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We’re very happy to announce the release of the summer edition of The Forever Home, our quarterly e-newsletter which provides insightful information, valuable advice and helpful tips to assist you in Aging-in-Place comfortably and independently.

In this latest issue, you can read about the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and how Enable America (EA) is empowering people with disabilities to achieve independence through employment. Through its research and outreach across the country, EA has discovered that millions of Americans with disabilities who have employable skills, want to work, but often face additional barriers to finding jobs.

Another article discusses The Stanford Center on Longevity’s newly published review of aging and demographic statistics in the United States. Entitled New Realities for an Older America: Challenges, Changes and Questions-this document captures the nation’s major aging trends in a single report, summarizes what is already known about aging realities, and also poses twelve important aging-related questions about how America is going to deal with them.

Did you know that every seven seconds, another Baby Boomer turns 64 years old and that the nearly 77 million Baby Boomers represent the largest age group in America today? Our next story describes how as Baby Boomers continue to age-they also continue to shape and transform new technological innovations and look for convenience, connections, and caring as they Age-in-Place. The article discusses a recent CNBC report that noted “while the parents of the Boomers were content to simply live longer, the new generation gap is about expectations: to live longer and to live better.”

Also in this issue, we offer some tips and advice for healthy Aging-in-Place.

We hope that you enjoy this issue. Please feel free to forward our newsletter to your friends and families.  Home Evolutions invites you to email us at hburns@homeevolutions.com with your comments, suggestions, and any story ideas that would help The Forever Home better meet your specific needs.

The Aging-in-Place market for technology to assist seniors, families and professional caregivers for aging adults is attracting a steady stream of new vendors to a market that will exceed $20 billion by 2020, according to the newly updated 2010 report by Aging in Place Technology Watch. The emergence of caregiving as a concern to baby boomers invites new entrants into the market, according to Laurie M. Orlov, founder of the market research firm.

“With an aging demographic, growing elder caregiving responsibilities and emerging technology awareness of service providers means that more people seek and find solutions that help older family members,” said Orlov. “This is a catalyst for both new entrepreneurs like AFrameDigital and BeClose as well as new business opportunities for existing companies like Philips.”

The industry projections are part of the updated market overview report, 2010 Technology Market Overview from Aging in Place Technology Watch. The document updates about technologies to enable aging in place, including categories for communication and engagement, safety and security, health and wellness, and learning and contribution. The report explains how these tighten the connections between families, caregivers, service providers such as home care agencies and care recipients.

“Mary Furlong, founder of SeniorNet and author of “Turning Silver into Gold” commented: “A research veteran like Laurie choosing this space is an indication of the talent being brought to bear in this industry - analysts size the market, showcase the business opportunities, and shape the market space. The venture and business community are catching up with the need.”

Added Ken Dychtwald, Founder of AgeWave and author of “The Power Years,”: “Long-time Forrester and tech industry veteran Laurie M. Orlov is one of the most formidable - and knowledgeable - industry analysts describing the technology trends in the aging in place market. Her well-informed insights and innovative ideas are consistently spot-on.”

Headquartered in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Aging in Place Technology Watch provides thought leadership, analysis and guidance about technologies and related services that enable boomers and seniors to remain longer in their home of choice. In addition to her technology background and years as a technology industry analyst, founder Laurie M. Orlov is a certified geriatric care manager is a member of the Philips Think Tank on Health & Well-Being.

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.

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.

Here at the Home Evolutions’ Blog, we often showcase how technology can greatly assist seniors and people with disabilities make aging-in-place a realistic and attainable goal. As newer and newer technologies seem to be born constantly and quickly for our gadget-hungry culture, there appears to be a never-ending offering of electronic tools that can help people remain living comfortably and safely at home.

A recent article by Suzanne Robitaille discusses a groundbreaking partnership between Microsoft and New York City aimed at helping seniors live more independently.

