A Home for a Lifetime
I have had the distinct privilege to have had two telephone conversations with Walton D. (Wally) Dutcher, Jr. who is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest living quadriplegic, having been paralyzed in a diving accident in May of 1956 at the age of 19 while serving in the Navy. Wally’s list of accomplishments include college degrees, managing mutual funds, serving in numerous organizations advocating for people with disabilities, and leading a 5 person cabinet manufacturer’s growth into a 165 employee, $6 million company in two and one-half years. To say Wally’s story is inspiring would be a major understatement. Wally called me after finding out about my interest in Universal Design. He has studied architecture and has designed numerous homes that use Universal Design principles. Wally believes strongly (as I do) that homes using the principles of Universal Design benefit everyone. I was recently explaining the work I do with Universal Design in homes to a new father. After listening for a few minutes, he remarked that all of these features would be very helpful to him and his wife considering all the miles they are logging with a baby stroller! In fact, for this very reason, Wally likes the term Life Span Design because the open design of the homes he designs benefit their owners and guests throughout the course of their lives. I know it has only been a couple of months since I was talking about Better Living Design as a new term for Universal Design. The bottom line is that whatever we call it, its high we start designing, building, and living in houses that will serve the needs of our entire population, not the proverbial “average” healthy person. After all, many of us wear glasses or contacts to correct our vision. While wearing the glasses or contacts we can see just fine. If we didn’t have the benefit of these common items, would we be considered disabled? The same holds true for a person with mobility issues, whether permanently or temporarily, say from a broken leg. If their home is designed and built to allow them to move freely from room to room and utilize it’s features, they are no more disabled than anyone else in the home. Talking with Wally was inspiring to me and gives me a renewed zest to build lifetime homes using lifespan design. If you or a loved one would benefit from a home like this, whether new construction or remodeling your existing home, please call 540-556-0650 for more information. I would be happy to tell you more about how your home can be a home for a lifetime.
The Benefits of Planning Ahead
If you are anything like the vast majority of Americans over the age of 45 you want to live out the remainder of your days in the comfortable and familiar surroundings of your own home. You have likely lived there for many years, probably because you like the home and the neighborhood. However, it is also likely that you live in a “Peter Pan” home. That is, a home designed for someone who will never grow old. Most homes are designed based on common practice in the past rather than usefulness for the present and the future. Chances are, there are a number of steps in your home, both outside and inside. It is very likely that there are many doors in your home that are too narrow for a walker or wheelchair to pass through. Most bathrooms are full of hazards for anyone who is struggling with mobility or balance issues even if you can get through the door. My advice is to plan ahead to modify your home before it reaches the point where you are having difficulty. For example, if you install grab bars before you need them, you will get in the habit of reaching for them and then when you do need them, the action will be automatic. Many people do not think about making changes to their homes until it becomes an emergency, at which point it is more difficult and costly to get changes made in time to be effective. If you are considering updating your kitchen, bathroom, deck, or any other part of your home, take some time to think about your future needs. By designing your home to be beautiful and accessible for people of all ages, you are making an investment in your future that will pay dividends for years to come. Not only will you be more comfortable and safer in your home, you will enjoy it more as well. I have a number of checklists available to help you decide what areas of your home to consider modifying. Please call me at (540) 384-2064 or email me at cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com for more information or for a home assessment. The more information you have about what your options are, the better decision you can make. I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for reading Housing Matters.
Better Living Design
In the four years that I have been writing Housing Matters I have endeavored to communicate the fact that while most of us want to live in our own homes for the rest of our lives, most of our homes are “Peter Pan” homes. In other words, homes designed for people that never grow old. I have written about how the projects we build at Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc. create homes that are safe, beautiful and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. And yet I continue to frequently get a response from many people that goes something like this, “I’m not ready for that yet.” There is a sense among many people that somehow remodeling your home to make it safer and more comfortable for you as you as you age is somehow an admission of defeat. That belief couldn’t be farther from the truth. Today there is a movement to educate people of this very thing. The Better Living Design Institute has been established to promote the idea that homes designed and built to be usable by all people benefits everyone. A home with a zero step entry is better for someone using a wheelchair, a mother with a baby stroller, the furniture movers, and frankly, everyone else. The remodeled bathroom with a custom tiled curbless shower creates a spa like environment that anyone can enjoy. I read a quote that sums it up well by Mary Jo Peterson, a CAPS certified kitchen and bath designer. She said, “Don’t think in terms of ‘I need it.’, Think of it as ‘I deserve it.’ – and you do.” A certification program is in the works, as well as a “BLD Approved” seal for products that exemplify the tenets of Better Living Design. You will be sure to read more about Better Living Design. In the meantime, for more information about Better Living Design or to learn more about the building, remodeling, and consulting services we offer, please call us at (540) 384-2064 or visit our website at www.solidrockenterprises.com.
Happy Father’s Day!
