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.
Assisted Living v. Aging in Place
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Volunteers to host symposium on ‘Aging in Place’
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Aging in Place symposium helps seniors with decisions
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First Aging in Place National Planning Day
The first aging in place national planning day has been set for October 15. As part of aging in place week, the planning day is a day set aside for people to make a plan to remain safely and comfortably in their homes for the rest of their lives. Up until now, aging in place (or Long Term Care at Home, a better term coined by Louis Tenenbaum) has been the concept that by accessing resources including financial, healthcare, personal care, transportation, home modifications, etc. at home rather than in a facility. What has been missing in many if not most scenarios has been a plan to make that happen. That is the goal of the aging in place planning day. resources will be available from the National Aging in Place Council to help in the process. Look for local events all over the country to help people put together an aging in place plan. Stay tuned here for information on a local event here in the Roanoke Valley.
Home Modifications Questions and Answers
This month I will begin an occasional series in Housing Matters listing some of the questions that get asked about various subjects concerning home modifications and their answers. If you have questions you would like to see answered here, please send them to cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com or call 540-384-2064. I hope this information is helpful to you. How do I know if home modifications are necessary? Many times, particularly if an aging parent lives alone, the other family members may not be aware of the struggles their loved one is having. Make a point when visiting to observe how they get around the house. Input from their doctor and other health care professionals may give you insight on their abilities and areas of difficulty. If you have concerns, it is probably time to consider an assessment. Find a contractor who specializes in home modification and who will coordinate with their health care team. What are the most important home modifications to have done? I break home modifications down into three categories, safety, accessibility, and convenience. While there is certainly some overlap and most projects will have elements of each, we need to consider the priority of projects in this order. Anything that presents a fall or other safety hazard should be taken care of immediately. Those modifications which enhance accessibility should be done as soon as possible, and those which are primarily for convenience can be delayed if budgetary concerns warrant. My loved one is very unsteady and I am worried about falls. What can I do to help prevent falls? You are correct to be concerned about falls. About one third of adults over the age of 65 fall each year, and of those who fall, two thirds will fall again within six months. The first thing you should do is make sure that there are no trailing extension cords, loose throw rugs, or clutter that could present a tripping hazard. Then make sure you have railings or grab bars installed wherever practical as something to hold onto. Having hand holds in place before they are needed will get you in the habit of reaching for them, so that when you need them the habit is already ingrained. Please don’t wait until after a fall to take action! Consider replacing slippery flooring with a non slip alternative. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What are the most important home modifications to have done? I break home modifications down into three categories, safety, accessibility, and convenience. While there is certainly some overlap and most projects will have elements of each, we need to consider the priority of projects in this order. Anything that presents a fall or other safety hazard should be taken care of immediately. Those modifications which enhance accessibility should be done as soon as possible, and those which are primarily for convenience can be delayed if budgetary concerns warrant. It is hard for me to get in and out of the bathtub and I am afraid of falling. What should I do? I would strongly recommend that you have some grab bars installed. Having a strong handhold is especially important in the bathroom where surfaces are slippery and falls are common. In addition, you might want to consider a tub cut that converts your existing bathtub into a step in shower or removing the tub and installing a curbless shower. Also, if the floor of the bathroom or the shower is slippery, consider applying a non slip coating or stick on treads for a better grip.
Article on Aging in Place
We were recently featured in an article about aging in place Here is a link if you would like to check it out: http://www.nowu.com/article/nurture/aging-in-place/12214191/