Planning for a Better Later Life
January marks the beginning of a new year. It is a time when people often resolve to make changes in their lives. Traditionally these resolutions are not very long lived, falling by the wayside weeks, days, or even hours after they are embarked upon. I think that this is because they are most often things that we would like to do, not things that we have actually resolved to do. I suggest that rather than making New Years resolutions to do certain things in our lives, we make plans to do them instead. Planning is a powerful tool to accomplish great things in our lives. It has been said that if we fail to plan, we are actually planning to fail. I am going to talk in particular about planning a better later life. Many people are hesitant to think about getting older and the challenges it brings, preferring instead to stick their heads in the sand. When the first attempt to make adaptations for later life occurs after a fall or other crisis, there is no time for planning, only reaction. The vast majority of Americans, when questioned, state that they would prefer to live out their days in their own homes. This idea, also known as Aging in Place, is an idea whose time has come. A number of us here in the Roanoke Valley and beyond belong to the Western and Central Virginia Chapter of the National Aging in Place Council. As part of its ongoing effort to help people successfully age in place, the council has developed a planning guide to help people work through the steps to planning a better later life. The guide covers the five core areas that are essential to successful aging in place which are: Housing Health and Wellness Personal Finance Transportation Community and Social Interaction The planning guide contains a questionnaire in each of these categories to guide you in objectively determining what your needs, resources, and challenges are in each of these areas. I encourage you to take the time to go through these sections thoroughly, do it early, and have a family member or trusted advisor who knows you well go through it with you to get a more objective result. At the end of each section, there is room to write down your needs in that core area. At the end of the guide, there is a page to summarize your needs and make a list of your priorities in creating a living environment that will help make your later years safe, comfortable and enjoyable. Finally, there is a place to list the things you can do yourself and the things you need help with. At the Aging in Place Council we have professionals who can help you get the help you need in each of these core areas, whether you need home modifications, home care, legal advice, financial assistance, medical help, transportation, or a myriad of other services. The planning guide is available for download at my website which can be found at seniorremodelingexperts.com or if you would like a copy mailed to you, call me at 540-384-2064. If I have impressed upon you the value of planning for a better later life, and you have questions, please give me a call. I will be speaking at various events throughout the coming year. Two that are coming up this month are The Greater Roanoke Home and Garden Show at the Berglund Center on January 13-15 and the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce Networking Breakfast on January 27 (contact the Chamber at 540-387-0267 for more information).
The time has come
My name is Chris Moore. I am the Director of Education for the Western and Central Virginia Aging in Place Council. I have been involved in construction in one form or another for thirty years and have owned my contracting business for fifteen. I have been actively involved in promoting Aging in Place issues for about eight years. I am passionate about people having the right, the availability, and the resources to remain in the home of their choice throughout the course of their lives. I don’t think that it is too strong of an opinion to state that the idea of the ability to stay in our own homes is as foundational to our way of life as these words from the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” If any of you have spent much time listening to someone who feels that circumstances are forcing them out of the home that they love into some sort of living arrangement that they detest, then you have seen someone struggling with the core issues of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Studies show that more seniors fear being admitted to a nursing home than fear death. The ability to live independently on one’s own terms is really at the very heart of who we are as people. What these people desire is what we call Aging in Place. Aging in place is commonly defined as the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. Aging in Place is simply the idea that we can continue living in the home we are comfortable in throughout the course of our lives rather than be forced to move somewhere else because of the consequences of aging or disability. I don’t particularly like the term Aging in Place because it seems to suggest that there is a certain point in our lives when we start aging and at that point, when most people move, we decide to stay put instead. However, we will continue to use it until someone comes up with a better term. There are some who advocate using the term living in place to indicate the idea that it is a lifelong process. Whatever we call it, our challenge as advocates is to make the “place” as conducive as possible to the process of continuing to live there throughout the course of our lives. My interest in Aging in Place began in earnest when my mother’s health began to decline. My parents had been living in Arizona for quite a few years. When she began to have health issues, they moved back to the area to be closer to family. Like most family caregivers, we found ourselves in