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We are pleased to announce the release of the summer edition of The Forever Home, our quarterly e-newsletter that provides insightful information, valuable advice, and helpful tips about aging-in-place.

Although the summer is slowly winding down, it is never too late or a bad time to think about home re-modification and aging-in-place. Before the fall brings fading and changing colors to the landscape, we would like to present a few articles that focus on green (environmental sustainability). As environmental consciousness seeps more and more into the minds of builders and remodelers, it is only natural that green practices become part of the conversations related to the aging-in-place movement. Of course, there are also more traditional articles about what’s new and exciting in universal design and home modification options.

In this newest issue, you can first read about how universal design can be made accessible for everyone with the help of a knowledgeable contractor. The article references the North Carolina State University Center for Universal Design’s emphasis on designing products and environments that are useable by all people—especially taking into consideration their varying physical differences and capabilities. Learn what universal design modifications Arthur and Mariam Eisenberg of Jericho, NY did to their home after Arthur had spinal surgery. The article also lists some helpful and quick, aging-in-place fixes that homeowners can do themselves.

The first sustainability-related article highlights Home Evolutions’ recent certification as a green professional. Read how earlier this spring, Home Evolutions’ president, Harry Burns, received his Certified Green Professional Designation from the National Association of Home Builders. This designation recognizes builders, remodelers, and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction. This interesting article is a wonderful testament to how Home Evolutions is always committed to staying current with industry innovations.

In addition, our other green-related story discusses current trends in how accessibility options can also be environmentally friendly. Relating an article from the International Code Council, it notes how accessibility might complement the concepts of green and sustainable building. With a focus on increasing the efficiency of our resources while reducing the impacts on human health and the environment, some energy provisions fit very well with accessibility concerns. The article also discusses the concepts and ordinances of ‘visitability’ requirements for homes.

Our final piece may make you completely rethink the concepts of remodeling and aging-in-place! Discussing a recent article from the University of Southern California News, such reconsiderations seem to have been inspired by the Obama Administration’s plan to retrofit dwellings throughout the country for energy conservation. The article describes how millions of seniors and people with disabilities can benefit from the adaptation of safer building codes, the further development of age-friendly communities, and the significant changes that need to be made to existing coding systems and construction processes. It then picks up on the hot topics of ‘visitability’ and universal design, while discussing how current health care reform legislation can positively affect aging-in-place.

We hope that you enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you! As always, please feel free to forward our newsletter to your friends and families. We also invite you to email us at hburns@homeevolutions.com with your comments, suggestions, and any story ideas that would help The Forever Home address your interests and better meet your specific needs.

In this New York Times article from yesterday, the author discusses how Suffolk County’s amended housing code mandates that affordable housing built with county funds must incorporate accessible design.

Patricia and Carmelo Viola new two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath town house at Locust Cove at Oakdale was designed with an elevator—perfect for Patricia who has osteoarthritis in her knees. Originally, Patricia and Carmelo thought they’d have to find a one-floor home, which in New York, is difficult to find. But the developer created the home with aging-in-place features, such as the elevator.

Other user-friendly features included a step-free entryway; doorways and hallways wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair; a built-in marble seat and grab bars in the shower; and doors that opened with levers, not knobs, and a patio, which is accessible without steps through a sliding glass door.

In the article, Patricia is quoted as saying, “There is nothing here that would inhibit me from getting from place to place. Hopefully, we will have a long life here together.”

Aging-in-place and universal design are now a priority in new construction. In June, the town of Islip passed legislation expediting permit applications for homes with three or more universal design features. Huntington and Riverhead passed accessibility-friendly legislation last year as well, according to the article.

Among the features that a project would need for these towns’ approval are 36-inch doorways and passageways, no-step entrances and blocking between wall studs around the toilet and shower areas for grab bars.

What is your town doing? Do you have any mandates similar to the ones these towns are doing?

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.

You’re not going to pick up the phone and call just any Joe the Plumber to come fix a leaky faucet, right? Most likely, you want to make sure that person has the credentials and experience to do the job right.

The same goes for your home remodeling needs. As you get older, you’ll want prefer to age in place. So you want someone who is experienced in Universal Design concepts and understands how to make the modifications to allow you to live in your home safely, independently, and comfortably.

The NAHB Remodelers of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) along with the NAHB Research Center, NAHB 50+ Housing Council, and AARP developed the Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) program to address the increasing number of consumers who will soon require these modifications.

According to the NAHB Web site, these are some of the questions to ask as you consider remodeling or modifying your home.

