The Unpaid Family Caregiver

November 9, 2010 By 6 Comments

The Unpaid Family CaregiverIs this the picture you had of retirement?

I’m referring to the one on the left!

Are you checking in on your elderly parents living at home? Is one parent more mobile than the other and caring for their spouse? If so, how is this affecting the health of the caregiver? Regardless of who the caregiver is, the additional burden can easily drain all of their reserves. Then everyone’s safety and health may be at risk.

A lot of attention has been given to medical assistance for our frail seniors that is available at home, as well as assisted living facilities of all types. The public may not be aware of an entire industry of in-home, non-medical care that is available today.

If you are checking on elderly family members at home: Has the house and the refrigerator had a good cleaning lately? Are they eating healthy? Are the bills paid on time?  Is bathing a safety concern?  Are menial chores such as shopping, cooking, laundry, and housecleaning a challenge?

The caregiver may expend all their energy completing these tasks with no energy or time left for doing the things they enjoy. If money wasn’t an issue, would you hire help? Would there be more time for everyone to enjoy life together? I’ll bet this is the case. All these services are now available in the home.

Ryan Malone’s new book: “Saving Money on Senior Care: How to Make Aging Affordable” discusses many issues impacting families’ ability to pay for senior care and takes a no-nonsense approach to educate you on the six most impactful options: reverse mortgages, VA benefits, life settlements, Medicare planning, long-term care insurance and the unique senior line of credit.

The Unpaid Family CaregiverMoney is available to pay for in-home care, especially for those who are “house rich and cash poor.” In 1989, a government program was created to enable seniors to stay in their home by paying them for the equity in their home. The upside to this program is that there are no credit or income requirements and no mortgage payments. Yes, it’s a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM or Reverse Mortgage). It’s called a Reverse Mortgage because it pays you. This program has changed a lot over the years and I have seen it change people’s lives. It can ease financial strain and relieve concerns about losing the home. The loans are FHA insured, non-recourse loans. That means if the home is sold and sales proceeds are insufficient to pay the amount owed, FHA will pay the lender the amount of the shortfall.

Four important points about this safe, Government program:

1)      The bank does NOT keep the title to the home

2)      There are no mortgage payments

3)      Stay in the home as long as you want to and can

¨       It must be the primary residence

¨       Must pay homeowner’s insurance and property taxes; maintain the property

4)      The loan is paid off with proceeds from the home sale

¨       FHA insures the loan and pays the lender any shortfall

For more information and a calculator:

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmabou.cfm

A free booklet from The National Council on Aging:
“Use Your Home to Stay at Home: A Guide for Older Homeowners Who Need Help Now”

Now, what would you do with the extra time and the money you may have had to pay for care?

About the Author: Linda Lewis is a reverse mortgage specialist with FutureSafe Financial Corporation and lives in California.  You can follow Linda at her website at www.ReverseWithLinda.com.

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10 Top Anti-Aging Tips for a Youthful Mind, Body, Spirit

October 6, 2010 By 4 Comments

10 Top Anti-Aging TIps for a Youthful Mind, Body, SpiritThe desire for youthful energy never leaves and is capable of staying with you well until your later years. Boomers are, however, faced with the old adage, “use it or lose it.” It’s no wonder boomers are keen to put passion back into their lives and fight the effects of aging. True we are living in a society with an obesity epidemic and what a better motivator than living an independent life well into ones retirement with an increased zest and ability to perform activities of daily living with greater ease and function.

How do function and aging co-exist and blend with fitness? They are a twin-ship, even if we don’t see them that way. No one wants to feel and look old before their time. Much of what we blame on aging: weakness, decreased range of motion and obesity can be reversed in 30 days. How do we look and feel younger in 30 days? Through a blissful discipline called Functional Fitness.

Americans are getting older every minute and life expectancy is ever-increasing. People leading full productive lives after the age of retirement are no longer a “wow.” Most baby boomers want to live active lives and learn how to enjoy a fulfilling active life. You’re as fit as your body is functional. Contrary to popular opinion, not even all young people are limber, for keeping flexibility relies on regular stretching. However flexibility, one of the three primary components of physical fitness, is extremely important to attaining a healthy life. Without flexibility, simple activities, such as reaching and bending become painful. True, muscles shorten with age, but according to the National Foundation for anti-aging, “most aging is premature.” Here are 10 tips to help you stay younger, fitter and functional.

1- Drink six to eight glasses of water each day. Hydrate skin, nourish it, and prevent wrinkles.

2- Stretch and strengthen your legs. Doing calf raises and tiptoe walking every other day improves circulation and helps prevents spider veins.

3- Incorporate upper-body exercises. Lift mini dumbbells, and stretch back muscles. This protects against osteoporosis.

