I recently attended a LeTip business luncheon, and the main speaker noted my business card said, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and before I started to introduce myself, he asked, “Tell us what is, ‘Aging in Place?’” People are hearing the term more and more, and I was happy to do so.

Qualified Remodeler Magazine published survey results that 89% of people over the age of 50 wish to remain in their own homes indefinitely, which is a lot less expensive than assisted living facilities (May ’11, pg. 12). Isn’t that what would be preferable, even ideal? To be able to stay in and enjoy your own home with its conveniences, even memories? To have the privacy, the quiet, the freedom of your own routine and schedule in your own home as long as you can? That is what the term, “Aging in Place” refers to. It is the strategic planning of making a home safe and user friendly as we age to maximize the length of being able to live there independently.

As we become older we have changes in our vision, mobility, strength, and bone density making an accidental fall have potentially more serious consequences. Planned prevention is key, and it is much less expensive to incorporate universal design elements during a remodel, than an emergency retrofit later. It is also beneficial to have your home remodeled and ready for aging in place to establish the sense of security and comfort of routine before it is needed.

Another reason for the gaining interest in aging in place, is the “greying” of the population. In 2000 there were 46 million in the U.S. aged 60 or older, in 2050 there will be 107 million. Starting in 2010, Baby Boomers started to reach the age of 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day, and will continue that pace for 20 years. Because of the large number of Baby Boomers which will make 65+ years be 20% of the population, they’ve been divided into 3 categories, the “young old” aged 65-74, the “old” aged 74-84, and the “oldest old”, 85 and older.

When its time to remodel, you may want to have a specially trained and professionally certified Universal Design Certified Remodeler (UDCR) or a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) on your team to help include elements to make your home user friendly no matter the age, or ability. How does one earn the certification? An experienced and recommended remodeler agrees to adhere to a code of ethics, takes coursework and has to pass a national exam to be certified, and complete continuing education requirements to retain certification. Here is a directory to find your local UDCR or CAPS.

Happy Home Remodeling!