according to the findings. “Some Villages also offer social opportunities from chess clubs to yoga classes to lectures and cultural outings.”

Since October 2007, six Villages have opened their doors in DC—more than in any city nationwide other than San Francisco. Five of them agreed to participate in an AARP DC study released on October 26, 2009 at the Village to Village Network Symposium in Washington, DC.

The goal of “Neighbors Helping Neighbors: A Qualitative Study of Villages Operating in the District of Columbia” is to provide District Villages the opportunity to learn from one another and to share their best practices, challenges and advice with organizers across the country regarding:

• Starting a new Village
• Building a strong board of directors
• Recruiting members
• Retaining members

Researchers from AARP interviewed residents and volunteers from five villages to find out what works and what doesn’t. A summary of key best practices and recommendations include the following:

• When starting a new Village, be flexible and open to change – adopt a “learn as you go” philosophy.
• Make sure you have the right mix of people on your board – experts in business, sales, fundraising, legal issues, finance, and local government, as well as a cheerleader.
• Use one-on-one conversations, such as small group dinners, to effectively recruit new members.
• Seek in-kind donations of office space and bookkeeping, and if possible, pool resources with other Villages nearby for common needs like bookkeeping and insurance.
• Offer a “membership plus” program or reduced membership fee for people in neighborhoods with low incomes.
• Find ways to recognize volunteers.
• Communicate with members via email and phone – shown to be the most effective communication channels.

What do you think of the Village concept? Let us know and we’ll share your responses with AARP.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

According to a recent National Association Home Builder’s forecast, there will be 85.3 million Americans ages 55 and older by 2014, over one-quarter of the total population. The demand for housing for the 50+ market will continue to grow, although this segment has been impacted by current economic conditions and the housing downturn.

Since affordable housing is getting more difficult for the average homebuyer to attain, modular construction offers one possible approach that may provide this opportunity and is an option more suitable for the global environment as well. In modular construction, components for a house or building are built in a factory or another controlled setting, transported, and assembled at the site.

Modular homes or prefabricated homes can readily accommodate the principles of universal design. It features universal design features such as wider hallways, lever handles, larger doorways, varying height kitchen counters, curbless showers, , anti-scald controls, handheld showers, grab bars,  more space to maneuver in kitchens and baths, and easy to reach thermostats. A modular home that features universal design will meet a family’s needs now and in the future, allowing seniors and people with disabilities to age in place.

Of course, modular construction has had its problems over the years, conjuring up images of low quality and cheap productions. While the stigma remains, it’s lessening. Today, modular represents a viable approach to residential construction, especially if it continues to evolve as it has been doing over the last few years.

Experts liken the modular building industry to the automobile industry. In 1908, Henry Ford revolutionized the production of the automobile by introducing the efficiencies of assembly line manufacturing—an innovation allowing him to significantly decrease its cost, making it available to the general public. Virtually every other major industry has been automated in the last 100 years, except construction.

To date, it has only captured a tiny fraction of both the commercial and residential real estate market. According to the Modular Building Systems Association (MBSA), representing the modular housing industry, only 2% of homes are modular. But today’s sour economy has caused people to take a second look at the construction industry as whole and realized some of the inefficiencies in it and consider some of alternatives like modular.

Despite its slow growth, modular construction has the potential to be a growth sector that can supplant the traditional housing delivery systems and provide another alternative for seniors who wish to age-in-place.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted, as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

A recent article in HousingZone.com reported that more remodeling clients are planning ahead and opting to alter their homes for aging-in-place.

As determined by recent data gathered by the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodelers, 70% of remodelers that were surveyed reported making universal design home modifications. This is a significant bump up from 60% as reported in 2006.

Greg Miedema, Chairman of NAHB Remodelers, is himself a remodeler from Tucson, Arizona. He believes that universal design modifications can even make a home more stylish and convenient for the aging population. “Home owners are asking for remodeling improvements to make their homes more comfortable as they age because they don’t want to move or lose independence,” he adds.

According to the NAHB Remodelers, the aging-in-place modifications most frequently purchased by homeowners include:

•    Adding grab bars (78%)
•    Installing higher toilets (71%)
•    Upgrading to a curb-less shower (60%)
•    Widening doorways (57%)
•    Constructing ramps or lower thresholds (45%)
•    Enhancing lighting and task lighting (45%)

NAHB’s survey also found that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of aging-in-place options—with remodelers saying that 84% of homeowners have at least some knowledge of universal design solutions. In addition, 74% of remodelers also note an increase in requests for these types of features.

While remodelers often say that the bulk of jobs for aging-in-place come from clients age 55 and older, a growing number of consumers are not requesting aging-in-place remodeling solely for themselves.

Such improvements often address age-related disabilities of visiting older relatives, or modifications to make it easier for parents to share living space with grown children. More than 70% of homeowners started remodeling projects for aging-in-place because they were planning ahead for these types of future needs.

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designated remodelers like Home Evolutions can help seniors and people with disabilities plan for their aging-in-place needs and incorporate universally designed home modifications.

Are you following us on Twitter? — Home Evolutions will give you real-time updates when our latest blogs are posted as well as timely information on Aging-in-Place news from around the country.

Happy New Year to all of you. Hope you have a safe, healthy, and prosperous year.