4- Strengthen your abs five days a week. Sit-ups enhance blood flow to vital organs, repairing tissue damage.

5- Add aerobic exercise. Keep your heart and lungs youthful and fit.

6 – Choose aerobics that enhance brain power. Jogging, bicycling, and speed walking sharpen memory and increase attention span.

7- Use diaphragmatic breathing. Inhale through your nose so debris and pollutants are filtered from the air. Make your belly rise, and then fall slowly, exhaling through pursed lips. Relaxed breathing decreases levels of stress hormones that accelerate aging.

8- Eat baked, broiled, or grilled salmon two times per week. Its omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins combat disease-causing free radicals.

9- Try colorful vegetables. Dr. Roy Vartabedian, author of “Nutripoints,” and Nutrition Expert for Functional Fitness starring Suzanne Andrews, ® recommends spinach, broccoli and romaine lettuce daily with lunch and dinner. Dark green vegetables have cancer-fighting properties and vitamin C to boost your immune system. Tomatoes are also on this “fighter veggies” list.

10- Enjoy fresh fruit for dessert. Dr. Vartabedian suggests cantaloupe, guava, and papaya. These also combat the cell damage that causes premature aging.

About the Author: Suzanne Andrews, founder of Functional Fitness, approved by the National Educational Telecommunications Association for syndication on PBS TV and licensed occupational therapy practitioner, specializes in therapeutically proven techniques to improve function through fitness. Offering real life fitness solutions for real life challenges, she instructs you how to decrease joint pain, improve balance, thicken bones, boost energy and once again live life to the fullest. Learn how to get Functional Fitness starring Suzanne Andrews® on your local PBS station and enter to win a FREE set of 8 Functional Fitness DVD’s. Details at http://www.healthwiseexercise.com/contact.php

10 Top Anti-Aging Tips for a Youthful Mind, Body, Spirit

The desire for youthful energy never leaves and is capable of staying with you well until your later years. Boomers are, however, faced with the old adage, “use it or lose it.” It’s no wonder boomers are keen to put passion back into their lives and fight the effects of aging. True we are living in a society with an obesity epidemic and what a better motivator than living an independent life well into ones retirement with an increased zest and ability to perform activities of daily living with greater ease and function.

How do function and aging co-exist and blend with fitness? They are a twin-ship, even if we don’t see them that way. No one wants to feel and look old before their time. Much of what we blame on aging: weakness, decreased range of motion and obesity can be reversed in 30 days. How do we look and feel younger in 30 days? Through a blissful discipline called Functional Fitness.

Americans are getting older every minute and life expectancy is ever-increasing. People leading full productive lives after the age of retirement are no longer a “wow.” Most baby boomers want to live active lives and learn how to enjoy a fulfilling active life. You’re as fit as your body is functional. Contrary to popular opinion, not even all young people are limber, for keeping flexibility relies on regular stretching. However flexibility, one of the three primary components of physical fitness, is extremely important to attaining a healthy life. Without flexibility, simple activities, such as reaching and bending become painful. True, muscles shorten with age, but according to the National Foundation for anti-aging, “most aging is premature.” Here are 10 tips to help you stay younger, fitter and functional.

1- Drink six to eight glasses of water each day. Hydrate skin, nourish it, and prevent wrinkles.

2- Stretch and strengthen your legs. Doing calf raises and tiptoe walking every other day improves circulation and helps prevents spider veins.

3- Incorporate upper-body exercises. Lift mini dumbbells, and stretch back muscles. This protects against osteoporosis.

4- Strengthen your abs five days a week. Sit-ups enhance blood flow to vital organs, repairing tissue damage.

5- Add aerobic exercise. Keep your heart and lungs youthful and fit.

6 – Choose aerobics that enhance brain power. Jogging, bicycling, and speed walking sharpen memory and increase attention span.

7- Use diaphragmatic breathing. Inhale through your nose so debris and pollutants are filtered from the air. Make your belly rise, and then fall slowly, exhaling through pursed lips. Relaxed breathing decreases levels of stress hormones that accelerate aging.

8- Eat baked, broiled, or grilled salmon two times per week. Its omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins combat disease-causing free radicals.

9- Try colorful vegetables. Dr. Roy Vartabedian, author of “Nutripoints,” and Nutrition Expert for Functional Fitness starring Suzanne Andrews, ® recommends spinach, broccoli and romaine lettuce daily with lunch and dinner. Dark green vegetables have cancer-fighting properties and vitamin C to boost your immune system. Tomatoes are also on this “fighter veggies” list.

10- Enjoy fresh fruit for dessert. Dr. Vartabedian suggests cantaloupe, guava, and papaya. These also combat the cell damage that causes premature aging.