According to Robitaille, New York and other cities are working with Microsoft to bring computers, Web cams, and other high-tech gear to homebound seniors. She explains, “Not even the vibrancy of the city that never sleeps could get lifelong New Yorker Milton Greidinger to leave his home. Chronic illness kept Greidinger, 86, from participating in outside activities, and as a result, loneliness set in.”

Now Greidinger, a former department store salesman, has revived some social interests with the help of a private-public partnership between Microsoft and the City of New York that introduces seniors to computer, video, and Internet technology in their homes. Greidinger happily explains, “All of a sudden, I’m wide awake and alive again. I talk to people now and I’m getting more and more involved.”

The program, known as the Virtual Senior Center (VSC), uses technology to fight social isolation and give older, homebound New Yorkers better access to community services. Working with the Benjamin Rosenthal Senior Center in Flushing, Queens, Microsoft equipped a group of seniors, aged 67 to 103, with a range of technology gadgets and assistive technology to help them function.

Robitaille believes that for New York, as with cities facing budget shortfalls across the country, a private-public partnership may be a cost-effective way to deliver higher-quality services to a rapidly aging population. “We want to make New York City the most age-friendly city in the nation,” said Marah Rhoades, Assistant Commissioner of New York’s Department for the Aging.

Microsoft’s Model for Urban Seniors

New York City is home to 1.3 million seniors and the city’s 60-and-over population is set to jump 50% in the next 25 years. In fact, the expected rise in the number of people 65 and older will outpace the total population increase in every state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Robitaille explains that Microsoft can use such city partnerships to bring its software and services to a wider range of customers. “Even in a large city like New York, people can feel alone,” said Bonnie Kearney, Director of Marketing for Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft. “This is a model that cities can use to help homebound seniors stay connected and keep contributing to their communities,” she added.

At no cost to themselves, participants received new in-home desktop computers running the Windows 7 operating system, touch-screen monitors, and broadband Internet service worth about $20,000. In addition, a small video camera and microphone lets seniors use Skype and video-chat applications to keep in touch with family and friends. Others even use the computer to attend religious services virtually or watch videos via YouTube.

And at the Flushing senior center, Microsoft also placed two-way video cameras and monitors that let homebound seniors remotely take part in activities such as tai chi and painting, while interacting with instructors and classmates at the center. For seniors with vision, hearing, and physical disabilities, Microsoft adapted the virtual centers with assistive technologies and devices.

Such technology, along with home renovations like those offered by a CAPS designated remodeler like Home Evolutions, can help you to meet 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.

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

Spring is here and as the flowers bloom and the days grow brighter and warmer while buzzing with renewed life, it is a great time to think about renewing your home with modifications and renewing yourself with the possibilities of aging-in-place comfortably, safely, and independently.

With all of this on our minds, we here at Home Evolutions are excited to summarize what interesting articles you will find in this newest edition of The Forever Home—including information about financing, universal design, and of course, about what’s new and exciting in aging-in-place and home modification options.

In this newest issue, you can first read about various programs that may help fund aging-in-place home modifications. A recent article by Lisa Ann Fagan and Cheri Cabrera for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) offers some advice and financial ideas while discussing the following funding possibilities:  insurance coverage of home modifications; federal programs administered at the state or local level; state assistive technology projects; health promotion / fall and injury prevention grants; foundations and organizations; and tax deductions.

The second article discusses a new AARP study revealing that nine out of ten people prefer to age-in-place. These latest research findings come from a recent study conducted by AARP members in New York. AARP commissioned these surveys to examine the opinions of members regarding issues of neighborhood safety, community services, affordable housing, home modification, and transportation. The findings note that seniors who are 55 and older are less likely to move and buy/build new homes and more likely to age-in-place because most of them feel satisfied with their homes and the communities in which they live.

The next article covers another survey conducted by MetLife showing that aging-in-place is an affordable future option for baby boomers. This piece discusses author, Tom Kelly’s description of how rising long-term care costs are fueling the demand for aging-in-place home modifications. The article also describes the MetLife study’s findings that the cost of living in general is still increasing in its traditional manner despite the economic recession. For retirees and seniors who are realizing the reality and limitations of a fixed income, aging-in-place may not only be the best personal choice in one’s golden years, but it may be the most economically sound option as well. The economic and aesthetic benefits of universal design options are also considered.