a caregiving role quite suddenly. Being a contractor, I knew how to build a ramp for getting in and out of the house and to install some grab bars in the bathroom to help prevent falls, but I really didn’t know what other kinds of modifications to make, nor did I have any idea what other products and services my mother might need or where to find them. Since that time I have become a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, a Certified Environmental Access Consultant, earned an Executive Certificate in Home Modification, and performed dozens of home modifications and consulted with hundreds of family members and caregivers who had grave concerns about their loved one’s safety. Throughout these experiences I have found that my experience of suddenly finding myself in a caregiving role is typical. Most people simply do not anticipate that they may become the primary caregiver for a parent, a spouse, or other loved one, who to some degree, is now unable to care for themselves. Whether the need is sudden such as from a fall or accident or the knowledge of the need is sudden because it has been kept hidden due to embarrassment or not wanting to bother anyone, the result is the same. Suddenly you are a caregiver. Now what? When you suddenly find yourself in a caregiving role there are really two issues at play and it is at the point that the two issues intersect that the adjustment must be made. One issue is the physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual ability of the individual with regard to mobility, sight, hearing, balance, range of motion, cognition, memory, well being, overall health, etc. This issue generally falls into the jurisdiction of a health care practitioner, such as a doctor, nurse, or occupational, physical, or speech therapist, counselor, pastor, or minister among others. The other issue is the built environment with regard to obstacles to activities of daily living. These obstacles can include stairs, raised thresholds, narrow doorways and hallways, slippery floors, poor lighting, inaccessible bathrooms, doorknobs that are difficult to turn, and a host of other fixtures found in a typical home. These items generally fall into the realm of architects, interior designers, contractors, builders, and remodelers. However it is at the point that these two issues meet that is critically important to the individual struggling to live in their home. That is why it is so important to have professionals from different disciplines at the table in order for us to offer real world solutions to people trying to age in place in our community. A home that is perfectly suited to someone with one type of disability would be totally inappropriate for someone with a different type of disability. The solution must meet the need. As an example as long as I am wearing these glasses, I can read my notes. The minute I take them off, I have become visually handicapped. The long term approach is to build homes that we can all live in comfortably for our entire
The Peter Pan Dilemma
All of us are getting older. It is a fact many want to ignore, but it is true. As we get older, various things don’t work as well as they once did. Things like eyesight, hearing, balance, and mobility all tend to decline as we age. I don’t say this to bring up a sore subject or ruin anyone’s day, but simply because as a home modification contractor and aging in place specialist, my job is to help as many people as possible remain independently in their own homes as long as they choose to. This goal is made more difficult because the homes most of us live in were not designed for people with any declines in their abilities. In short, they were designed and built for people who never grow old. That is why they are often referred to as “Peter Pan Housing”. The doorways and hallways are too narrow, there are too many stairs, the bathrooms are too small, etc. The list goes on and on. The Peter Pan Dilemma is what to do about the ever increasing number of seniors who are trying to live safely and comfortably in these homes. There are 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 each and every day in this country and 3,000 a day turning 85. With upwards of 90% of people stating that they prefer to remain in their homes as they age and the vast majority of them living in Peter Pan Housing, how will we possibly manage? The long term solution is to build more Universal Design (also called Lifespan Design) housing. These are homes that are designed and built to accommodate people of all ages and abilities without the need for modification. Homes built with zero step entries, wider hallways and doorways, curbless showers and grab bars in bathrooms, lower light switches and higher outlets, bright glare free lighting, and more open space will serve the needs not only of seniors but of people at all stages of life. As more and more people understand the benefits of this approach, the marketplace will respond by meeting this need. Here in Virginia, there is a Livable Homes Tax Credit that gives you a $5,000 credit against your State Income Taxes if you build or buy a new home that has certain accessibility features such as zero step entries, accessible bathrooms, and wider doorways included. (The credit is also available for remodeling an existing home to include these features). There is also a voluntary certification for builders who build accessible homes. This program is called Easy Living Homes and you can find a list of Certified Builders on their website. Any home certified as an Easy living Home will automatically qualify for the tax credit. That covers the long term solution, but what about the short term solutions? Home Modifications to make homes safer and more accessible is a big part of our work at Senior Remodeling Experts. We get calls all the time from family members of seniors who are experiencing