About the Author: Suzanne Andrews, founder of Functional Fitness, approved by the National Educational Telecommunications Association for syndication on PBS TV and licensed occupational therapy practitioner, specializes in therapeutically proven techniques to improve function through fitness. Offering real life fitness solutions for real life challenges, she instructs you how to decrease joint pain, improve balance, thicken bones, boost energy and once again live life to the fullest. Learn how to get Functional Fitness starring Suzanne Andrews® on your local PBS station and enter to win a FREE set of 8 Functional Fitness DVD’s. Details at http://www.healthwiseexercise.com/contact.php

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How Meditation and Prayer Promotes Impacts Aging

September 23, 2010 By 1 Comment

Note: This post is not intended to promote or discourage any type of religious believe.  We found the research interesting and felt readers would find it interesting regardless of the religions, or lack of, religious beliefs.

Previous research has shown religion to have a positive effect on older peoples’ lives.

Older people who practice religion tend to be more physically healthier than those who did not. The reason why is because older people who practice solitary spiritual pursuits are engaged in purposeful activities that give them inner satisfaction.

The idea that a personal relationship with a higher being through prayer promotes successful aging is an example of selective optimization with compensation. This theory says that successful aging is dependent on a person selecting a specific task important to them, and then completing that task by optimizing the skills they still have while compensating for the skills they no longer have.

The classic textbook example illustrates an older man who wants to keep his driver’s license but knows he can no longer see at night. What does he do? He only drives during the day and finds someone to drive him around at night. Now back to the prayer example; by SELECTING prayer as a means to maintain religious identity, older adults are OPTIMIZING their current abilities while COMPENSATING that they are no longer able to be as physically involved with their church as they use to be.

Studies have found that a prerequisite to these benefits is an existing belief in a higher being. Sometimes people dealing with the end stages of life seek out religion as a way to come to terms with death. This has been shows to have little impact, as individuals were not show to receive the emotional and physical benefits of prayer unless they has an existing belief in the who/what they are praying to.

The role of meditation

It should also be noted that meditation has many of the same benefits that prayer has. People who practice meditation are physically healthier than those who do not. It is probably because meditation helps people deal with a stress in a more healthy manner.

Both practices–prayer and meditation–help people deal with stress and anxiety. Prayer teaches people to give their worries to a higher being, meditation teaches people to let their worries just go. What’s the secret to successful aging? To age successfully you need engage in meaningful activities that bring your inner satisfaction that also reduce your stress.

Photo credit: Kris_B

About the Author: Ryan Malone is the founder of InsideElder Care and author of the ByFamilies, For Families Guide to Assisted Living. He regularly speaks and advises families about how to improve their aging loved one’s quality of life. Ryan is also the president of SmartBug Media, a content marketing agency that helps companies increase leads, customers and influence. You can read more from Ryan on the SmartBug Media blog or follow him on Twitter.

Kris_B

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Remembering: Memory Loss on Memorial Day

June 1, 2010 By 15 Comments

In the days leading up to Memorial Day, I found myself reflecting on the true meaning of the day.

Memorial Day is commemorated differently. To some it is simply the beginning of summer and an opportunity to gather with friends and family around a BBQ , a beach or park. To others it’s a time to be particularly grateful and honor those who have fought for country and freedom, paying the ultimate price.

I found myself thinking how fragile life is and how for veterans it must be a very personal time to think of friends and shipmates that have gone by, that were lost. It then hit me how fewer and fewer World War II and the Korean War veterans are left and how, because of the current war on terrorism,  there now are also young faces of men and women added on a daily bases to our collective memory of those who have fallen.

One common thread seemed to repeat as I watched veterans and civilians alike line up across the nation to pay homage to heroes: Memorial Day is a day of remembering those who are no longer here, a time of memories replayed loud and clear and in full in our minds. Suddenly I was gripped by a sadness as I wondered how many of those faces maybe slowly suffering from yet another loss in front of my eyes, a loss of exactly those special life shaping memories. How many of these valiant veterans this time next year might not even remember enough to commemorate Memorial Day?

My local involvement with the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) at the University of California, Irvine (www.mind.uci.edu)  and the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) this year have helped me start to understand more the disorders of the brain, particularly those that are age-related.

5.3 million people have Alzheimer’s.  It’s the 7th leading cause of death in the United States and it has an annual health care cost of 172 billion dollars! From 2000-2006, Alzheimer’s disease deaths increased 46.1 percent, while other selected causes of death (Breast and Prostate Cancer, Heart Disease, Stroke, and HIV) decreased.

The time I have spent involved with these amazing and pioneering organizations came to the forefront of my mind on Memorial Day weekend as I asked myself a few questions regarding how I can, in my professional capacity, perhaps assist those suffering from memory loss through proper design and home modifications.  This becomes especially important in the case where an Alzheimer’s diagnosed loved one remains and is being cared for at home.

