As more and more Baby Boomers hit their retirement years, housing for this generation becomes an evermore important issue. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) approximately 80% of Americans over the age of 55 own their own home. What is CAPS, though and who benefits?
The Certified Aging-in-Place progNot surprising, many Americans would stay in their home rather than move to assisted living or other alternate living arrangements. Enter the Certified Aging-in-Place (CAPS) program. ram was designed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers, in conjunction with the Association for the Advancement of Retired People, better known as AARP, NAHB Research Center and the 50+ Housing Council. Essentially, a new home or remodel designed toward aging in place could allow the homeowner, in advanced years, to remain comfortably and safely in that home. Thoughtful design will take into consideration all possible barriers to homeowners with varying physical abilities over time.
At any age, everyone can benefit from a CAPS project. Obviously, by installing features such as bath and shower grab bars and private elevators, homeowners will immediately realize the increased safety and convenience. However, installations of countertop height adjustments and wider hallways may just ‘feel’ better for people of any age. When should CAPS features be installed in a home? The answer is – anytime!
Of course, forethought on a remodel or new construction project can help set the stage for easy conversion later, good planning can mean making aging in place installations (like wider hallways) a feature you may wish to include in your immediate remodel or new construction plans. Although CAPS features can be installed at any point, taking future CAPS needs into consideration early on can minimize the cost of a potential project in the future.
Diane Gassman, a CAPS certified interior designer here at The Artisans Group, notes, “It’s remarkable how easily some installations can be integrated seamlessly into a project. It really makes sense to at least consider the options at the onset of a project.”
At The Artisans Group, our Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists have worked with many homeowners, in all stages of their lives, addressing the aspects of aging-in-place and how best to integrate those ideas into their new projects.
Posted on September 13, 2009