How should you modify your home to make it more comfortable? To age-in-place you will probably need to modify your house as you mature to increase access and maneuverability. These modifications range from the installation of bath and shower grab bars and adjustment of countertop heights to the creation of multifunctional first floor master suites and the installation of private elevators.

Who can you rely on to modify your home?

CAPS professionals, like Home Evolutions, have the answers to your questions. We’ve been taught the strategies and techniques for designing and building aesthetically enriching, barrier-free living environments.

What is the CAPS designation?

A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) has been trained in:
• The unique needs of the older adult population
• Aging-in-place home modifications
• Common remodeling projects
• Solutions to common barriers

What information should you think about?

• Do I want to add a bathroom and possibly a bedroom to the main level?
• How can I make my kitchen more functional?
• Am I worried about preventing falls?
• How much money can I budget for this project?
• Will I need to get a home equity loan?
• Will other members of my family benefit from modifications?
• Will remodeling increase the energy efficiency of my home?
• Where do I find a professional I can consult with about my needs?

Contact Home Evolutions today and receive your free 63 point quality of life and home safety checklist.

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.

Many of Home Evolution’s blogs have discussed how Baby Boomers can be instrumental in planning and assisting their parents and other loved ones to age-in-place.

But studies have shown that members of this particular group may also need to consider their own health statistics and personal care requirements as they age. In fact, an article in the Washington Post extensively discussed studies that show a trend in which Baby Boomers appear to not be as healthy as their parents.

A growing body of evidence suggests that Baby Boomers may be the first generation to enter their golden years in worse health than their parents. While nothing is definite, the data sketches a startlingly different picture than the popular image of this health-obsessed group.

It does seem true that Baby Boomers are healthier in some important ways, like being much less likely to smoke. But larger, sweeping surveys are consistently finding that Baby Boomers describe themselves as being less healthy than their parents were at the same age. For example, they are more likely to report difficulty in climbing stairs, getting up from chairs, and doing other routine activities.

In addition, Baby Boomers are more prone to chronic problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Mark D. Hayward, a Sociologist at the University of Texas, elaborates, “We’re seeing some very powerful evidence all pointing to parallel findings. The trend seems to be that people are not as healthy as they approach retirement as they were in older generations.”

Although such data is just beginning to emerge, researchers say the findings track with several unhealthy trends, notably the obesity epidemic. In fact, two-thirds of Americans are overweight, which cause joints to wear out quicker, boosts cholesterol and blood pressure, and raises the risk of a host of debilitating health problems.
Surprisingly, despite all of those gym memberships, Baby Boomers tend to be less physically active than their parents and grandparents because their daily routines are often dominated by desk jobs and long drives to and from work.

The assumption has always been that the more educated people are, the healthier their lifestyles and the better access they have to healthcare. But this belief may be skewed because not all Baby Boomers are well educated or health conscious. David R. Weir, an Economist at the University of Michigan, noted, “Not everyone went to college, and not everyone is engaging in these healthful activities.”

Also, Baby Boomers tend to report more stress than earlier generations—from their jobs, from their commutes, and from taking care of their parents and their kids. Lisa Berkman of the Harvard School of Public Health, offered some explanations. “People are working two jobs and not sleeping as much. They’re experiencing more job insecurity and they have less time to take care of themselves. This all could add up to a huge crisis and really calls for us to examine the things that perhaps we’re not doing so well.”

One of the most alarming red flags was raised by the federally funded Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which is tracking more than 20,000 U.S. adults as they move through middle age toward retirement. After examining the first wave of Baby Boomers to enter the study (5,030 adults born between 1948 and 1953), researchers were shocked to discover that they appeared to report poorer health than groups born between 1936 and 1947.

The HRS showed that Baby Boomers were much less likely than their predecessors to describe their health as “excellent” or “very good,” and were more likely to report having difficulty with routine activities, such as walking several blocks or lifting 10 pounds. They were also more likely to report pain, drinking and psychiatric problems, and chronic problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

These findings are consistent with a number of other studies, including one that found that American adults have poorer health than their British counterparts. Robert Hummer, a Sociologist at the University of Texas, added, “Overall it looks like there’s been some recent declines in overall health among younger adults compared to the cohorts of previous decades.” In addition, one of Hummer’s colleagues produced similar findings in a survey of 2,500 adults between 1995 and 2001.

Some experts believe that if the findings are confirmed and continue to worsen, we may be on the verge of a social change where we’ll have an increasing proportion of seniors needing assistance, and even possibly a decline in life expectancy.

In response to this possible trend, companies like Home Evolutions can assist with helping Baby Boomers and others prepare themselves for their future aging-in-place needs. Contact us today for an assessment of your 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.