Keep in mind that each person suffering from Alzheimer’s is unique in both their stage of the disease and how it unfolds in their specific circumstance. As such, each case may require its own personalized approach when it comes to adaptations intended to help ensure safety and independence.

Apart from some of the aging in place suggestions made in previous articles, there are many things that can be done though the main ones that applies here revolves around Safety.  Here are some simple things that can be done immediately:

  • Place decals on glass patio doors to help prevent them from walking into the glass
  • Lock up medications, matches, razors, lighters, household cleaners and detergents to avoid accidental poisoning or overdosing
  • “Accident-proof” your fridge, cabinets and closets
  • Eliminate all furniture with straight or sharp corners or attach corner pads to them
  • Maintain a consistent furniture layout in the rooms to help avoid disorientation anxiety and agitation due to changes in environment
  • Consistency in all things provides a sense of safety; change on the other hand can be traumatic
  • Use plastic covers for your seating to allow for quick cleaning in case of incontinence, or replace your upholstery with one specific for dealing with this possibility
  • Hang clocks in easy to see areas around the house to help loved ones orient themselves during the day to the passing of time and what time it is
  • Use visual aids like pictures and creative signs to help them associate with areas, functions and objects around the home
  • Avoid using shiny, reflective or flickering objects since they cause confusion and depth perception problems
  • Remove items that look like fake food, such as food or fruit shaped magnets on fridges
  • Use sturdy plastic plates to help avoid breakage and wipe able table clothes for ease of cleaning
  • Plan your meal / food selections so as to allow your loved one ease of independent, safe eating
  • Make sure your trash can has a lid or is in a lockable cabinet to deter dumpster diving. This also helps avoid having loved ones throw away something valuable by mistake
  • Consider removing the dials on the stove or installing stove knob covers to avoid your loved one turning it on and starting a fire or burning themselves
  • Lower the hot water temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees to prevent scalding injuries
  • Hide car keys to avoid your loved one going for a ride and consider a hide-a-key in case your loved one locks you out of the home
  • Seal off outlets and plugs to avoid electrocution
  • Keep fire extinguishers handy in every room
  • Don’t leave lying around items like coffee makers toasters, space heaters that can be a danger to touch
  • Post in a clear place important information like doctors, 911 emergency, local police, fire and ambulance numbers in case you are not around. Other family members or even neighbors may need to intervene and call for help. Ideally this should be near a main easy to find telephone.

These are but a few things we can start to do to better care for loved ones suffering from memory impairment and Alzheimer’s–all the while working hard towards a cure for this debilitating and fatal disease.

Remember, memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging and slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills can be a symptom of Alzheimer’s. (Go to www.alz.org  to learn about the 10 Signs of Alzheimer’s )

So as Memorial Day weekend comes to a close and as we are enjoying that last hot dog or burger around the BBQ, let us make a mental note to educate ourselves about this disease and commit ourselves to helping find a cure for it. After all, it is our precious and priceless memories and our lives that are at stake.

About the Author: Raad Ghantous is the principal of Raad Ghantous & Associates and is an expert in luxury hospitality, wellness centers, and medical & day spa developments.  He is also the owner of Your Home For A Lifetime, an A.D.A/ Barrier-free/ Universal design/Aging in place, full service design/build firm with over 15 years of experience  specializing in developing integrating elegant and seamless designs/modifications to new or existing structures.

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Why to Plan for Age in Place — Even in a Tough Economy

May 6, 2010 By 14 Comments

By now we are all somewhat aware of the fact that millions of Americans are living longer and healthier lives. Given that the 65 and over population is expected to increase from approximately 35 million in 2000 to 55 million in 2020,  a lot of time and energy spent on understanding and identifying what the Boomers needs and desires might be regarding their homes. Remodelers, aging in place specialists, caregivers and occupational therapists among others have all joined forces in preparing for this coming Silver Tsunami.

Understanding the changing needs and wants of the aging Boomer generation (those born between 1946 to 1964) will play a critical role in the success or failure of many businesses and industries in the foreseeable future. This generation’s defining desires–to stay in their home as long as possible and ensure the maximum independence possible–will be right up there on their list of wants. The planning behind these needs will have a direct impact on the happiness and fruitfulness of their lives.

For all of us–perfectly healthy or otherwise–our ability to conduct simple daily tasks like cooking and bathing (with safety and efficiency) has a direct effect on our sense of happiness and independence.

Additionally, for some of us who are perhaps just shy of the Boomer generation, or who might have parents that are getting older and might worry about their safety (slipping and falls, getting up stairs), we need to familiarize ourselves with the tools and alternatives out there to help them.  Eventually, many if not all of our lives will be touched by a loved one facing a change in mobility and ambulatory consideration, cognitive awareness or simply temporary disability (not always due to aging either!).