Our final piece showcases the newest high-tech devices and products that allow caregivers to check on aging family members. The article describes products that were introduced to the commercial market during a recent National Council on Aging and the American Society on Aging conference. One highlight is a new wireless, home monitoring system called “BeClose” that was announced. According to the piece, this new technology will effectively connect caregivers with those who receive care. The BeClose system utilizes unobtrusive, wireless sensors that are placed throughout the home, which then transmit information to a website where caregivers can log in to monitor the daily activities of their loved ones.

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.

A recent article by Tom Kelly describes how rising long-term care costs are fueling the demand for aging-in-place home modifications. According to Kelly, even though builders are doing an admirable job of incorporating universal design features in new homes, baby boomers still continue to be slow in accepting the need for them.

Such slow acceptance is also similar to people’s responses to environmentally friendly homes. For example, only 12% of respondents to a MetLife survey said they would pay more for a green home. But, the same people surveyed are willing to pay an average one-time amount of nearly $7,000 if it would save $1,000 annually in utility costs. While another 23% of respondents said they are concerned about the environment, it does not drive their decision to invest in sustainability.

Kelly believes that the key to modifying people’s ideas and behaviors is through education and the dissemination of proper and appropriate information, in this case by the aging-in-place experts. “The educational push by builders, architects, and designers is to remove the ‘old’ association from universal design (UD).”

UD and aging-in-place construction can also increase an individual’s feelings of independence while simultaneously adding aesthetic beauty and enhancing their home’s resale value. Kelly explains, “Builders are striving to create UD applications that make it easier for someone to carry out daily activities such as preparing meals, climbing stairs, and bathing, as well as changing the physical structure of a home to improve its overall safety and condition.”

According to Kelly, the necessary tools required for homeowners to stay in their homes longer and age-in-place were brought to the forefront of the building community through information attained from a cost survey conducted by MetLife on nursing homes, assisted-living communities, home care agencies, and adult day services in all 50 states.

The survey data consistently showed that the national average rates for private and semi-private rooms in nursing homes, assisted-living base rates, average hourly rates for home health aides and homemaker/companions, as well as adult day services average daily rates have all increased and continue to rise.

CAPS certified remodelers like Home Evolutions can help you choose more affordable aging-in-place and universal design options that can allow you to remain living comfortably, safely, and independently in your own house.

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.

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.

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.

A recent article in the Pasadena Independent describes some of this year’s design trends to look out for in 2010. Prominent on its list was universal design.

According to the piece, since the real estate market remains uncertain, more Baby Boomers are making the decision to stay in their homes and spend their golden years right where they are.

They will continue to be more focused on the concept of aging in place, the author notes. “This means modifying the home so that they can spend their golden years comfortably, no matter what kind of physical restrictions they might have in the future,” she writers. “New designs, from touch faucets to better designed bathtub handlebars, are making aging in lace solutions better looking and easier to install.”

The Canadian Press also made mention in a recent piece, that aging-in-place is a trend to watch in 2010. With one in four Americans, turning age 55 or older, many designers and manufacturers are employing universal design principles, developed by engineers, architects and designers at North Carolina State University to make spaces and products user-friendly for everyone.

“For homeowners who don’t want to give up style for safety, think touchless faucets; trim kitchen drawers instead of cupboards; pullouts; task lighting and sensor cooktops. In bathrooms, look for non-slip floors, shower seats and grab bars with a sleek and stylish, not clinical, look,” the author writes.

2010 is gearing up to be another groundbreaking year for the aging-in-place movement as more and more seniors and people with disabilities choose to continue living safely, comfortably, and independently at home. CAPS designated companies like Home Evolutions can help you and your loved ones implement some of these upcoming trends and incorporate them into your aging-in-place home remodeling projects.

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.