I recently had a question on www.caring.com where I serve on the panel of experts. The question was from someone who was struggling with the decision of how to care for an aging father who desperately wanted to continue living independently but was suffering from memory loss and wasn’t taking care of himself. Friends and neighbors were helping but it wasn’t enough. Anyone who has watched a loved one losing their cognitive abilities and the ability to live independently knows the difficulty of making the decisions necessary to help their loved one cope. If you still have your father, be thankful and wish him a Happy Father’s Day. Father’s Day never seems to get the attention of Mother’s Day and fathers have a tendency to be on the independent side and are uncomfortable asking for or accepting help even when they need it. One suggestion for a father or other loved one who is living alone and needs some help is a remote activity monitoring system called SimplyHome. With this system we install a series of sensors in the home to keep track of activity and inactivity. Based on an initial interview we conduct with the client and their family and any other caregivers we determine areas of concern that we can then monitor with the system and send out customized alerts. For example if your loved one is always up and about by 8:00 am you can program the system to send out an email, text or phone call to whomever you designate if they are still in the bed at 8:30. You could program the system to turn on the lights if they get up during the night or turn off the stove if it’s left on with no movement in the kitchen for a period of time. There is even a medication dispenser that you load with pills and each section opens at the proper time. If the pills aren’t taken, someone gets an alert. If wandering is a concern, there is a GPS watch that can be used to pinpoint their location. The technology utilized in the SimplyHome system is a truly fantastic way to help people continue to live independently. If you would like more information on SimplyHome and the other products and services we offer here at Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc. please call (540) 384-2064.
Common Sense Solutions for Life
Over the last few years as I have worked to help people remain in their homes for the course of their lives, there has been a lot of confusion about exactly what products and services I offer. First and foremost, I am a contractor. I have been building and remodeling since 1986. The type of building and remodeling that I have been focusing on for the last five years or so has been creating living spaces that work for all people through all stages of life. Variations of this type of design have been called by various names including universal design, accessible design, adaptable design, easy living design, multi generational design, and aging in place. The trouble with all of these terms is that most people don’t know what you are talking about when you use them. They tend to make the whole subject appear to be some complicated, esoteric theory that you need an advanced degree to understand. Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is that the bulk of the modifications I make to people’s homes as well as the features I incorporate into new homes are simply common sense solutions for life. If I use a 3’ wide door instead of a 2’ wide door into a bathroom, that just makes sense. If I install an electrical outlet at 2’ off the floor instead of near the baseboard, it makes it easier for everyone to reach it, not just someone with a disability. A home designed with a wide front door with a covered, well lighted zero step entry accessed by a wide, gently sloping walk makes life easier for everyone. Many times when I am having conversations with people about their homes, people will say, “What a great idea! That is so simple!” Most of the features I suggest are simple, but they can make all the difference in the world in the comfort and convenience you experience in your daily life. If you or a loved one are having difficulty with any area of your home or would simply like to update your kitchen, bathroom or any other feature of your home, inside or out, give me a call at (540) 384-2064. I would be happy to come and take a look at your home and see what kind of common sense solutions could make your life easier. You can also read past editions of Housing Matters and find lots of information about common sense solutions for life at www.solidrockenterprises.com.
Are You Eligible for the Livable Home Tax Credit?
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 2012 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 2012 (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.
Making a List, Checking it Twice
While this phrase is more closely associated with Christmas and December than it is with January and the start of a new year, I’m talking about a different type of list. The type of list I am referring to is a checklist that you can use to determine how safe and accessible your home is for you and your loved ones. There are dozens of these checklists available that have been developed by various organizations including the Center for Universal Design, Easter Seals, and Rebuilding Together. They run the gamut from simple one page checklists to very extensive room by room inventories of your home. While they all have some value, nothing takes the place of a professional assessment. A good checklist is a great place to start looking at your home to see if you need some home modifications. Here is my own list of some of the top areas to look at: Is there an accessible route into and around the home? Make sure you have at least one zero step entry into the home (preferably covered) and wide doorways and hallways throughout the home. Are the bathrooms safe and usable by everyone in the home? More falls occur in the bathroom than anywhere else in the home. A curbless shower or walk in tub, a comfort height commode, accessible sink, grab bars, and good lighting will go a long way towards making the bathroom safer and more accessible. Safety in the kitchen. In order for the kitchen to be a safe place to prepare meals, make sure that there are clear walkways and room to move around. A sink and cooktop with knee space below allow someone to use them from a seated position. Pull down shelving in the upper cabinets and pull out shelving in the lower cabinets allow easy access. Contrasting edges on countertops and bright, glare free lighting make it easier to see what you are doing for those with diminished eyesight. Look out for clutter. Many falls occur at home because of loose throw rugs, trailing extension cords or simply clutter laying around in the walkway. Take the time to clean up clutter, fix loose flooring and reroute or rewire extension cords. Make sure help is available when you need it. A good support system is vital, particularly for an older person who lives alone. A good option is an electronic remote activity monitoring system like Simply Home. I have written about Simply Home several times in Housing Matters. This customized system will send out an alert if any of the preprogrammed events trigger the system. For example, it will automatically turn off the stove if it is left on and there is no movement in the kitchen for a certain period of time. Be careful with stairs. Stairs can be a particular challenge for anyone with diminished mobility. Many people contemplate a home with single story living as they get older. If this is not an option for you, make sure you have adequate railings on both sides of the stairs, the treads are made of a non slip material, and there is plenty of light. Having the treads and risers of a contrasting color can help prevent falls by making the transition easier to see. A stair lift is a popular option if climbing stairs has become difficult. I have just touched the surface. For more information, give me a call at 540-556-0650 or come see us at the Greater Roanoke Home and Garden Show Jan 11-13 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
