Protection from Fear
There is a great deal of fear and apprehension in the air these days. Many people are overcome with overwhelming fear of coronavirus. Without delving into the validity or lack thereof of the threat itself I would like to take a few moments to address our reaction to it. It is during times of fear and uncertainty that we come face to face with where our trust resides and what we count on to get us through difficult times. Psalm 20:7 says “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” It is during times of adversity that we discover whether or not we do truly trust in the Lord or God. I would encourage you all to put your trust in God during these uncertain times and always. There is a story of a Brigade of soldiers in World War 1. This Brigade fought in some of the bloodiest conflicts in the Great War. Other units sustained up to 90% casualties in these conflicts, but this Brigade never lost a man. What was their secret? Each man in the Brigade recited a Psalm of protection each day. You may wonder which Psalm they recited. It is the 91st Psalm and they were the 91st Brigade. I encourage you to tap into the power that protected the 91st Brigade to protect you throughout the course of your life. If you are not familiar with it, it goes like this: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust.” Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence, He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation. I hope and pray that you and your family will be blessed and encouraged by this column and we will return to Housing Matters next month.
Aging in Place: It’s not just for Old People Anymore!
Yes, I said it. I used the “O” word. In a society enamored with youth, the word old has become one of those words we are not supposed to say in polite society anymore. We have come up with all kinds of synonyms. Some of these are “senior citizens”, “over the hill”, “getting on in years”, and “chronologically superior”. Personally, I think we should celebrate those of our number who reach a ripe old age. The Bible says in Job 12:12, “Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.” In spite of this, there is a definite aversion in our society to the idea of growing old. All sorts of products, processes, and techniques promise to slow down or reverse the signs of aging. People go to great lengths to appear to be younger than they are. The very term, “aging in place” causes many to people to recoil in horror at the very idea that you used the word “aging” when speaking to them. I have a suggestion. Rather than work on convincing people to be more comfortable with their advancing years, I suggest we work on getting all people to embrace the safety and accessibility features we recommend. After all, studies show that only 15% of us will go through life without experiencing a mobility impairment of some kind. We can all lose our balance sometimes. The addition of grab bars in showers, handrails and non slip surfaces on stairs, and bright glare free lighting are all features that make sense for everyone. Designing and building spaces that work well for people of all ages and abilities is called Universal Design. The more that Universal Design catches on and accessibility solutions become “baked in” to everyone’s homes, the less need there will be to modify homes to meet people’s changing needs as they age. An example of a Universal Design feature that is starting to catch on is wider doorways. We are slowly seeing the use of wider doorways in new construction. While it used to be rare to see a 3’-0” wide exterior door anywhere but on the front door, it is quite common nowadays to see all the exterior doors on a house be 3’-0” wide. And where bathroom doors used to almost always be 2’-0” or 2’-4” wide, we are gradually beginning to see 2’-8” or even 3’-0” wide bathroom doors. The minimum net clear opening to be considered accessible is 32” so I would prefer to see all doors at least 3’-0” wide. This trend makes good common sense. The cost difference between a 2’-0” wide door and a 3’-0” door is likely to be less than twenty dollars, while the cost to remove the 2’-0” door later and install a 3’-0” wide door can easily run over a thousand. As an added benefit, Universal Design is upscale. Wider doorways, wider hallways, open floor plans, and large spa like bathrooms are all features we typically find in upscale homes. The improved accessibility is just icing on the cake. We can have our cake and eat it too! In other words, our accessibility and safety features can be features that are warm and inviting to people of all ages and abilities. By changing the way we think about aging in place we can truly make it appealing to everyone. That is why there are those who prefer the term “Living in Place”. I believe that over time we will see these features become mainstream. As always, thank you for reading Housing Matters.