mobility issues and fear losing their independence. Many have fallen and been hospitalized and are trying to figure out how they can safely return to the homes they love and feel comfortable in. We perform home assessments which measure the homes features and compare them with the present and future needs of the resident. Depending on the needs of the client, we can assess for Safety, Balance, Fall Prevention, and Wheelchair Accessibility. Taking into account budgetary as well as aesthetic considerations, we are able to provide a list of recommended home modifications to adapt the home to make it more accessible, safer, and more comfortable. Common home modifications include grab bars, wider doorways, ramps, non-slip and fall protection flooring, curbless showers, tub cuts, roll under sinks, accessible appliances, and accessible storage. We also offer Remote Activity Monitoring that will alert a family member or caregiver if a pre programmed event suggests that there might be a concern. If you live outside of Southwest Virginia and need a contractor to perform home modifications at your home or the home of a loved one, you can search for contractors who hold the Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation in the CAPS Directory. The CAPS training teaches contractors, therapists, real estate agents, and anyone who is interested how to understand the housing needs of those who wish to remain permanently in their homes as well as the technical and business management skills to make it a reality. For anyone interested in receiving this valuable training, I will be teaching the require classes at the Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association on May 11, 12, and 13. Home modification is not the only piece in the puzzle. In order for someone to successfully age in place, it is important that they have other supports besides an accessible home. Help with transportation, activities of daily living (ADLs), healthcare, finances, and social interaction are all important aspects of an aging in place plan. The key is to start early. People often tell me, “I’m not ready for that yet!” when I have this conversation with them. I make it a point to explain to them how important it is to have these safeguards in place BEFORE you are ready for them. Otherwise you won’t have them in place when you DO need them. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” For help in formulating your plan for aging in place I recommend that you download our Planning Guide which was developed by the National Aging in Place Council. In conclusion, I want to reiterate the value of planning ahead to create a home that is safe, beautiful, and accessible for all ages and abilities. One day all homes will be built with Lifespan Design in mind. Until that day comes, make changes now to make your home or the home of a loved a lifetime. Please feel free to call us at 540-384-2064 or email me at
Deadline for Tax Credit Looming
The deadline to apply for the Livable Homes Tax Credit is February 28. If you purchased a new home or remodeled an existing home in 2015 and the new home or the remodeling involved accessibility features you could be eligible for a tax credit of up to $5,000 on your Virginia income taxes. If you qualify for the credit, don’t miss the deadline of February 28. If you purchased a new home in 2015 (either newly built or converted from a non residential use) and it meets the three features of Universal Visitability or incorporates three accessibility features and meets the requirements of an existing standard, you are eligible to take the $5,000 credit. 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 all of these three features are present, there are no further requirements. If you do not have all three of these, the home must incorporate three accessibility features and meet the requirements of an existing standard. Some examples of accessibility features are: 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 requirement that you meet an existing standard is a little murkier because there are several different standards that exist that could be referenced. I have found that the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), while not technically applicable to single family homes, will cover you if you are in compliance. If you have specific questions, get in touch with me and I’ll do my best to answer them for you. If you retrofitted or remodeled an existing home, the project must include at least one accessibility feature and meet the requirements of an existing standard. If sensory modifications have been provided, they must be structurally integrated into the home. Sensory modifications are anything that would assist sensory disabled people such as a doorbell that activated a strobe light for a person with hearing loss. Any device must be permanently attached to the home to qualify. The credit for retrofitting an existing home is also $5,000 but is limited to 50% of the cost of the project actually incurred by the taxpayer. Please note that any costs paid through Granting Freedom, the VA, VHDA, Department of Rehabilitative Services, or any other organization would not be eligible for the credit. For either new or existing homes, if the credit exceeds your tax liability, you may carry the credit forward for up to seven years, and if the amount of eligible credits exceeds one million dollars, each approved taxpayer will receive a pro rated amount of credit. Once you have submitted your application you will receive a tax credit certificate from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development by April 1. I hope this information is helpful. If you have questions please call me at (540) 384-2064 or email me at cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com. You can download a copy of the guidelines and application at www.dhcd.virginia.gov/LHTC.
