Thoughtful Design Leads to Increased Accessibility for All
Did you know that nearly 40% of Americans over the age of 65 are living with at least one disability according to the U.S. Census Bureau? Despite this…
New Ways to Retire
Boomers AIP Their Own Way From home remodels to joining together to age in place, Boomers are changing what retirement looks like.
Baldwin House Dining Area
Aging In Place On Your Own Terms
By designing flexibility into homes from the beginning, it is possible to reduce one’s frequent need to move and also to enable our elders to age in place.
Study Concludes Baby Boomers Want to Age In Place
Most Baby Boomers, like their parents, are choosing to “age in place,” but a large and growing number – more than 1.2 million households – are choosing to move to communities designed to meet their needs.
Successful aging — computers and the internet
Successful aging is not an oxymoron. First the textbook definition (from "The Realities of Aging, Kinsey/Kart): "aging in which external factors either have a neutral role or counteract the effects of internal aging processes, resulting in little or no decrements in functioning." Whew. What does that mean?
Louis Tenenbaum, Certified Aging in Place Specialist
Other Ways to Fill the Gap
Guest Columnist: Louis Tenenbaum, Independent Living Strategist
I don’t want to give the impression I think homemods are the whole enchilada when it comes to Filling the Gap for Aging in Place. Home Modifications are one element of a multifaceted strategy. Tools, high tech and services fill out the mix.
Tools are a way to think of an expanded category of products called assistive technology. Think eyeglasses. If you wear them they fill the gap between what you can see on your own and what you need to see to be functional. Hearing aids are the same. How about a reacher? This simple tool fills the gap between what you can and need to reach.
Of course High Tech is changing and developing faster than we can grasp the potential. Some high tech will monitor changes in health and condition. Some will report incidents. Some will coordinate and manage. Some will record results. Some will enhance communication changing the very nature of physical isolation. CAST is the leading place to keep current.
Services run the gamut of traditional and novel agencies and business serving and involving older members of the community. Meals on Wheels has been around since World war II. Transportation is highly visible right now as we figure out how to deal with the impact of the suburbs on older folks and driving. Friendly visitors, in home rehabilitation, deliveries, home health, chore services and financial planning and others are part of the mix. The range of services is sometimes referred to as the continuum. Every community has an Area Agency on Aging. Variations abound. Aging services is one of the oldest networks recognized to work in communities around the country. A good way to track the history of modern services is from passage of the Older Americans Act on Lyndon Johnson’s watch. (more…)