Best Home Improvement Contractors
Looking for trusted best home improvement contractors near you in Salem, VA? We provide expert remodeling, repairs, and renovation services to upgrade your home with quality craftsmanship. February is the shortest month of the year. With its short days, long nights, and cold temperatures, you are likely spending a lot of time indoors. Hopefully, you have a warm fire to curl up in front of. It is a great time to do some thinking and planning for the future of home improvements. Since you are spending so much time indoors, look around your home and see if any improvements need to be made. Is there an area of your home that you have been thinking of upgrading (Maybe for years)? Are there repairs that you have been putting off? Are there rooms in your home that don’t meet your needs anymore? Do you need to make safety or accessibility improvements? Maybe you have been putting these changes off because you think it would be a hassle and a disruption to your life to remodel or renovate your home. Maybe you have been putting them off because you think they will cost too much. Whatever the reason, maybe it is time to give some thought to moving some of these long-overdue projects to the front burner. If you decide that you want to consider a home improvement project, then Senior Remodeling Expert can help. We are happy to meet with you to begin the process of organizing your priorities and deciding what projects you would like to undertake. We can help you to figure out what it will cost and how long it will take. And we can make your dream into a reality, whether it is an updated kitchen or bath, a new outdoor living space for when the weather warms up, or any other home improvement project. And through the whole process, we will keep in mind your present and future accessibility needs so that your home will continue to be safe and accessible for you throughout the course of your life. By incorporating accessibility improvements to your project, you may qualify for the Livable Homes Tax Credit and potentially save up to $5,000 on your state income taxes. Incidentally, if you completed a project on your home in 2019 that included accessibility features, you have until February 28 to apply for the LHTC for 2019. You can take half of the cost of what you spent on accessibility features as a credit against your State Income taxes. Examples of accessibility features of Home Improvements : • Accessible route, such as a ramp • Zero-step entry • Lifts • Elevators • Zero-step entrance • 32” clear width doorways • 36” clear width hallways • Accessible switches, outlets, and controls • Accessible bathrooms • Accessible and usable kitchen facilities • Grab bars • Lever handles on doors and fixtures • Sensory modifications The credit may also apply if you had a new home built in 2019 (or converted one from a non-residential use) that incorporates at least three accessibility features or includes the three features of Universal Visitability it may qualify for the $5,000 credit as well. The three features of Universal Visitability are 1) at least one zero step entry into the house, 2) an accessible bathroom on the same level as the zero step entry, and 3) doorways with at least 32” clear width and hallways and passageways with at least 36” clear width leading from the zero step entry to the bathroom and an eating area. If you would like to make changes that qualify for the LHTC in 2020, give us a call. We can help you make your home a better place to live and keep some of your hard-earned money out of the hands of the tax man next year!
Ten Years Later It was ten years ago, in May of 2009, that the very first edition of Housing Matters appeared here in the pages of Senior News. It is hard to believe that ten years have passed. In that initial column I laid out the fact that most people want to continue to live in their own homes as they age. I also pointed out that most of our homes are not designed and built for people of any age who are experiencing any mobility impairments. These two facts have not changed appreciably in the last ten years. When asked, most people will still tell you they would prefer to remain in their own homes throughout the course of their lives. Unfortunately, most homes are still built with no thought towards accommodating the mobility impairments that can happen to us at any stage of our lives, but are increasingly likely to occur as we grow older. Most of our homes are still what I call “Peter Pan Housing”. What is “Peter Pan Housing” you ask? Simply put, it is housing built for people who never grow old! The standard home, with its steep stairs, small bathrooms, narrow doorways, dim lighting, slippery floors, and cramped kitchen, is simply not suited for the growing number of us who don’t get around as well as we used to. Not to mention those of us who don’t see or hear as well as we used to. Or who have trouble with balance. The list goes on and on. Don’t get me wrong. I do not mean to create the impression that I think nothing has changed in ten years. I do not believe that all of my writing and speaking and persuading people to modify their homes has been in vain. Let me tell you some of the things that I have seen change in the last ten years. First of all, the awareness of Aging in Place is growing by leaps and bounds. Ten years ago, when I mentioned Aging in Place, Universal Design, or home modification, almost no one knew what I was talking about. Today, many people understand these terms and are planning ahead to make changes to their homes before it becomes an urgent need. This is particularly true when people have spent any time in the role of a caregiver for a parent or other loved one. We still have a long way to go in getting people to plan for a better later life, but I am encouraged by the progress that we have made. Many people are still resistant to the idea of thinking and talking about the fact that their needs are changing as they get older. We need to keep working to persuade people that “expect the best, prepare for the worst” is very good advice. Another area that I have seen great change in is the explosion of new products and services in the marketplace. There are products such as Safeway Steps to convert a bathtub into a step in shower and new railing and grab bar options by the dozens. There are technology based solutions to help loved ones stay in touch and respond quickly when there is a need. There are companies that supply needs from transportation to meal and prescription delivery to home care directly to people’s homes popping up everywhere. Meanwhile as baby boomers continue to turn 65 at the rate of 10,000 per day (the oldest baby boomers are now 73) the need for aging in place goods and services continues to grow. What will the next ten years bring? Let’s find out together!