Thoughts for the New Year
As we begin another New Year, I’d like to take a moment to think about what we would like to accomplish in the coming year. I would like to see this be the year that planning ahead to have a home for a lifetime begins to be perceived as wisdom rather than surrender. I would like to see zero step entries and grab bars in the shower become the must have features of new homes. I would like to see home modifications to improve accessibility become one of the most sought after remodeling projects of 2016. Do I want to see these things because this what I do for a living and I want my business to grow? Of course, but it is much deeper than that. This year marks my fifteenth year in business. During that time I have seen many people who would have benefited from home modifications decide not to have them done because of a perception that somehow preparing your home to be safe, accessible, and beautiful for the rest of your life is the same as surrendering to old age. Nothing could be further from the truth. Actually to have a professional assessment of your home and act on the recommendations to create a home that is safe and accessible is of the most important steps you can take in retirement planning. For most of us, our home is the biggest investment we will ever make. To have a safe, accessible home is the foundation for a solid retirement plan. If you need assistance with activities of daily living, you can bring in caregivers for much less than you would pay in a facility for the same care. And you get the benefit of being in the comfortable environment of your own home. In order to kick off the New Year and encourage everyone to get a home assessment I will be offering home assessments for half price throughout the month of January. These comprehensive assessments provide assessment of your entire home in four key areas of concern. These areas are balance, fall prevention, safety, and wheelchair accessibility. I will provide you the advantage of my 30 years of experience in the construction industry as well as the knowledge gained through my certification as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), Certified Environmental Access Consultant (CEAC), and Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) as well as my Executive Certificate in Home Modification. Provided with the assessment will be a list of recommendations as well as the cost to perform the modifications. This complete assessment which normally costs $450 will be available during the month of January for only $225. When you consider that the assessment and subsequent modifications could very well prevent a fall or other serious injury, the cost is negligible. When you further consider that the cost of the assessment is credited toward the modifications and that half of the cost of the modifications may be credited back to you under the Livable Homes Tax Credit (more on this next month) I can’t understand why everyone wouldn’t want to get the assessment done. For more information please call us at 540-384-2064.
Second Annual Aging in Place Symposium
Each day that passes in this country there are ten thousand people turning sixty five and three thousand people turning eighty five. The segment of the population over eighty five is the fastest growing demographic. The number of people over sixty five will double by 2030 from 2000 numbers. The point is that as a society we are getting older. More and more of us are being called on to be a caregiver to a loved one. The need for education and resources to help people negotiate the challenges of caregiving continues to increase. If you are a family caregiver, are anticipating becoming one, or know someone who is, there is an event being held this month which will be a great benefit to you. The Western and Central Virginia Aging in Place Council is hosting the second annual aging in place symposium on Tuesday, October 13 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. The symposium will bring together thought leaders and service providers who are in the trenches providing services to seniors aging in place, caregivers, and their families. Since seniors who choose to age in place are responsible for their own care, it is important to assemble a care team to help provide this care in the five core areas of aging in place. These five core areas are housing, healthcare, personal finance, transportation, and community and social interaction. We will have professionals on hand to help people evaluate their needs in each of these areas and formulate a plan to meet these needs. Anyone who thinks they might find themselves aging in place or might be a caregiver to a senior aging in place should make plans to attend. We will be featuring two discussion panels at the Symposium. The first will be a panel of physicians. If you have medical questions that you would like to get answered, please come to the symposium. The chance to ask a medical question of a physician without making an appointment and going to his or her office is a rare opportunity. In addition to the physicians’ panel we will host an aging in place panel. The panelists will be professionals who work in various industries providing services to seniors aging in place and their families as well as all types of caregivers. If you have questions about how to plan for and carry out a certain aspect of caring for an aging loved one in their home or yours or just want to learn more about what is involved so that you can care for a loved one if (and when) you need to, please plan to attend the symposium. It has been said that there are only four types of people; those who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver. The aging of America will affect us all. Plan on attending the second annual Aging in Place Symposium to learn how you can become part of the solution. For more information on the Symposium, please call the Council at 540-339-7891 or visit us online at http://www.ageinplace.org/Local-Chapters/Western-and-Central-Virginia You will find information not only on the Symposium but also on the National Aging in Place Council and a host of resources that will help you or your loved one successfully age in place. As always if you have questions about how your house can be your home for a lifetime or have a topic you would like to see covered in Housing Matters please call me at 540-384-2064 or visit our website at https://solidrockenterprises.com. Thank you for reading Housing Matters!
