Innovative Building and Remodeling Solutions
for Independent Living

The Tribune-Review did a nice story about our company in today’s edition. The article focuses on Jen and Bob Mankowski, whose home we modified last year.

The article came about when the Tribune-Review learned that my mom, Carolyn Vidt, was posthumously honored for her work with the disability movement in the state at the Power Through Knowledge Independent Living Conference at the Hilton in Harrisburg earlier this month. I accepted the award in honor of my mother.
This conference is produced by the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC) and is the largest cross-disability conference in the state.

The PA SILC annually issues its Power Through Knowledge Awards to people who have made a difference in the lives of others and who have furthered the Independent Living movement and the empowerment of people with disabilities.

My mom, former chair of the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council and governor-appointed member of the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council, as well as dedicated disability advocate, passed away in her home in Pittsburgh earlier this year. I was inspired to start his business because of her.

After helping her modify her home in order to meet her own mobility needs, I realized the need for highly qualified home modification specialists and proceeded to become an expert in the field and attain the necessary certifications. I also spent over two years living with and caring for my grandfather, learning first-hand what it is like to grow old.

This experience taught me about the emotional and psychological effects associated with people being unable to do the things they once could. During this time, I came to fully understand the frustrations that my grandfather and others felt from their loss of freedom.

As a result, I developed Home Evolutions through many years of providing personal care to my grandfather and helping my mother through her personal struggles with her disabilities. Through my personal experiences and training, I understand the changing needs of those who are aging or who live with disabilities.

Home Evolutions has always incorporated Universal Design concepts into every home that we modify because it makes a home safer and more comfortable for anyone, regardless of age, size, or ability. It helps to prevent accidents, increase comfort and safety, and enhance you and your loved ones’ independence. In addition to making your home more adaptable to your needs, these modifications are seamlessly integrated into the design of your home.

Retrofitting a home, or even purchasing a new one, for accessibility can be costly. But a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist can sensibly help incorporate Universal Design features into your home without breaking the budget or compromising the current beauty of your home.

Below are just some of the essential Universal Design features for the exterior of your home:

Zero Step Entry. Whether you are a senior who has arthritic knees, a child with a physical disability, or even a young mother pushing her baby in a stroller, creating at least one zero step entry makes it easier and safer to go in and out of the house. At least one no-step entry to the house either through the front, back, or garage door is recommended.

Wider Doorways. Entryway doors should be at least 32 inches wide and interior doors at least 30 inches wide to allow for ample room for anyone to pass through.

Lever-Style Door Handles. These handles will make it easier for anyone to open and shut your front or back door because it doesn’t require any grasping or twisting to operate.

Covered Entryway. Not only will a covering help protect the porch from precipitation, but yourself as well from rain and snow, preventing potential slips and falls.

Safe Stairs. If you have steps leading up to one of your entryways, and you do not want a zero step entry, at least make sure your handrails are sturdy and in good shape to make it easier for you to climb up and down.

Level Sidewalk/Driveways. Do you have uneven sidewalks or driveway which can be hazardous to walk on? Leveling them can also prevent future accidents.

There are many other features associated with Universal Design. Whatever it is that you need, a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist can help design it for you.

Take the next step toward your independent future. Now through May 31, 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.

In recognition of the growing number of seniors and people with disabilities who decide to age-in-place, many health care organizations are taking proactive initiatives to address this trend and provide information, benefits, and options to those who choose to remain living at home as they age. The United Hospital Fund (UHF) of New York is one such institution that has specifically focused on helping this population.

In 1999, the UHF established its Aging in Place Initiative (AIPI) to foster the development of new models of care that support the health and well-being of older people living in communities. The models combine health care and community resources in order to address the needs of residents living in what the UHF calls, “naturally occurring retirement communities,” or NORCs. These communities could be housing developments, neighborhoods, or geographic areas originally established for multi-age populations, but which over time, have become home to large concentrations of seniors.

NORCs can evolve as a result of residents’ aging-in-place, in-migration of older residents into an age-integrated community, or out-migration of a significant proportion of younger residents. A NORC may be an age-integrated apartment building, a housing development with multiple buildings, a number of developments in close proximity to one another, or an age-integrated neighborhood with significant concentrations of older residents. While currently existing in many U.S. communities, NORCs are expected to become even more common as the country’s overall population ages.

The AIPI conducts community, program, and policy analyses; fosters partnerships of health care, social service, and housing organizations; and facilitates the development of innovative models for the expansion and improvement of NORC supportive service programs (NORC-SSPs)—these are programmatic responses to the challenges and opportunities present in multi-age communities with large concentrations of seniors.