A Brand New Year
As I write this, it is a few days before Christmas. Everyone is scurrying around getting their last minute preparations done. The children are nearly bursting with excitement and anticipation. Festive lights and sounds are everywhere. By the time you read these words, however, the year 2019 will have begun. The resolutions will have all been made. Many of them will have already been broken. I prefer setting goals to making resolutions. What are your goals for 2019? May I suggest that you consider making an aging in place plan one of your goals for this year? Many people think that aging in place means that you stay where you are throughout the course of your life and make the best of it. Sometimes that is not the best choice. Actually, successful aging in place entails aging in the right place. In other words, we choose where we will live and what services we will utilize. We should make these decisions in advance of needing the features and benefits of an accessible home. We should investigate in home services and know what resources are available and trustworthy long before we have need of any of these services. Having a plan in place in advance makes the entire process smoother and less traumatic. Many people turn a blind eye to their declining mobility and their changing needs. They prefer to remain in denial that they don’t get around as well as they used too, are at increasing risk of falling, have declining vision and hearing, or face a myriad of other issues. Sometimes the prospect of facing these concerns head on seems too frightening. It seems easier, somehow, to wear the rose colored glasses. The problem with this approach is that, too often, it culminates in a fall and a significant, life altering injury. Faced with a crisis, the options are limited and the process is stressful. Decisions made in crisis mode are rarely the best decisions. By planning ahead, you can make decisions about you or your loved one’s aging in place plans. The plan should include where you will live, who will take care of you, and how you will pay for it. I have available a number of resources to help you get started on your aging in place plan. I would recommend that you get a copy of the National Aging in Place Council’s planning guide. Entitled “Act III: Your Plan for Aging in Place”, the guide walks you through a questionnaire on the five core areas of aging in place. These areas are housing, health and wellness, personal finance, transportation, and community and social interaction. After determining where you are, it helps you form a plan to fill the gaps. You can obtain a copy by visiting my website at https://solidrockenterprises.com/service/aging-in-place/ and clicking on “download planning guide”. You can also email me at cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com or call me at 540-384-2064 and I would be happy to send you a copy. For those of you who want to know if your current home will meet your changing needs in the future, I offer a Comprehensive Safety and Accessibility Assessment. By assessing your home and making recommendations for needed home modifications, I can provide a road map to a safer and more accessible home. Call or email me for more details. Finally I will be speaking at the 10th Annual Greater Roanoke Home and Garden Show. Held at the Berglund Center on January 11-13, the show features Wayde King and Brett Raymer of Animal Planet’s Tanked. Visit http://showtechnology.com/event/annual-greater-roanoke-home-garden-show/ for more information. Happy New Year!
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
What is it that makes Christmastime the most wonderful time of the year? Certainly for those of us who are Christians, the celebration of the birth of our Savior is the most important part of this joyous season. A little research, however, will reveal that there is very little evidence that Jesus was born on December 25. It is considered likely that this particular date was borrowed from the pagan holiday Saturnalia. During the seventeenth century both in England and parts of the American colonies, Christmas was banned by the church because it was believed to be connected to pagan rituals and not properly reverent. Other faiths and traditions also seem to celebrate at this time of year. Maybe we all need something to celebrate when it is cold outside and many living things seem to have retreated into the earth. At any rate, for most of us, the Christmas season is a time of sights and sounds and tastes and smells that we cherish and look forward to all year. It is a time when we are more likely to pause and consider what is important in life. A time when we take to the time to ponder how important our family and friends are to each of us. Life is short and none of us is guaranteed tomorrow. Make time to enjoy the season and spend time with those you love while you have the opportunity. When you gather at the homes of family and friends to enjoy the special fellowship of the Christmas season, please be mindful of safety and accessibility in the home. Most of us never consider fall prevention or access into and out of the home until we are forced to by a fall or the loss of mobility in ourselves or a loved one. At Christmastime when we often have extended family visiting or we are visiting them is the perfect time to consider increasing the safety and accessibility of our homes. Some of these modifications can be quite simple, like removing throw rugs or trailing extension cords. Other modifications, such as adding a master suite addition for multigenerational living can involve a significant investment of time and money. Most modifications to improve safety and accessibility are somewhere between these two examples. Adding grab bars, railings, or other features to help prevent falls is often a first line of defense when creating a safer and more accessible home for people of all ages and abilities. I believe that we all benefit when we gather together with family and friends of differing ages and abilities. Young people glean the wisdom of their seniors and older folks enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of the young. As you make your plans for this holiday season, make sure you plan for safety and accessibility in your home and the homes of your loved ones. Whatever other plans you have for this festive time of the year, I hope you plan to spend time enjoying the company of those you hold most dear. Take time to consider those things in life that are most important to you. Please consider how great a gift the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ really is. I would like to thank each and every one of you for reading Housing Matters. I hope that I have made a difference in some of your lives and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Thank a Veteran
