Independent Living through Silver Industries and Tecvhnology

1. Keeping Older Adults Independent, Productive, and
Connected.
wraaa Expo
June 3, 2009

2. James M Stevens, President
Caring Transitions, Inc.
Frank Kuhar, Jr., Owner
Revived Housing Developers

3.  Independent living is not doing things by
yourself, it’s being in control of how things
are done for you. (Author Unknown)

4. Older
Traditional Adults Silver
Product or
Service Unique Industry
Needs

5.  The number of Americans age 65 + is expected to
increase from 34 million in 1995 to 62 million by
2025.
 More people are over 65 than are in their teens and
people are over 85 than under 5 (Lamm & Lamm
2002)
 12 million elders will require care by 2020
(Brubaker and Brubaker)

6.  The percentage of Americans 65 and older has risen
to 12.6 percent, or 37.9 million, as of 2007, from 12.4
percent, or 35 million, in 2000. (U.S. Census Bureau.)
 Americans aged 85 and older comprise the fastest
growing segment of the U.S. population
 The U.S. population aged 65 and older will jump
nearly 80% when the baby boomer generation
retires.

7.  Healthcare
 Real Estate
 The Media/Advertisers
 Retail
 Automobile
 Pharmaceuticals

8.  Largest impact of all
 Medicare of 1960’s
 Living longer
 Delivery systems have changed
 Sky rocketing costs

9.  Easy Living Homes promote
 “Visitability” and Aging In Place
 Senior Real Estate Specialists (SRES)
 Understand aging clients special needs

10.  Market is shifting
 The younger generation has aged
 The mature audience has arrived
 A more sensitive attitude has developed
 Careful of insulting images
 Stereotyped “senior”

11.  “The Market” = Older Adults
 Growth of AARP products and services
 Restaurants
 Drug Stores
 Grocery stores
 Many now employ seniors

12.  Empathetic Engineers
 Third Age Suits
 Technological Innovation
 Adaptive design changes
 Wider door openings
 Grab bars
 Knobs and buttons

13.  Senior Market accounts for 40% of all prescription
drugs
 New Government programs
 Medicare Part D
 Other prescription drug plans
 CVS Free medication reviews for seniors
 Drug companies sponsoring exercise and health
awareness clinics

14.  The goal is to stay independent, productive, and
connected to family in familiar surroundings.
 Modifying the home
 Providing in home services
 Supportive Services and Devices

15.  Non Medical Services
 Senior Move Management Services
 Bill paying and financial chores
 Adaptive devices

16.  Reasons for the growth of this industry
 Social isolation is a common problem among the elderly
 Many older adults only need help with everyday activities
 IL, AL, and SNF’s are often not affordable
 Most seniors prefer to age in place
 Services provided
 Assistance with ADL’s
 Meal prep
 Companionship
 Housekeeping
 Errands

17.  Helping families cope with life’s third most stressful
event
Moving = Change = Stress
 Emerging industry filling a gap.
 Our goal is to ease the physical and emotional aspects
of a later life move, while delivering our services with
compassion and respect.

18.  Help with day-to-day financial chores
 Services tailored to the needs of the older adult
 Bill paying
 Tracking medical claims
 Reconciling bank accounts
 Help in navigating the “system”
 Work in conjunction with other professionals

19.  Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)
•Adding grab bars
•Installing higher toilets
•Upgrading to a curb-less shower
•Widening doorways
•Constructing ramps or lowering
thresholds
•Enhance lighting by adding more
lighting with adjustable controls

20. Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist
 The CAPS designation identifies remodelers that have been
trained to help retirees and older adults remain in their
homes safely, independently and comfortably, regardless
of income or ability level, and continue to live in a familiar
environment throughout their maturing years.
 The Remodelers Council of the National Assoc. of Home
Builders (NAHB) in collaboration with NAHB Research
Center, NAHB Seniors Council and AARP created the
CAPS Program.