Retirement Begins at Home
For most of us, our homes represent the largest single investment we will ever make. As we look towards retirement, making sure that our homes provide a good return on our investment is smart planning. This is true not only from a financial perspective but also in the sense that our homes will provide a safe and comfortable environment for us to live out our lives. A home that is full of fall hazards and impairments to mobility is like a ticking time bomb which could go off at any minute, shattering our independence. As you plan for retirement, I suggest that you spend as much effort on preparing your home to be a home for life as you do on laying a good financial footing to fund your retirement years. What features should you look for in a safe, comfortable, and beautiful retirement home? First and foremost, it should be a home we enjoy living in and feel relaxed in. For many of us, this is the home we currently live in, which is exactly why we live there. There should be at least one, and preferably more, zero step entries. Anyone, including people who use a wheelchair or walker, can enter the home easily. Hallways and doorways throughout the home should be wide enough to allow passage in a wheelchair or walker, Three foot wide doorways and four foot wide hallways are generally considered optimum. The next area I recommend taking a good hard look at is the bathroom. Many falls occur in the bathroom, and falls are the leading cause of injuries in older adults. An open floor plan bathroom with a curbless shower, comfort height commode, and plenty of grab bars can go along ways toward promoting safety and be quite luxurious to boot. The spacious open feel of a custom curbless shower lends a spa like feel to an accessible bathroom, while the fold up seat and grab bars make it safe and comfortable. Throughout the home, provide non slip flooring and bright glare free lighting. Make sure there are no trailing extension cords or clutter to trip over. It is also a good idea to have accessible walkways and a maintenance free exterior. These are just a few of the ideas that you might consider as you look over your house with an eye on creating a home for life. For a more complete set of checklists or a comprehensive home assessment, contact Senior Remodeling Experts at (540) 384-2064. We have the knowledge and expertise to recommend accessibility solutions that will go a long toward ensuring that you will be able to live safely and comfortably in the home that you love for many years to come. Please let us know if we can be of service to you and thank you for reading Housing Matters.
Planning for the Future
We don’t like the word old. We also don’t like the words elderly, senior, “getting on in years”, aged, “no spring chicken”, older, “not getting any younger”, etc. You get the idea. The value of youth is extolled, while the value of old age is scorned. Nobody wants to admit to getting “old”. When you talk about solutions to help people adapt to the inevitable repercussions of aging, they reply, “I’m not ready for that yet.”, or “That’s for old people.” Think of the things that get better with age. With age comes wisdom. (Or at least it should!) Why do so many people want to stick their heads in the sand when it comes to preparing their homes so that they can live safely and comfortably in them for the rest of their lives? I get the impression that people think that if they install a grab bar in their bathroom or add an extra handrail on their stairs they are surrendering to the onslaught of old age, never to return. I prefer to say they are showing wisdom. We are encouraged to plan ahead for every other eventuality in life. We are encouraged to get our financial house in order for retirement, why not our physical house? Having a home that is safe, accessible, comfortable, and beautiful is one of the best investments you can make in your retirement. Those who turn a blind eye to the fact that most of us live in Peter Pan Housing (Housing built for people who never grow old!) frequently find themselves suddenly facing the fact that they can no longer live there after a fall or other traumatic event. Decisions made when facing a crisis are almost universally bad decisions. Don’t wait until there is a crisis! Make plans now to have a home that will serve you throughout your life. I believe that all homes should be built using Universal or Lifespan Design. Since only 15% of us go through life without experiencing some form of mobility challenge at some point in our life, it makes sense to build homes that don’t present barriers to entry or movement throughout the home. You may be surprised to learn how simple it is to have a home that is accessible to all people. The simple act of installing 3’ wide doors throughout the home can make a huge difference in access not just for those who use a wheelchair or walker but also for everyday use. (And for those moving the furniture in or out!) The price difference between a 2’ wide door and a 3’ wide door is negligible when compared with the price of replacing it later. There are many examples of simple and inexpensive changes that can be made to make our homes more user friendly, but the first change that must be made is in our thinking. Take a few minutes to think about your home and what it means to you. If it is a place you love and feel comfortable in, what changes can you make to make it a home for a lifetime? If you need help with planning, get in touch with us. We can help. A good place to start is with the Aging in Place Planning Guide. You can download it from our website at www.solidrockenterprises.com or you can call us at 540-384-2064 and we will be happy to send you a copy. Thank you for reading Housing Matters.