The True Meaning of Christmas
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” These words from the 1822 poem known by most as The Night before Christmas bring to mind memories of good food, fellowship and family gatherings with bright eyed children. Although people have many different Christmas traditions, there is something magical about this time of year. The music, the lights, the food, and the anticipation bring out the kid in all of us. If there is a time of year when people are inspired to be generous and kind, it is without a doubt the Christmas season. Perhaps one of the most poignant examples of the power of goodwill at Christmas time is the spontaneous truce which erupted on Christmas Eve and carried through Christmas Day in the trenches during World War I in 1914. The war was barely four months old but already hundreds of thousands lay dead. But that Christmas Eve something happened. Candle lit Christmas trees poked out of trenches and soon Christmas carols, notably Silent Night, were being sung by soldiers in English and German. In the midst of war, the Prince of Peace was making his presence felt. The hostilities ceased and both sides helped each other bury their dead. For a brief moment in time the true spirit of Christmas prevailed. If you are like me, you dislike the fact that Christmas, which is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has become an excuse to increase the revenues of the country’s retailers. Don’t get me wrong. Being a business owner myself, I understand the difficulties that the last few years have brought to all of our pocketbooks. But opening stores on Thanksgiving Day and calling it “Gray Thursday”? I think we need to gain some perspective on what Christmas is really about. Let’s all take some time this Christmas season to cut through the hype and the commercialism (and the politically correct “Happy Holidays”) and remember the true meaning of Christmas. Just as the soldiers in the trenches in 1914 experienced the power of Christmas, I believe there are miracles just waiting to be discovered around any corner. Keep your eyes open and you just might experience one. Look for opportunities to reach out others and bring a little joy into someone’s life. As you decorate your house think of what makes a house a home. I generally write about things you can do to your house to make it safer and more accessible. What I am talking about now is how to make it a home. It is the spirit and atmosphere within the house that makes it a home. The true spirit of Christmas is that sense of thankfulness for the gifts we have been given and the willingness to reach out and share them with others. I want to thank my readers for all of the kind comments I have received and wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! If you have questions about Housing Matters or have topics you would like to see discussed, you can reach me at (540) 384-2064 or email me at cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com.
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 my 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 on 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 wrote about in Housing Matters last month. 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!
Could You Use $5,000?
If you could have your home modified to make it easier to come and go, access the bathroom or kitchen, or get up and down the stairs and receive up to a $5,000 rebate in the process, would you be interested? If so, now is the time to act! The Livable Homes Tax Credit is not a rebate, but a tax credit offered by the Commonwealth of Virginia for up to $5,000 for the purchase or construction of a new home with accessible features, or half the cost of remodeling an existing home to incorporate accessible features up to $5,000. The credit applies to State income tax, and if it exceeds your tax liability, you can carry the credit forward up to seven years. Here’s how it works. In order to get the tax credit for 2012, you need to purchase or build an eligible new home or complete the eligible remodeling work before the end of the year. In order to be eligible, a remodeling project must include at least one accessibility feature. Some common accessibility features include: Accessible route Zero step entrance Doors with at least 32” of clear width Hallways and passages with at least 36” of clear width Accessible light switches, electrical outlets, and environmental controls Accessible bathroom Accessible and usable kitchen facilities Lifts Elevators Ramps Sensory Modifications In short, any Home Modification that makes it easier to get in and out of your home and access the amenities will qualify for the credit. Once again the credit for remodeling is half the cost of the project up to $5,000. Simply complete the project by December 31, 2012 and send in the application by February 28, 2013. For Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc. customers, we will provide you the application and help you get it filled out and sent in. If a new home is more to your liking and you would like receive the credit for 2012 you would need to purchase or build a new home before the end of the year that contains the three features of Universal Visitability or at least three accessibility features and meet the requirements of an existing standard. The three features of Universal Accessibility are: At least one zero-step entrance allowing access into the residence An accessible bathroom on the same floor as the zero step entrance Doors with at least 32” of clear width and hallways/passageways with at least 36” clear width to the accessible bathroom and an eating area If all three of these features are not included in the home, you must have at least three accessible features and meet the requirements of an existing standard. What the requirements of an existing standard are is somewhat open to interpretation since there is no single recognized standard for accessibility in private homes. However, the standards mentioned in the application are adaptability features prescribed by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, the specifications of the American National Standards Institute, the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard, and the Fair Housing Guidelines. If you have purchased or built a home this year and are not sure if it qualifies, get in touch with me and I’ll try to help. If you have been considering a remodeling project, now is the time to move forward so you can reap the benefits of the tax credit. Please give me a call at (540) 384-2064 or email me at cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com. I will show you how you can improve your home and lower your tax burden at the same time!