Give the gift of senior safety

Flickr photo by toddalert.

If your folks have decided to stay in the family home, consider giving them a Christmas present that could ensure their safety while providing you some peace of mind.

Give your parents a custom gift certificate that would offer an "aging in place" evaluation of their home -- perhaps the same house in which you were raised that has undergone very few improvements up to now.

The National Association of Home Builders now has a designation for aging-in-place specialists, or CAPS. If family members or loved ones are adamant about living their remaining years in their current residence -- and an overwhelming number of seniors would prefer to stay put -- perhaps a gift-wrapped evaluation from a confident contractor could be the first step in making their lives more comfortable.

According to AARP, the organization formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, nearly a quarter of Americans aged 45 or older say they or someone they live with will have trouble maneuvering around their home in the coming years. A survey by the group -- the United States' largest organization for those 50 and older -- showed that fewer than 10 percent of the nation's approximately 100 million housing units have features to make them universally accessible.

The survey also revealed that 90 percent of persons older than 65 would prefer to remain in their homes, but, as they age, accessibility problems can become an issue and make their age-in-place goal unattainable.

In order to obtain the CAPS designation, builders must participate in a three-day training program. The program provides information about aging-in-place home modifications, including background on the older adult population and their special needs, common aging-in-place remodeling projects, marketing to the aging-in-place market, codes and standards, common barriers and solutions, product ideas, resources and communication techniques. The CAPS program was created by the NAHB Remodelers council in collaboration with the NAHB seniors housing council, research center and AARP.

Projects for the aging-in-place remodeling business range from installation of bath and shower grab bars and adjustment of countertop heights to the creation of multifunctional first-floor master suites and the installation of private elevators. CAPS training participants learn the mechanics and nuances of effective assessment of clients' needs and integrating myriad considerations into unified, aesthetically pleasing, functional solutions. ...CONTINUED

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