Retirement Planning Starts at Home
Over the last few months, I have become increasingly aware of a phenomenon that puzzles me. It has been there all along, that is, since I have been helping people live safely and comfortably in the home of their choice. I have written about it before in this column (See Housing Matters from May 2011, “I’m not ready for that yet”). The phenomenon is simply this. Many people believe that if they even consider modifying their homes to make them safer and more accessible, they are somehow surrendering to the aging process and are two steps from the grave. The thought (spoken or unspoken) is that those things are for old people and old is always considered ten years older than your present age. The puzzling part to me is the fact that people prepare financially to be ready for retirement without feeling they are surrendering to the inevitability of their own mortality. Why then do they feel that preparing their home to be a safe, comfortable and beautiful environment for them to reside in during their retirement years is any different? It seems to me that having a home that will suit your needs should be one of the basic building blocks of retirement planning. After all if you have to suddenly make other living arrangements it could severely and negatively impact your financial plan. I looked at several checklists of suggested items to do to get ready for retirement. Only one mentioned anything about housing and that was not in the context of accessibility. Most people are intentionally turning a blind eye to their changing housing needs as they age, to their own detriment! What can be done about it? I believe that we need a paradigm shift. I believe that creating a home for yourself that is safe, beautiful, and accessible and that will serve your needs throughout the course of your life is one of the wisest retirement planning investments you can make. It is an investment in not only your physical well being but your mental and emotional well being as well. People are happier and more relaxed at home. Start today to make your home an important part of your retirement plan! Dave Ramsey, the author, speaker, and radio host who tirelessly extols the benefits of getting out of debt and building wealth starts his radio program with the saying, “Where the paid off home mortgage takes the place of the BMW as the status symbol of choice.” While I am not suggesting that the lifespan designed home will take the place of the well funded retirement account in retirement planning, I am suggesting that it take its place firmly beside it. For most of us, our home is the biggest investment we will ever make. Designing and building this investment to serve us well for the long haul makes good sense from a practical as well as a financial sense. Here are some things to look for when building or remodeling a home for a lifetime: An accessible approach to the home from the outdoors A zero step entry Wide hallways and doors with lever handles At least one accessible bathroom Bright, glare free lighting Slip resistant flooring Railings or grab bars at strategic locations There are many other features to consider and these features will vary somewhat depending on the situation. If you have questions about how an accessible home can be an important part of your retirement plan, please call us at (540) 384-2064 or email us at cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com. Thank you for reading Housing Matters.
Enjoying the Outdoors
With the summer weather, people are spending more time outdoors. When you are planning an outdoor space, whether it is a deck, a patio, a garden, or even a pool, use Universal Design principles to create outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone. Start with zero step entries from the inside to the outside. Lever handles on the locksets make the doors easy to open for everyone. Hard surface gently sloping walkways through the yard and garden make the outdoors accessible for everyone, including those with mobility issues. Those of us who enjoy gardening will appreciate raised bed planters with knee space underneath for gardening while seated. A covered, screened in area will keep the rain and the bugs out, extending the amount of time it can be enjoyed. This porch we are currently building features a stamped concrete floor, an Ultimate Underdeck ceiling to keep out water from the deck above, ceiling fans for a cooling breeze, wide arched openings overlooking the lake, and zero step entry doorways into the house. When the project is finished it will be screened in with pool and patio screen to create a relaxing insect free environment. With a porch like this, the outdoors can easily become your favorite room in the house. To gain access to your yard and garden you need to consider the topography of your lot. If you are putting in a ramp, the recommended maximum slope is one inch per foot. If you can, a slope of one inch per twenty inches will create a gently sloping walkway that is comfortable for almost everyone to negotiate. Level areas which are covered provide a spot to relax and spend time outdoors. Use your imagination to create accessible, inviting spaces outdoors that you can enjoy for years to come. For more information on creating an outdoor retreat at your home, give us a call at 540-384-2064. Happy Summer!