21. Universal Design defined…
 “An approach to the development of products and
environments that can be used effectively by all
people, to the greatest extent possible, without the
need for adaptation or specialized design”
( North Carolina State University, 1997 )

22. Principles of Universal Design
 Equitable Use
 Flexibility in Use
 Simple and Intuitive Use
 Perceptible Information
 Tolerance for Error
 Low Physical Effort
 Size and Space for Approach and use.

23. Things to Consider
 Consider how the alterations will affect the re-sale
value of your home
 Consider the cost of the alterations versus the cost of a
senior community

24. It affects us all…
“It is likely that everyone of us will experience some
type of physical challenge in our lifetime”.
A range of needs & abilities throughout the life span
 Young children ----- Older adults
 People of short stature----Tall people
 Thinner people ----Heavier people
 People with temporary----permanent disabilities

25. Attractive, Accessible Remodeling
VISITABILITY
 The ability for ALL people to visit,
socialize, live in a residential setting,
“age in place”.
 Focus on homes, not public
accommodations as covered by the ADA

26. Making the Home Accessible & Safe
 Adaptive Technology
 Fire Alarms/Carbon Monoxide Detectors
 Entrances/Exits
 Kitchens
 Bathrooms
 Flooring
 Lighting
 Home Layout

27.  Automated pill dispensers (connected to monitoring services).
 Alarm monitoring services that monitor movement or lack of
movement. They keep an eye on water intrusion, HVACs
equipment, smoke and carbon monoxide.
 Intercoms with cameras give residents a way to screen solicitors at the
front door.
 Technology to allow adult children to monitor the homes
HVACs, medical data and visually check on mom or dad through
cameras and web cams.
 Biometric & code operated entry door locks.
 Fire suppression hoods that shut off fuel/power to stove and extinguish
fire.

28. Entrances , Exits, Exterior
 Residential automated door openers with remote
control
 Covered entrances
 Attached garages, detached garages with breezeways,
or heated sidewalks
 Standing gardens-elevated vegetable gardens or flower
beds

32.  Remote controlled exhaust hood
 Pull down shelf units (Rev a shelf) –pull up shelves for
lower cabinet
 Pot fillers and well placed sinks
 Sit-down workspaces for food prep (perfect place for
2nd sink)
 Induction cook top and front mounted controls
prevent burns and scalding
 Elevate dishwasher to elevate back strain
 Well placed outlets (front mounted)

36.  Threaded (hose ready) spigots in the shower area
 Tilting mirrors
 Preset water temp shower faucets
 Hands free sink faucets
 Tub cut-retrofit option for older bathtubs
 Humidity, motion, and timer controlled exhaust fans
 Universal designed bathtub.
 Walk in bathtubs
 Personal toilet seats/bidets

37. Examples of remodeling for accessibility

38. More examples…

42.  Reduce or eliminate glossy/hard surfaces—this will
help reduce slipping, sun glare and puddles
 Low pile carpet with minimal padding
 Minimize any elevation differences throughout
 Use softer flooring options-such as linoleum and cork
 Contrast-used to differentiate edges, danger, and level
changes

43.  As much natural light as possible (Vitamin D).
 Adjustable direct and indirect lighting.
 Up down/down up miniblinds to minimize sun glare.
 Night lights-soft light that guides residence from
bedrooms to bathrooms safely. Stairs are also danger
zones.
 Motion/infrared activated lighting.
 Garage door openers can initiate lights inside the
home.

44. Laundry room
 Elevated half shower washing station – can
be used to bathe pets and water plants
 Elevated front load washer & dryer with
laundry carts and folding table

45.  Lever door handles and wired drawer pulls over knobs.
 Pilot light switches used to indicate on/off status.
 Swing away hinges.
 Wider hallways and doorways.
 Use easier to open windows that are well placed .
 Appropriately placed shelving
(kitchens, baths, adjustable closet rods).
 Natural gas generators for backup emergency power.