NORC-SSPs are partnerships among governments, community residents, health and social service providers, and philanthropists that help transform communities which were not specifically built for seniors, into “good places to grow old.” This is accomplished through the organization and development of on-site services and programs that promote successful aging and are responsive to individuals’ changing needs over time.

In general, NORC-SSPs integrate social workers, nurses, and resident volunteers to work together and provide a multi-faceted approach to addressing the health and welfare needs of seniors. These collaborations result in educational and recreational activities, ancillary services (including transportation, housekeeping, and social, adult day-programs), as well as volunteer opportunities that maximize seniors’ involvement in the program and within the community.

The UHF’s Aging in Place Initiative is comprised of three programs:

• NORC Action Blueprint Project. This project supports NORC program planners, managers, funders, and policymakers by defining guiding principles and identifying elements of successful programs, as well as providing program development, management, and sustainability tools.

• NORC-Health Care Linkage Project. Through collaboration with New York Community Trust, this project is testing systematic ways to develop and strengthen effective linkages between community-based NORC-SSPs and health care providers serving their communities.

• NORC Strategic, Program, and Technical Assistance. Through a variety of outreach, promotion, and technical assistance activities, this program strengthens and expands the capacity of New York NORC-SSPs and other programs to serve as model laboratories to advance aging-in-place strategies.

Take the next step toward your independent future. Now 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.

Can your neighborhood, building, or community be categorized as a NORC?

When making the decision to age-in-place, many seniors and people with disabilities focus on remodeling and renovating their bathrooms so that they can have safe and accessibly functional facilities in this very important personal space of the home.

With years of statistics reporting long incident lists of bathroom accidents, it is no surprise that so many people emphasize upgrading these areas in order to remain living comfortably, safely, and independently.

The International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence (ICADI) has identified that numerous examples of bathroom designs fail to provide the appropriate amount of safety protection. In fact, the ICADI notes that many studies suggest that in general, bathrooms pose the most threats to personal safety in the home.

The following fatality statistics are related to bathroom accidents:

• Over 100 people die of bathtub-related burn injuries every year.
• One person dies every day from using a bathtub or shower in the United States.
• Bathroom deaths exceed those due to handgun accidents, ladder and scaffolding falls, and ignition of clothing.

In addition, thousands of injuries occur in bathrooms each year (estimated numbers):

• 140,000 due to bathtubs and showers;
• 43,000 because of towel bars
• 35,000 from toilets;
• 21,000 due to sinks
• 6,000 because of faucets;
• 2,000 from laundry hampers.

Slips and falls are the most frequent types of bathtub accidents. This can be even more of a danger and problem for seniors who have decreased vision, balance, or flexibility. In fact, one out of three Americans over 65 will suffer a fall. These accidents generally occur while entering and leaving the tub, or while changing between sitting and standing positions.

A recent article on the Age-in-Place website, described that renovations to a bathroom can not only greatly increase home safety for seniors who choose to age-in-place, but the remodels themselves can also be stylish and aesthetically pleasing.

Here are a few bathroom modifications that can greatly increase home safety and decrease the incidents of accidents and injuries:

• Replace standard toilets with a comfort-height version. Comfort-height toilets are several inches higher and are easier to use.

• Install grab bars in the shower, tub, and toilet areas. Double rows in tubs and showers are ideal because they assist both standing and seated bathers. Grab bars and hand grips are now available in many of the same fashion finishes as faucets and other bath accessories.

• Replace knob-style faucets with lever-handled faucets. These are much easier to grip by someone with arthritis, Parkinson’s, or diminished strength.

• Replace wall-mounted shower heads with ones on slide bars.

• Replace pre-code shower valves with non-scald versions. Scalding is one of the most serious bath injuries and can be avoided by using pressure and temperature-balanced shower valves.

• Add benches to shower stalls. This is helpful for users who need to sit while showering and works best with slide bar shower heads.

• Increase bathroom lighting and color contrasts. This can offset decreased vision.

• Remove sharp edges on countertops.

• Check that vent fans are working properly to help avoid mold. Vent fans should ideally vent outside the home. Modern vent fans that turn on and off automatically when they sense moisture in the room are ideal.

• Replace smooth, slick flooring with textured tiles. Textured tiles provide more traction. Floor treatments to existing smooth surfaces can also improve traction.

• Remove steps in front of tubs. Commonly found in master baths, these are high-risk slip hazards.

A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) like Home Evolutions can help you design and remodel your bathroom to be even safer—as well as more accessible and beautiful than ever before.

Take the next step toward your independent future. Now 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.

What are some of the things you would change and modify in your own bathroom that would make it a safer and more livable space for you as you age-in-place?