Innovative Building and Remodeling Solutions
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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 Ericka Pizzillo Cohen, a writer for The Bellingham Herald, discusses six ways you can make your kitchen safer as you age in place.

According to Cohen, occupational therapists have been saying that “simple changes in the kitchen can adjust for the decreased strength, vision and balance that often come from aging or illness.”

Not only can these changes preserve the overall health of seniors who are more likely to cook healthfully if they cook for themselves, but staying independent in the kitchen has many other benefits as well.

“People want to prepare the meals they like to eat,” says Ken Eastham, an occupational therapist at St. Joseph Hospital. “Cooking is good exercise, and it’s a leisure task that can help people psychologically, especially if they invite friends over to eat.”

Here are some suggestions for making your kitchen both well-used and safe.

Simple Steps: Use lighter-weight pots and pans and use less water when boiling food. This reduced weight helps protect a senior’s vulnerable joints.

Michelle Moulds, an occupational therapist at St. Joseph’s who was quoted in the piece, added that people should also pace themselves in the kitchen. “Some illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis, leave people with the potential to be overheated in a hot kitchen. And certain diseases, such as diabetes, leave people with decreased nerve sensitivity, leaving them more vulnerable to burns, a consideration when deciding how and what to cook.”

Other easy changes include buying products such as flour in smaller, lighter packages, and having the butcher trim your meat. Additionally, a wheeled cart can help move items from the kitchen to serving areas, and move heavy pots from one part of the kitchen to another.

Useful Gadgets: The Arthritis Foundation website makes recommendations for “Ease of Use” items. One such item is OXO’s Good Grips, which have built-up, rubbery handles that are easy to grip for people with weakened joints, and that stay steady in the hand for added safety.

Rocker knives, shaped like a crescent, can also help make cutting safer. Electric jar and can openers can save the time and frustration for the kitchen’s most common tasks.

Appliance Advice: Appliances can ease the task of cooking with a few key changes. For instance, Thea Stephens, a certified aging-in-place specialist with Bellingham design firm Domistyle, says that dishwashers in 42-inch-high kitchen islands can be elevated several inches, for less bending and reaching. “And refrigerators that have bottom freezers with pullout drawers mean the upper portion, which is more frequently used, opens at eye-level.”

Knobs on the front of an oven, rather than above the burners, are easier to reach, and also prevent loose sleeves from catching on burners or dipping into your pot of soup, she adds.

Light to Cook By: Recessed can-lighting is the easiest way to add new lighting to a kitchen, and task lighting can be installed under countertops to add another layer of lighting, so prep work is easily viewed.

Take a Seat: Cohen writes that sitting down while cutting vegetables and mixing food may be the best way to prevent falls and ensure you’ve got that knife secure.

Avoid stools with swivel seats or chairs with wheels, however, because they can send you flying across the kitchen when you need something quickly to brace against.

Full Remodel: If you’re thinking of living in your home for many years, consider your senior years when redesigning your kitchen. As we discussed many times before, there are certain modifications that you can make, such as: wider lanes between cabinets so you can leave room for a walker or wheelchair; touchless faucets or lever faucets; as well as cabinets with large drawers for pots.

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.

Builder Magazine recently published its 8 hottest kitchen trends for 2010 and some of the factors influencing today’s culinary workspace design.

“Baby Boomers are hitting retirement age, lending standards have tightened, consumers have swallowed a slice of frugal pie, and the number of single households – particularly single women – is rising steadily,” writes the author. “All of those ingredients are feeding demand for smaller, more budget-conscious kitchens with a heavy emphasis on style and universal design.”

Builder gathered insights from a January 20 design workshop led by kitchen design gurus MaryJo Camp, Mary Jo Peterson, and Connie Edwards at the International Builder’s Show (IBS) in Las Vegas.

These are the trends they say we should be watching for in 2010:

Consolidated Activity: As houses get smaller, kitchens are carrying more responsibility. Today’s kitchen is still the hub of the home, and also a spot that’s big on multitasking — particularly now that many of the functions that previously had their own designated territory (e.g., laundry, dining, home office) are being absorbed into the kitchen/great room realm.

Ergonomics for All: The graying of baby boomers will raise important issues relating to functionality, user-friendliness and multiplicity. “Multiplicity acknowledges the variety of sizes, shapes, ages, and abilities of people who are in the kitchen,” according to Peterson said. That means not just older homeowners, but also kids, short adults, tall adults, and individuals with limited mobility.

Luxury for Less: Home buyers of average means must now pick and choose their luxuries strategically. As a result, builders and designers will be challenged to find interesting applications for modest materials, using the expensive stuff only for accents and memory points.

Small and Powerful: Notes the author, “Although kitchen square footage is less vulnerable to pruning than other rooms in the floor plan, many kitchens are getting smaller as houses get proportionately smaller.” To meet this need, many manufacturers have introduced new lines of streamlined appliances.

Planet Smart: Today’s buyers want green features with measurable benefits such as Energy Star appliances and Water Sense-rated plumbing fittings, as well as non-off-gassing finishes combined with good ventilation and air filtration.