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month back in 1918, an agreement was reached to suspend hostilities in World War I which was called at the time, “The War to End all Wars”. As we all know, it was not the war to end all wars, as millions of brave American men and women have served to defend our freedom in the decades since then. November 11 was celebrated as Armistice Day until 1954 when the name was changed to Veteran’s Day. It is a day to honor our veterans and thank them for all they have done to preserve and defend the American way of life. In so many ways our freedoms are being eroded from within and many people do not treasure the freedoms which remain. If you are a veteran, I and my family thank you for your service from the bottom of our heart. Please take some time this month and throughout the year to thank a veteran for their service. I am taking this detour from my usual topic because I believe it is critical to our country that we remember where we have come from and thank those who have helped us to defend freedom. In my work I have the privilege of performing home modifications for veterans to help them get around in their homes more easily. I am always struck by the strength and stability of these veterans. Although many of them returned from war with grievous injuries, most of them do not expect or want any attention for themselves. They believe they were just doing their job. Particularly among veterans of World War II, there is a common belief that everyone just did what was necessary to save our country. We could sure use some of that kind of thinking today! There are around 23 million veterans living in the United States and over 9 million of them are over 65. Along with the population at large, these veterans are aging and facing the challenges associated with growing older. Let’s all look for ways to make these veteran’s lives a little easier. Just taking the time to thank them for their service and let them know that some of us really appreciate all they have done really makes their day! If you are a veteran and need help paying for needed home modifications there are a number of grants available to offset the cost of these modifications. They include the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant, and the Granting Freedom grant. While the bulk of these grants are available to veterans who need modifications due to service connected disabilities, there are some programs available for all veterans. Any amounts not covered by these grants may also be eligible for the Livable Homes Tax Credit which I have written about in Housing Matters in the past. To learn more about these programs please feel free to give me a call at (540) 384-2064. Once again I would like to thank all those who have served our country and defended our freedoms. God bless you!
Fifth Annual Aging in Place Symposium
During the third week in October we celebrate National Aging in Place week. This week is set aside each year to draw attention to and provide resources for the millions of Americans who are choosing to remain in the home of their choice throughout the course of their lives. The idea of Aging in Place is not a new one. It has only been in the last one hundred years of human history that the idea of having our seniors move away from the rest of us into their own secluded enclaves seemed like a good idea. Now we are increasingly returning to the idea that we are all better off if our seniors remain in their own homes nestled in our communities. That way we can all benefit from their collective wisdom while they remain in comfortable surroundings. I guess my grandmother was right when she said, “New and improved is worse!” However, when Aging in Place it is up to the client and their support team to provide the services that are required in a home setting. These services include modifying the home, bringing in care as needed to help with daily activities, managing finances, providing alternate means of transportation when driving is no longer an option, and avoiding isolation and loneliness. Helping seniors and their loved ones find trusted resources to provide these services is one of the main goals of the National Aging in Place Council. Our local chapter is the Western and Central Virginia Aging in Place Council. Here in the Roanoke Valley, the Western and Central Virginia Aging in Place Council will be presenting the 5th annual Aging in Place Symposium. The event will be held on October 18th at Fostek Hall in the Jefferson Center from 5:00 to 7:30. If you or a loved one is interested in learning more about aging in place and the services and resources to help make it a reality, then this the event for you. It is also a good fit if you have been hearing about aging in place, aren’t sure what is entailed and want to learn more. In any case you will find out more about how you can find services and resources in housing, health and wellness, personal finance, transportation, and community and social interaction. These five areas represent the building blocks of successful aging in place. Among other resources, participants will receive a planning guide to help them assess their needs and build a plan to access resources in these five core areas. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Nancy Brossoie, Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech. Dr Brossoie brings a wealth of knowledge about aging and care models from around the world. She will educate and entertain you as she opens your eyes to the possibilities and the challenges of living a full and complete life in the comfort of your own home throughout the course of your life. Also featured will be a panel discussion with subject matter experts in home modifications, legal issues, medical care, audiology, financial planning, occupational therapy, transportation challenges, and many other subjects related to aging in place. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear this many experts answer your questions at one time. Bring the questions you have that need answers. The symposium is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. If you would like more information, please feel free to call me at 540-384-2064. If you would like to register you may do so by going to carilionclinic.org/calendar or by calling 800-422-8482.