How Big is the Aging in Place Market?

  • 89% of people 50+ wish to remain in their own homes indefinitely (AARP)*
  • 75% of remodelers have seen an increase in requests for aging in place work (NAHB)**
  • 60% of remodelers already perform aging in place work (NAHB)
  • Over half of all 55+ households rate their current home a 9 or 10 out of 10 (American Housing Survey)
  • The aging population is the number two issue to affect the remodeling industry over the next five years, only behind the availability of skilled labor (NAHB)

*American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
**National Association of Home Builders

At least 20% of Americans are impacted by functional limitations and almost 60 million have some sort of permanent disability. The design or remodeling of homes should start to translate these realities into actual functional and aesthetically-pleasing spaces.

In my opinion, it is unconscionable for any design professional to not take this opportunity to educate the home owner on the ideas and principles of aging in place.  They should also pay keen attention to how it will address and provide for the home owners future demands for the space–not simply their current ones.

Home owners are investing good money in their homes and should be informed that this expenditure, with a slightly modified way of thinking and philosophy in approach, can also comfortably, stylishly and safely serve their possible changing needs over time.

What Should Be Considered When Remodeling For Aging in Place?

  • A low-maintenance exterior
  • Landscape /curb appeal design that considers possible location of future needed ramp(s)
  • Zero threshold entry to the home with some sort of entry canopy or overhang
  • No change in levels on the main floor
  • An open floor plan, especially in the kitchen/dining area
  • Varying heights for eating in kitchen design
  • Multi functional and possibly adjustable height millwork and storage areas
  • Placement of appliances with universal accessibility in mind
  • A master bedroom & bath on the ground floor.
  • Stacking closets for a future elevator shaft
  • Non-slip flooring in all pathways (if not all areas)
  • Wider doorways (minimum 3’ doors)
  • Lever-style door handles throughout
  • Bright lighting in all areas especially places like stairway landings
  • Handrails at all steps (if the home has them)
  • Multiple sources for lighting to reduce glare and shadows
  • Contrasting colors for depth perception in counter and flooring selections and design
  • Grab bars (or at least blocking in walls where they might be needed in the future)
  • Higher-seat toilets

What is the purchasing power of Boomers?

According to industry studies, Boomers control 80% of all the money in savings in the United States and about 75% of all privately held financial assets at any time–regardless of value of those portfolios. As such, this 1/3 of the nation’s population controls 2/3 of the total spending capital and disposal income!

Also keep in mind that even in a tough real estate market, such improvements and modifications may in fact appeal to potential buyers since such home will provide a longer stay. Owning such homes will also make it possible for buyers to address age-related disabilities of visiting older relatives, and make it easier for some to care for live-in parents (known as “sandwich” households).

A recent NAHB survey found that “Seventy percent of homeowners started remodeling projects for aging-in-place because they were planning ahead for such future needs.”

Boomers have defined the mass consumer market trends for the last 40 to 50 years. With their financial clout and their generation’s distinctive sense of self and style, they will continue to drive what sells and what is in demand in the years to come.

About the Author: Raad Ghantous is the principal of Raad Ghantous & Associates and is an expert in luxury hospitality, wellness centers, and medical & day spa developments.  He is also the owner of Your Home For A Lifetime, an A.D.A/ Barrier-free/ Universal design/Aging in place, full service design/build firm with over 15 years of experience  specializing in developing integrating elegant and seamless designs/modifications to new or existing structures.

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There is No Place Like Home

January 6, 2010 By 26 Comments

What is the definition of “home”?  Well, in most dictionaries home is where you live at a particular time, a dwelling, an environment offering affection, safety and security, a haven.  But it also goes beyond the confines of four walls and a roof over our heads.  Home is also used in a broader sense relating to or being where one lives or where one’s roots are; as in “my home town,” a place where something began and flourished and even possibly the country or state or city where you live.  So when we talk about Aging-in-Place, eventually we need to also address the importance and impacts of the built environments beyond our houses.  We need to evaluate if our neighborhoods and communities will enable successful aging and livability; You see, “our homes” contribute to the basis of our individual and common identities. They hold our memories and they give us a sense of place.

The year 2011 is seen by many as the beginning of the “Changing Face of Aging” in America.  It is when the first wave of baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) will start to turn 65; that is less than 2 years from now! How well will our communities as they are currently configured deal with this paradigm shift based on age? Their ability to adapt to the changing needs of an aging nation should factor into every planning decision that the community is considering.  How projects, developments and urban planning might impact older active adults can no longer be an afterthought if our communities are to retain their appeal and remain not only habitable but also profitable in every meaning of the word.