For those of you thinking about aging-in-place, either for yourself or a loved one, we recently received a release from Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington about a book one of their professors recently published entitled, Elderburbia: Aging with a Sense of Place in America.

With the first of the Baby Boom generation well into midlife, the number of Americans at or nearing retirement age is both unprecedented and expanding, notes IU faculty member Phil Stafford in this recently published book.

Stafford, an adjunct professor in the IU Bloomington Department of Anthropology and director of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community’s Center on Aging and Community. The Institute is comprised of seven centers that work in partnership with adults who are aging with disabilities to promote their well-being, community-participation, self-determination and leadership. One of the seven centers is the Indiana University Center on Aging and Community which conducts research and provides training, assistance and information to individuals, families and professionals seeking to enable seniors to age-in-place.

In his book, Stafford writes that, “with so much emphasis being given to helping retirees maintain good health and active lifestyles, it also is important to think about where they live and how to make those homes and communities elder-friendly.”

His book suggests that aging is not about time and the body, but about place and relationships. Drawing on the multidisciplinary field of ethnography, it gives readers a deeper understanding of how the aging experience is shaped by where people call home, as well as a look at what makes a place well-suited for post-retirement living.

Elderburbia combines cutting-edge scholarship with practical advice and provides an introduction to pivotal research on the broad subject of aging and place, including studies of migration and relocation. It also takes readers inside innovative, elder-friendly community planning around the United States, particularly AdvantAge, an initiative to help counties, cities and towns prepare for the growing number of older adults who are aging-in-place, as opposed to moving to retiree-only communities.

What are some other books you’re reading or can suggest to our readers who are interested in aging-in-place?

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With Christmas less than two weeks away, you may still be looking for that perfect gift to give your loved ones who are aging-in-place. Parentgiving.com suggests some great holiday gift ideas for seniors that focus on increasing their health and well-being. These gifts can help seniors stay active, sharp, safe, interested, and vital.

Chief content officer of the website, Julie Davis, explained that when it comes to picking the perfect presents for older loved ones, what truly makes the best gifts for seniors are those that enable them to maintain a great quality of life, stay engaged in things they love to do, and live as independently as possible.

“Recent research studies have pointed to very specific advice for maintaining senior health—including physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our recommendations take into account findings that range from the need to maintain muscle mass in order to stay healthy, to the need to stay socially engaged in order to prevent isolation and possible depression.”

Parentgiving.com’s gift ideas not only help to enable aging-in-place and improve quality of life, but they can also be inexpensive. In fact, many of its gift ideas start as low as $12.00. These great gifts for seniors can be broken down into the following categories:

Think Fitness First—Gifts For Staying Active

Among the lifestyle behaviors that have negative effects, being sedentary is near the top of the list. Exercise maintains muscle, and muscle enables the body to maintain a level of fitness that helps seniors resist illness, stay independent, and prevent falls. Exercise should be fun and tailored to each individual’s level. Parentgiving.com’s gift ideas for this include the Nintendo Wii and sessions with physical therapists that have expertise in geriatrics.

Maintain The Brain—Gifts For Staying Sharp

Ongoing studies are researching exactly how to keep the brain sharp in order to delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Exercising the mind can be as high-tech as playing video games or brain training programs, to being as low-tech as playing Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles every day. Many of these activities have benefits that range from improving memory to visual acuity—not to mention that they’re just plain fun and keep people engaged. Specific brain fitness software involves interactive game-like training programs that challenge the mind and attempt to boost memory as well as analytical thinking. Related Parentgiving.com gift ideas include brain training software like PositScience’s DriveSharp and the Dakim BrainFitness System.

Get Smart About Safety—Gifts For Staying Safe

For many seniors, high-tech developments in telecare are allowing those who need care and attention to age-in-place. Now they can stay in their homes under the watchful eyes of electronic monitoring and communication devices via computers, video cameras, the internet, and land or wireless telephone signals. Advances in tracking devices for wanderers, online recordkeeping, and medical reminder systems are other high-tech ways of keeping seniors safe. Other Parentgiving.com gift ideas include EmFinders EmSeeQ monitoring wrist device and the A Very Special Heart charm with USB data storage.

See Clearly—Gifts For Staying Interested

Normal vision changes occur as we age. Even natural changes unrelated to conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration can make close-up reading difficult. But the ability to read is an important part of maintaining a high quality of life—so is being able to do other hand-held activities like knitting and writing. Tools and gadgets that make it easier to stay interested in these activities are among the best holiday gifts for seniors. Such Parentgiving.com gift ideas include a lighted magnifier, a table-top newspaper stand, and a bean-bag lap desk.

Emphasize Everyday Ease—Staying Vital and Connected

Independence comes in many forms, but doctors often judge it by the ability to carry out daily living activities. These include simply taking care of oneself and one’s basic needs—getting dressed, eating properly, and moving about with relative ease. Aids and gadgets that facilitate these everyday actions make a big difference in quality of life and the ability to age at home. New devices that enable seniors to stay connected to loved ones without necessarily having to be computer savvy can also add to quality of life. Parentgiving.com gift ideas include the Pathlighter Lighted Walking Cane and POURfect kitchen tools, which are perfect for anyone with limited dexterity.

You can read the full description of each holiday gift on Parentgiving.com.

Home Evolutions would like to wish you and your loved ones much happiness during this holiday season—and many, many years of being together as you age-in-place!

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