Style-Conscious: Quartz and paper composites, glass and stainless steel work surfaces, large-scale (18” square) floor tile, chrome fixtures, and lightweight hulled concrete are becoming popular features.

Light Bright: Since aging eyes need good lighting, look for layered lighting for practical usage and visual effect. That includes a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting.

Devilish Details: In a small space, the entire kitchen becomes a focal point, so it’s important to attend to every detail. “Smaller spaces are less forgiving,” according to Camp. Refrigerators and other appliances should run flush with cabinet faces.

You can read more about these trends in greater detail at Builder.com.

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.

We’re proud to announce that Home Evolutions is being prominently featured in a series of AARP’s Aging-in-Place videos on its Web site.

The 3-part series of short video clips showcases Ross and Anna, a couple in their 70s who are making changes to their home so they can age in place. AARP invited me and Patricia Nunan, CEO of Philadelphia-based Lifestyles Design, to visit the home of this couple to make some simple kitchen, bathroom, and home interior/exterior fixes at low-to-no cost.

Seniors should start thinking about making these changes in a home now before they lose their independence. A properly modified home will allow a senior to live in a safe, comfortable home environment while maintaining their independence and quality of life.

In the Kitchen Makeover Video, we made simple changes to the kitchen for a price tag of under $235, including the installation of:

• Cabinet and drawer pulls
• Organizing bins for medication
• Three under-cabinet lights
• Wind-up timer
• Fire extinguisher
• Silicone pot holders and trivets
• Auto shut-off electric teapot

In the Bathroom Makeover Video, we installed these items in the bathroom to make it safe:

• Two grab bars for the bathtub
• One portable grab bar
• Non-slip textured strips for the bathtub
• Handheld shower head with glide bar
• Anti-scald lever shower control
• Single lever handle faucet

Including the services of a handyman for 4 hours of his time, the total cost for these minor modifications was $609.

We always pay close attention to the bathrooms because there are over 200,000 injuries a year in a bathroom, a majority occurring among the senior population. Even with a limited budget, you can still make many minor changes that can decrease the incidence of accidents and injuries.

Another video showcased safety additions to the interior and exterior of the home, such as the adding of hand rails, lever handle door knobs, and step stool.

Take a look at the videos and let us know what you think. We appreciate your feedback.

Kitchen & Bath Design News recently published this article about storage solutions that make your kitchen more efficient thanks to the ideas of aging in place and Universal Design. Today, designers and customers are embracing the concepts of Universal Design more frequently.

Many of the products used today as part of Universal Design were either custom made or designed for other purposes. One designer says that “many designers are looking for ways to address specific needs now and for the future as their customers age in their homes. There may be opportunities for storage product manufacturers as some specific Universal Design applications reach a critical mass where products can be designed and manufactured to be sold for these purposes.”

According to Donna Matsumoto, VP/product development for Doug Mockett & Co. in Los Angeles, CA, “Convenience is always one of the most important factors when it comes to new kitchen designs. However, it can be tricky trying to incorporate convenience into a design without compromising the overall aesthetic appeal. Fusing style with functionality helps to streamline the modern kitchen environment. By concealing options and stowing away traditional kitchen appliances, modern design tends to create a very clean and simple feel while highlighting its basic features.”

New design changes have added convenience to the overall appeal of the kitchen, such as toe kicks that open a low-lying cabinet with just a tap, adjustable-height solutions, and infrared and new wave technology according to Lynn Schrage, marketing manager for The Kohler Store, in Chicago, IL.

Schrage says that touch-free technology not only makes opening a cabinet or drawer quiet and easy, it also helps avoid contamination throughout the home.

The popularity of drawers has led to innovative designs that maximize the use of the space inside. One designer notes that there “is a trend toward wider and deeper drawers to store untidy items such as boxes, canisters, jars and other things that, until recently, have been kept habitually in upper cabinets or on the countertop.”

Another new trend is a tap-to-open is a newer concept. This technology is based on an electrical drive that, once triggered, opens the drawer.

Socially responsible designs and sustainability are key factors in today’s kitchen design, according to Rebecca Hewing of John Boos & Co. Hewing, national sales manager/Kitchen Countertop Division for the Effingham, IL-based manufacturer. Hewing says “Using natural, renewable materials” and ensuring low-energy costs is important to today’s consumer.

Adds Matsumoto, “The green movement has made consumers more aware of the materials used in manufacturing. There is a heightened concern for eliminating wasteful products and using recycled material. The life expectancy of a part can be taken into consideration to prevent multiple replacements, thus making durability a major factor.”

Read the article and let us know what you think about some of these new Universal Design concepts for the kitchen. Will they make your life easier?

And don’t forget. Through May 31, 2009, as part of our outstanding service to our customers, Home Evolutions is offering a free in-home assessment. We’ll conduct a thorough evaluation of your current lifestyle and home to identify what can make your home safer and more accessible. Please note:  This limited time offer is currently available only to residences within Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in this free, limited time offer, please fill out our contact form today and one of our representatives will be in touch to schedule a convenient time to visit you in your home.