AARP has done extensive research on the baby boomers in recent years and has found that “Boomers” are:

  • More ethnically diverse than prior generations.
  • Tend to be more highly educated than prior generations.
  • Do not plan to retire  in the traditional sense.
  • Plan to continue to work during their “retirement years.”
  • Live in the same State…a state of denial!
  • Wanting to remain in their own homes as they age or as long as possible.

In fact when asked where they want to live as they age, 90 percent of Boomers say, “in my home.”  They do not want to live with relatives, in a nursing home, or at an assisted care facility. They want to live at home independently and without loss of comfort, security and the freedom to continue to engage in community life.

But given the nature and configuration of most communities across the United States, can Boomers realize those expectations?

Unfortunately most of the country, if not the world, is likely to find itself unprepared for the coming tidal wave of Boomers known as the Silver Tsunami. As we look ahead, we find that the 65+ population is projected to grow faster than the population at-large in all 50 states, with some states finding themselves in the challenging situation of having more Medicare-eligible seniors than school-age children. It is expected too that this population will double over the next 30 years, to over 70 million; a third of America’s current population!

As you can imagine, these age-based population changes will come with many challenges including how to make our communities more “livable.”

Often people, local governments and even States don’t think about this until they suddenly find themselves trapped in towns with poor public transportation and not enough medical services. Simple services like grocery or drug stores, may become too hard to reach without the help of a neighbor or friend – especially as seniors give up their driver’s licenses for safety reasons.  Even walking, if there are no sidewalks, become a major challenge. Without addressing some of these basics we risk ending up with an aging population prone to isolation, social disconnect and despair.

What are Livable Communities?

In AARP’s study, A Report to the Nation on Livable Communities: Creating Environments for Successful Aging, livable communities are defined as those with “affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options, which together facilitate personal independence and the engagement of residents in civic and social life.”

Livability under those parameters means asking questions such as, does your home town have one-story dwellings? Or are most homes built to accommodate the raising of families? Is there a Visit-ability initiative in place that encourages or insists on no-step entries, sidewalks you can actually walk on, bus stops with benches and overhead shading or shelters, libraries and parks that are easily if not even universally accessible and much more.  Most communities these days find themselves blindsided by the changing needs based on aging and playing catch up or even in some cases don’t even realize what’s hit or about to hit them until it’s too late!

We’re all responsible, as individuals, members of local government, city planners, or simply as voters to think about these issues in the days to come so that we can not only safeguard ourselves but also to increase our chances to age well in the future by making the right decisions now.

Livability is not just an aging and elderly issue.  Striving and insisting on nothing short of livable communities is not an impossible goal and in fact in many ways is the right thing to do to continue to empower people as they age and to prolong their quality of life. Such communities make life more comfortable and convenient for active and able citizens regardless of age as well as those with disabilities.

Yet in order to meet theses most obvious of things we will need a wholesale overhaul in the way we think about our homes and our built environments. After all, embracing the principles of livable communities honors those core foundations of American life: dignity, equality, independence, and the freedom and right to choose….and we will need to start doing so now!

About the Author: Raad Ghantous is the principal of Raad Ghantous & Associates and is an expert in luxury hospitality, wellness centers, and medical & day spa developments.  He is also the owner of Your Home For A Lifetime, an A.D.A/ Barrier-free/ Universal design/Aging in place, full service design/build firm with over 15 years of experience  specializing in developing integrating elegant and seamless designs/modifications to new or existing structures

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The Holidays Are Coming – Visitability – Part 2

November 11, 2009 By 2 Comments

Part 2 in a series on Visitability.

The most important thing you can do to make your home visit-able is to ensure that you have at least one zero-step entry into your home. That is access to your home that doesn’t require anyone navigating a change of level or steps. In case you do not have this currenyly you can even rent-a-ramp for the holidays to allow this access into and out of the house if needed.

Make your hallways wider and more accessibility friendly by moving any obstructions such as  furniture from them to facilitate ease of movement for anyone in a wheelchair, walker or mechanical  mobility devices, like a scooter chair. Also remember to remove all area rugs and floor mats since  those are notorious culprits in slip and falls and act as irritating obstacles to any wheelchairs  attempting to achieve firm and safe traction with flooring.

Most elderly family members might also like to congregate in the kitchen and even offer to help or want to help in the preparation of the festivity meals. To make them feel at home and at ease in offering, try to provide some counter space that is lower for them to work at. This can be achieved
by placing a lower table, even a folding card table, at the end of a central island so that they can pull their wheelchair or seat up to it, have enough knee clearance and lend a helping hand.

Another great quick fix is to use a pull-out bread board and have them work off that. Remember sometimes a sit down work surface is in fact appealing to anyone who might be performing repetitive actions like cutting or rolling — be they able-bodied or dealing with a mobility challenge.

