Home Modifications Ease Aging In Place

By Nancy K. Crevier

Whether senior citizens elect for outside care, family care, or an Aging in Place organization to help them remain as independent as possible in their older years, adaptations to the environment and lifestyle can be necessary.

 “It is never too early to think about your aging years,” said Paul Lacovara, whose experience working with the elderly as the in-home program director at Almost Family in Danbury has helped him see what does and does not work. “You need to ask if your home will still work for you in 30 or 40 years. Will you have enough money when you are older and not working? You definitely have to plan ahead. Aging is going to happen to all of us. It’s inevitable.”

The National Association of Home Builders website recommends home modifications for aging clients, such as the creation of multifunctional first floor master suites, installation of private elevators, and adjustment of countertop heights to increase maneuverability. Consideration as to the cost of remodeling or building needs to be addressed, and Certified Aging in Place Specialists are trained to address codes and standards, expenditures and projects, product ideas, and resources that provide practical aging in place solutions, according to NAHB, which has collaborated with the NAHB Research Center, NAHB50+ Housing Council, and the Association for the Advancement of Retired People.

It was firsthand experience that led remodeling contractor Peter McLoughlin of CFR Construction, LLC in Newtown to become a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, through a National Association of Homebuilders program.

“I got involved five years ago when my father-in-law became infirm and we needed to install modifications to his home so that he could remain there. I realized that I needed more information, so I took the CAPS training and became certified in 2003,” said Mr McLoughlin. “[Aging in Place specialist] is a small market niche at this point, but given that baby boomers are roughly 76 million, it will only get bigger,” he added.

The modifications can range from the simple, such as the installation of higher wattage bulbs at the tops of landings to the exotic, said Mr McLoughlin, such as the installation of elevators.

What needs to be weighed before undertaking modifications that can cost hundreds or many thousands of dollars, though, is how much sense it makes to put the money into a home and if it is affordable, and the emotional component of wanting to stay in familiar surroundings. A CAPS professional can assist homeowners in determining what the best modifications for their needs may be, Mr McLoughlin explained.

Robert Eckenrode of Newtown is a residential home designer who is a member of The Fairfield County Homebuilders Association, the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), a Certified Graduate Remodeler, and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS).

“The basic design criteria I use involves an analysis of what my clients needs are and coming up with a healthy, comfortable, safe solution that meets these residential needs,” said Mr Eckenrode. He uses the principles of universal design, in which the user of the space and their needs dictates what will be the most effective design. Small changes allow for comfort and safety, said Mr Eckenrode.

For the elderly, the installation of multiple grab bars in bathrooms and at stairways and exterior landings provides protection from falls. Wider doors with lever type handles are easier for both the very young and very old to open and close doors; more and brighter lighting can be installed in task areas; and improving ventilation in living spaces can greatly increase comfort.

“More involved projects such as a kitchen, bath, or major addition allows for more design opportunities,” said Mr Eckenrode. “Flush exterior walkways and entry points to the house, three-foot-wide doorways and wider hallways, and well-lit interiors are part of a basic universal design approach to safety, comfort, and accessibility.” Mr Eckenrode noted that “architects, designers, and builders of commercial and residential buildings, like myself, have the potential to become a major positive influence in how we all live gracefully to old age in a healthy, welcoming community.”