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As the Baby Boomers grow older, America will face a need like its never known: 76 million people over age 65 who want to live their as they choose, on their own terms, even if it means getting a little help now and then.
No one wants to talk about getting older, but the truth is, our needs change as we do. That doesn’t mean you can’t live life the way you choose. In terms of your home, it means you choose to create a home environment that let’s you do just that.
A Certified Aging in Place Specialist can help you create just such a home.
What is Aging-in-Place?
The term “aging in place” simply means choosing to live in the home of your choice for as long as you can, and being able to get anything you might need while you do. That means something different for everyone, of course, but there are certain things that are pretty important for every person.
A certified aging in place specialist can help you ensure your home is safe, accessible, easy-to-use and enjoyable … regardless of your abilities or age. They can create no-step entries into your home, widen doorways, help make sure you can get to everything in your cabinets, install no-step showers or balance bars, and much more.
NAHB and Certified Aging in Place Specialist designation
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) his the authority in the United States for home construction and remodeling. Over 12 years ago, after seeing the need grow for accessible remodeling … specifically for the Baby Boomers, the Remodeler’s Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in collaboration with the NAHB Research Center, the NAHB 50+ Housing Council, and AARP, developed the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) program to help consumers with the dream of making their houses homes for a lifetime, even if their needs and abilities change.1
Planning modifications and making changes to your home that can help you continue living there comfortably and safely—those are the provinces of Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (or CAPS).” -National Association of Home Builders
Remodelers with the CAPS designation have the answers to many of the questions you might have about your home and how you can adapt to to suit your life, health and lifestyle as you grow older. CAPS professionals have learned strategies and techniques for designing and building attractive, barrier-free living environments.
A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist:1
- Has been trained to meet the housing needs of the age-50+ population
- Can identify and/or make home modifications or changes to help people live independently in their homes at later ages
- Can find solutions to common obstacles that make houses unsafe or uncomfortable
1 Source: CAPS information from the National Association of Home Builders website. Please visit the NAHB site directly for more information.