Now that the meal is prepared, family and friends will gather around the dining table to share those special moments of communing and partaking in the fabulous feast. Ah but have we pre-planned where our guests who use wheelchairs are going to sit? Given the fact that most dining tables,
especially those with an apron, do not usually have enough knee clearance, we should probably arrange to have the table raised to provide a minimum of 27 inches of clear knee space below. This can be tricky since whatever we do to raise the table must ensure that the table is stable and secured in place.

After the meal is done, we may find some will retire to the closest living room or lounge and for that area of the room to be accommodating you might want to remove any coffee or side tables that make maneuverable pathways narrow or difficult to get around. I can’t tell you how many times I have
knocked my shin against a heavy coffee table as I plumped down on a deep sofa after stuffing myself on turkey. Oh yeah and speaking of that, make sure that all your seating options are not overly soft and unsupported since some of your guests might be elderly and need the support of a firm seat and
arms on a chair to safely sit down and stand up as they eventually make their way to the closest bathroom.

This brings us to the next area of the home that needs some pre-planning and attention. Make sure that at the very least the toilet seat is user-friendly by installing a plastic riser seat which you can get from any local DIY, drug or hardware store. While at the store you can also get yourself some
temporary grab bars that can be connected to the toilet or seat and provide the needed short term support. At your sink area, make sure that you have towels close to the front, perhaps on a floor-standing towel ring, and also tilt the mirror forward a little if you can to insure it is not to high for
use by those who might be in a wheelchair or elderly who have limited movement in their neck, back and shoulders.

Some of your mobility-challenged guests might also be staying overnight and will need some prepared area to bath and sleep. In the case of the bathing, assuming you don’t have a no-curb shower already in your home, simply add a removable transfer bench, preferably with some grab bar supports to a tub or shower and replace or add a hand held shower head to help control the flow
and direction of the water while bathing. These are available at your local hardware store.

At last, everyone is turning in for the night after a day of freedom of mobility and fun festivities. Your special guests have their sleeping accommodations all ready for them with their beds raised on  similar blocking as the dining table to facilitate transferring from their wheelchairs. The beds are also pushed apart to allow maximum maneuverability and visit-ability as the day draws to a close and everyone settles in for the night.

Oh yes and better put the holiday cookies on the lower counter space in the kitchen just in case Santa decides to leave his sleigh at home this year and make his deliveries from the back of a Rascal Turnabout Electric mobility chair! After all he is aging gracefully too, you know.

About the Author: Raad Ghantous is the principal of Raad Ghantous & Associates and is an expert in luxury hospitality, wellness centers, and medical & day spa developments.  He is also the owner of Your Home For A Lifetime, an A.D.A/ Barrier-free/ Universal design/Aging in place, full service design/build firm with over 15 years of experience  specializing in developing integrating elegant and seamless designs/modifications to new or existing structures.

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The Holidays are Coming – Visit-ability (Part One)

October 23, 2009 By 2 Comments

“Holidays are coming, holidays are coming, holidays are coming … watch out, look around, something’s coming, coming to town, coming to your town, holidays are coming, something magical, can you see it shining bright? Tis the season …”

These are the lyrics from Coca Cola’s famous “Holidays are Coming” advertising that has been around for decades and usually runs to announce the soon to arrive holiday season.

Here we are again at the beginning of another such season, with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas on the doorstep. A time for family and friends to visit and share the warmth of the season together – that is assuming our homes are “visit-able.”

Visit-ability, a trend that has been gaining more and more support starting in the mid-80s is a movement/philosophy that seeks to insure that all homes are at least partially accessible to people with mobility impairments, even though those in fact might not be the owners of the homes but rather occasional visitors.

The importance of this simple philosophy can be seen even more when one realizes that America’s 50-plus population is likely to exceed 100 million by 2010. Ten thousand people will reach the age of 50 every single day and this 50-plus consumer base will account for more than one-quarter of all new home sales in the future. One can argue that making a home visit-able may even have a direct positive impact on its resale ability.

In fact, back in 2006 the National Association of Home Builders stated that “Our visiting parents aren’t getting any younger (and neither are we). Visit-ability in entry doors, barrier-free showers and non-stoop dishwashers show buyers you care” were in their list of emerging trends. Visit-ability modifications also make homes easier for people who might develop mobility limitations to still visit friends and family, rather than have to turn down invitations or not be invited at all. Therefore, visit-ability can even act as a first step towards a fully universally-designed home.

These features provide basic universal access and allow currently able-bodied people to remain in their homes if they do in fact develop a disability, and as such to start to age-in-place, rather than to be forced to do expensive renovations, relocate to a different house, live in an inaccessible home which endangers their health and safety, or move from the community they love and feel safe and oriented in into a care facility prematurely.

