As assisted living and nursing home prices skyrocket we all have to look at certain realities. There is a shortage of rooms for all the elderly and disabled and not everyone is going to be able to afford (or desires) a room in a long term facility. Look at this fact 78 percent of adults between the ages of 50 and 64 report that they would prefer to stay in their current residence as they age so why would we as their children or caregivers push for that? Are we looking at all options? Many of already have very limited time to look at other options. One answer can be a qualified “aging in place” or accessibility specialist. An “aging in place” or accessibility specialist assists an individual to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. They can come into your home and help find solutions to issues that one has. If an injury has already occurred, a specialist can work with your Occupational or Physical Therapist to make sure that any modifications will work.
Many people have trouble convincing elders to have some modifications done to their homes. Its easy to understand; people feel that it will take value away from the property, they might believe that it will make the home they have lived in for years look institutional and many people are unaware, of the costs of assisted living and nursing homes. By the way the national average for nursing homes is $83,000 per year (96,000 in Wisconsin) and assisted living is $41,000 per year (42,000 in Wisconsin) and from what I have seen that may not include a meal plan. In a 2002 study by Min Soo Kang, reported that the elder population in America, 18% will have a disability. This calculates to 51 million Americans who have difficulty in functioning every day. 32% over the age 65 will have difficulty walking which may require use of wheelchairs and canes. To be easier for the elder, some modification that can aid them are wider entrances, grab rails, etc. Remember that we are all living longer so these modifications are even a better value. Let us look at some quick numbers. Mom goes into a nursing home in Wisconsin at $96,000 per year and is going to be there 5 years 5 x $96,000 = $480,000.00. The majority of us do not have that amount of money. An aging in place or accessibility specialist can help adapt a home for much less of a cost. An average bathroom remodel costs $15,000 to $20,000 dollars and the bathroom is usually where the majority of injuries occur. Did you know that last year Medicare spent an average of $9,113 to $13,507 on injuries related to falls and the majority of those where in the bathroom. There exist many risks for injury to older adults in the common household, therefore impeding upon their capability to successfully age in place, a aging in place specialist can and will help.
The question remains how to find the most qualified aging in place specialist to assist you in adapting your home, as there are many contractors out there who claim to specialize in this area with very little expertise, training, or insight. One item of great importance is finding a professional with the right credentials. The National Association of Home Builders offers the fairly well known certification of CAPS – Certified Aging in Place specialist, individuals with this certification have gone through a 3 day training, however just one of those 3 days pertains specifically to the actual implementation of aging in place modifications, the other 2 days are devoted to business and marketing development of your aging in place business. Another certification is the CEAC – Certified Environmental Access Consultant, a program offered through the durable medical equipment industry and focused on education and instruction in principals of accessible design, aging in place and specific training with extensive self study and competency testing afterwards. A third qualification is the ECHM – Environmental Certificate in Home Modifications through the University of Southern California. This is a semester long, multi-module training in accessible home modifications and principals of universal design and aging in place – and by far the most comprehensive of specific home modification training programs available. With all of these training programs one common point remains: the importance of utilizing the expertise of an occupational or physical therapist. Working closely with an occupational or physical therapist ensures an extensive knowledge in function, safety, and how to achieve independence with mobility and daily care tasks. In the expanding market of accessible products, lifts, and resources – working with professionals who have an awareness of what is available Working the the right professionals to find intelligent solutions can help you remain at home safely, comfortably, and affordably.
This article was written by Edward Still – Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BILD – Bridgeway Indpendent Living Designs, LLC. BILD is an aging in place and accessible remodeler and lift/elevator company which provides the region’s most trained specialists in accessible design with physical and occupational therapists on staff with the above certifications of CAPS, CEAC, and ECHM. Milwaukee based BILD serves Wisconsin and Illinois including the Chicago, IL area. Visit our website to explore the many options for accessible modifications at www.bildnow.com, or call us today for a free consultation – 262-671-2032 (WI) or 847-453-8866 (IL)
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