The Inevitability of Aging in Place
As I write this article I am well into my ninth year of writing Housing Matters. During that time I have espoused the benefits of aging in place. I have encouraged my readers to plan ahead. I have laid out the benefits of remaining in your own home throughout the course of your life. I have sounded the clarion call to promote aging in place. I have done all of this because I firmly believe in the benefits of aging in place. I believe that most people are happier and healthier in their own homes. I believe that our neighborhoods, communities, towns, and cities are better places to live when our seasoned citizens are living among us, sharing the benefits of their life experience with the rest of us. I also have seen time and time again that providing the care people need in a home setting is more cost effective. None of this has changed. What has changed is that as time goes on, I am feeling more and more strongly that aging in place as a predominant care model is inevitable. It is just a matter of time. Why do I say this? In the first place most people prefer to remain in the own homes. After all, that is why they are living there in the first place. Their memories are there and they are comfortable there. Even if their current residence is too large or doesn’t meet their current needs in other ways, most people prefer the independence and autonomy of a private residence to any kind of senior living. I see the need for, and am exploring the potential for building smaller, accessible, one floor living for seniors who prefer a private, accessible, easily maintained home. Regardless of how many amenities a senior living community has, many people will never see it as home. The second factor I see driving the inevitability of aging in place is cost. The cost of care continues to rise. Those paying for it, whether they are individuals, health plans, or government entitlements, continue to feel the squeeze. Ultimately, we the people are paying for all of it in one form or another. Providing care for seniors in their own homes is more cost effective and often more effective because people are happier and healthier in their own homes. The third, and perhaps most compelling reason that aging in place is inevitable is capacity. Baby boomers started turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day nearly eight years ago. We will continue doing for over ten years more. By the time the dust settles, the number of adults over the age of sixty five in this country will have doubled. There simply won’t be enough capacity in senior living facilities to house this influx of seniors. So in conclusion, most people want to stay home, it’s more cost effective to stay home, and it is the only place with enough room for the burgeoning population of seniors. Can you see why I say it is inevitable? Does this mean that I will quit championing the cause of aging in place? Does this mean that I will no longer be trying to convince people of the benefits of aging in place? Not on your life. I will keep right on sounding the call. Did you notice that the reasons I believe so strongly in aging in place are very similar to the reasons that I believe its implementation is inevitable? Besides, someone has to make sure that all of these homes are safe and accessible!
Aging in Place
How it all started I have been involved in construction for over thirty years and on June 1, 2001, I embarked on this journey known as self employment. I had decided that it was time for me to chart my own course. I started Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc. with the goal of providing quality building, remodeling, and consulting services to the Roanoke Valley and beyond. In the ensuing fifteen years, much has changed. When I first opened my business, I knew nothing about accessibility, aging in place, universal design, or peter pan housing. I was simply building and remodeling homes in the way that they had always been built. Like everyone else, I was building spaces for the 15% of people who will go through their lives without ever experiencing permanent or temporary mobility impairment. Wake up call My wake up call came, as it does with many of my clients, when a family member needed help getting in and out of their home. My mother had experienced a stroke and the balance and coordination issues that came with it. Having fallen several times, she was apprehensive about walking and fearful of falling again. She used a walker and sometimes a wheelchair to get around. We installed a wheelchair ramp, some grab bars, and swing clear hinges in her home to help her get around more safely and comfortably. She was very interested in aging in place although neither one of us knew the term at the time. From that point forward, I began to educate myself on the value and impact of creating homes that are safe, accessible and beautiful for people of all ages and abilities. Over the last nine and a half years I have been writing about these ideas here in Housing Matters. I have had the privilege to help many people, including dozens of disabled Veterans, stay in the homes of their choice due to the home modifications we were able to provide. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to help people stay safely and comfortably in their own homes. What’s coming next Looking forward to the next fifteen years and beyond; I know that Americans will continue turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 per day. This adds up to more than fifty million of us reaching that milestone over that timeframe. With more of us living longer and healthcare costs spiraling out of control, the current housing model for older Americans will grow increasingly obsolete. At some point during this time we will reach a tipping point when it will become painfully obvious that something needs to be done. I for one will continue to work on supplying real world, common sense solutions now to create homes that will meet the need for safe aging in place and the desire for a beautiful home to live in and enjoy. Planning Ahead If you or a loved one is planning to spend the rest of your life in your current home or you are trying to decide whether your current home is the best place to spend the rest of your life, we have the tools and resources to help you make an informed decision. Please don’t be like many people who stick their heads in the sand and refuse to consider their options until a choice is forced upon them. If you would like some help in the planning process you can download our Planning Guide. Or simply call us at 540-384-2064 and we would be happy to mail you a copy. Whatever else you do, please start the conversation. Be proactive and take steps to maintain your independence before it becomes critical. As always, thank you for reading Housing Matters and here’s to a full and independent life for each of you!