Many of us baby boomers are also taking care of parents, and parents are visiting their children’s homes or living with us even now, so maybe we should look at the upcoming holiday season as a magical opportunity to prepare our homes to match the warmth of our hospitality through their visit-ability.

So how do we go about making these necessary changes to be able to entertain our families regardless of their individual impairments you ask? Well, some of these modifications can be temporary and barely cost you any money at all.

We’ll cover some of these specifics in Part Two.

About the Author: Raad Ghantous is the principal of Raad Ghantous & Associates and is an expert in luxury hospitality, wellness centers, and medical & day spa developments.  He is also the owner of Your Home For A Lifetime, an A.D.A/ Barrier-free/ Universal design/Aging in place, full service design/build firm with over 15 years of experience  specializing in developing integrating elegant and seamless designs/modifications to new or existing structures.

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Getting Started with DIY Universal Design and Aging in Place

August 21, 2009 By 10 Comments

Sure you’re an “active adult,” but are you proactive or reactive?

In the “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey focuses on the importance of character when defining effectiveness stating that the first habit for developing character is Be Proactive. Covey explains it this way:

“Reactive people are driven by feelings, circumstances, conditions, and the environment. Proactive people are driven by carefully considered, selected and internalized values. Taking the initiative …. means recognizing our responsibility to make things happen.”

This means that for many of us there are two ways to choose to live: either we are intentional and proactive or we can be habitual and reactive.  We can either consciously strive for a life that we really want or we can live in a default setting, unconsciously reacting to whatever life throws at us.How does this apply to universal design and aging in place you ask? Or why would I even choose to start this blog post with such a quote?

I have been asked by many to start discussing specific enhancement one can do to their home and make it more a home for a lifetime.  This will be the main area of blogging for the next few postings.  Before we get to what modifications we can do, I wanted to take a moment and explain why we should do them.

The Why…

We should all be considering including aging in place options into any remodeling – even in this economy – so that we can be proactive in securing our, and our family’s future. As we live longer, the chance of experiencing an unfortunate accident or other mobility or sensory impairment increases.  Given that it isn’t a matter of “if” but “when,” wouldn’t we rather go through those circumstances in our own homes while saving thousands of dollars as well?
Changes in ability can make our daily routines increasingly difficult.  Our homes can change to meet our new needs rather than us having to adjust our behavior to make up for its shortcomings.

True independent living is achieved only through proactive universal design that complements our individual life styles and protects our quality of life. Being Proactive means freedom and specifically a freedom and willingness to embrace change assertively!

The What…

So now that we have an understanding of “why,” let’s start exploring “what” we should look for when performing a home accessibility check. The main areas that Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) look at are:

  • Entry ways
  • Hallways
  • Bathrooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Kitchens
  • Garages
  • Stairways
  • Windows
  • Lighting
  • Exterior of the home

The solutions and suggestions that are developed after such a check are focused primarily on greatly increasing the comfort, safety and accessibility of the home.

Below are some questions you should ask about your home.  I consider it a “quick check” for universal design.  Let’s look at the hallways, bathrooms and kitchen.

Some questions to consider:

  • Are your entries barrier-free and allow for the use of a wheelchair, walker or scooter?
  • How about your hallways are they wide enough to allow the same?
  • Do they have adequate night-lights?
  • How about at the top and bottom of stairways?

Bathrooms

  • Do they have enough maneuverability for a wheelchair or a walker?
  • Do you have enough behind the wall support in case you need to install grab bars in the future?
  • Is there at least one no curb shower in the home with a hand held adjustable showerhead?

Kitchen

  • Are there any countertops at a height conducive for someone using a walker or in a wheelchair with enough clearance below?
  • How about the sink area, cooking surfaces, or storage?
  • How accessible are those areas or the appliances?
  • For example in some cases dishwashers need to be raised to allow accessibility an idea that is beneficial for everyone since it reduces the distance even disabled persons have to bend down and up when loading and unloading it.

As you can see, we have just started to scratch the surface.  There is a lot to cover in the area of modifications and options and this will be our focus in upcoming articles.

We will strive to discuss these important areas in our homes in depth and provide both no-cost / low-cost modification options anyone can do over the course of a few weekends.  We’ll also outline larger scale modifications that may require some outside help to make your home more livable and accessible.

About the Author: Raad Ghantous is the principal of Raad Ghantous & Associates and is an expert in luxury hospitality, wellness centers, and medical & day spa developments.  He is also the owner of Your Home For A Lifetime, an A.D.A/ Barrier-free/ Universal design/Aging in place, full service design/build firm with over 15 years of experience  specializing in developing integrating elegant and seamless designs/modifications to new or existing structures.

Filed Under: Aging in Place Tagged With: , ,
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