How to Spend Your Golden Years Safely at Home
Judie Docs, Executive Officer – CSP, MCSP, CGP, CMP, MIRM
North Coast Building Industry Association (NCBIA) ncbia.com
Homeowners are increasingly interested in living out their golden years in their own home. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), more than three-fourths of remodelers (76%) indicated that requests for aging-in-place features have significantly or somewhat increased over the past five years. The “age in place” approach affords homeowners the ability to live comfortably and independently in the safety of their own home regardless of their age or ability.
To help make a smooth transition into this stage of their lives, many baby boomers are searching for builders and remodelers who can help turn their home into a more convenient place to live as they age.
Building professionals who have earned the NAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation have received training on how to build or renovate a home so that the occupants can live in the home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of their age or ability level. While most CAPS professionals are remodelers, an increasing number are general contractors, designers, architects, and healthcare professionals.
NAHB found that the two most common reasons homeowners request aging-in-place projects are planning ahead for future needs (88%) and living with older parents (50%). Many existing or older homes are simply not equipped to meet the needs of the baby boomer generation.
There are many projects that homeowners can request to better accommodate their current or future needs. Grab bars are the most common aging-in-place project, with 93% of remodelers reporting this job in the last year. They are followed by curb-less showers (83%), higher toilets (77%), wider doorways (63%), and adding lighting/task lighting (49%).
CAPS professionals are helping homeowners find aging-in-place solutions that fit their specific needs and budget. CAPS remodelers and builders are trained to understand the unique needs of aging adults without sacrificing the aesthetic value of the home.
Aging homeowners looking to renovate need to be able to find a remodeler they can trust completely, and the CAPS designation helps give homeowners a guarantee that they’re working with a trustworthy professional who’s an expert in aging-in place renovation. While most CAPS professionals are remodelers, an increasing number are general contractors, designers, architects, and health care consultants.
CAPS designees pledge to uphold a strict code of conduct, so you can be sure that they will listen closely to your specific needs and will never push you to add any renovations you don’t need. In addition, CAPS professionals also commit to attending continuing education programs, so they are always up to date on the latest aging-in-place technologies and strategies.
If you’d like to find a builder or remodeler in your area with a CAPS or other designation, contact the NCBIA. We are your local not-for-profit trade association representing member companies involved in all aspects of home building, remodeling, and other aspects of services available to help you in the future as well as more information on the above topic. So, you can see it is for your protection that you use a NCBIA member. If you are unsure that your contractor is a member of the NCBIA or you are looking for a list of NCBIA members, you can visit our website at www.ncbia.com – go to Members and then Member Search, or call 440-934-1090. We also have a job posting board (under the industry tab).
Visit our 24/7 Virtual Parade of Homes!!! Allows you to look at some of our builders’ new homes and communities on your mobile device or computer at your leisure (including our remodelers) We know time is our greatest asset and via our NCBIA Virtual Parade of Homes, we save you time looking for a new home or a community that fits your lifestyle. The Virtual Parade of Homes is open online 24/7. Many of the homes featured in our Virtual Parade host regular open house hours for those consumers who are looking to tour the actual homes. You can click through to builder websites to see what they have to offer.
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