1. Make Your House a Home for a Lifetime
Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist
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Talking Points: Today, I will show you how you can make your house a home for a lifetime.
I’ll briefly cover a few concepts that can benefit you and your guests such as adaptability, accessibility, aging-in-place and universal design.
I’ll also explain the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist – or CAPS – designation administered through NAHB Remodelers of the National Association of Home Builders.

2. Make Your House a Home for a Lifetime
by making it more… 1 2
Talking Points: Design can be both functional and attractive, making your home more comfortable, livable and stylish for everyone in the family, from children to grandparents.
Comfortable
Livable
Stylish
Images courtesy of 1) Marnie Renda, 2012 Homes for Life award winner; 2) Jeannine Clark, 2010 Homes for Life award winner.

3. A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist
can make your home… 1 2
Talking Points: Whether you are building a new home or remodeling your current home, hiring a CAPS professional can help you make your home safer, more accessible and, ultimately, more livable.
Functional
Beautiful
Images courtesy of 1) Marnie Renda, 2012 Homes for Life award winner; 2) Jeannine Clark, 2010 Homes for Life award winner.

4. CAPS Professional A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) can…
Help you identify solutions to your particular needs.
Recommend innovative, stylish ways to improve your home.
Install modifications or assistive devices.
Enhance your home through remodeling or new construction.
Talking Points: The CAPS program addresses the core concern of locating a reliable professional.
As a CAPS graduate, I have been trained to identify comprehensive and practical solutions to your aging-in-place needs, which include your lifestyle, health and family living situation.
Common modifications include entrances, kitchens, bathrooms, utility and storage areas, among others.
A few typical remodeling projects might involve installing ramps and lower-level multi-functional master suites.
However, aging-in-place home modifications also can include adjustments to indoor and outdoor spaces.
CAPS professionals have been trained to identify potential future living issues and a range of possible solutions.

5. CAPS Designation The CAPS designation is…
A reliable way to identify professionals who can improve your home through renovation or new construction.
Developed and administered by the National Association of Home Builders.
Developed in partnership with AARP.
Talking Points:
The CAPS program was developed by respected organizations: NAHB, NAHB Home Innovation Research Labs and AARP. NAHB Remodelers was the driving force in the creation of the CAPS program.
NAHB Remodelers promotes professionalism in the remodeling industry and provides a number of industry-specific education programs.
CAPS coursework consists of three full days of instruction. In addition, I am required to adhere to the standards outlined in the CAPS Code of Ethics as well as satisfy regular continuing education requirements to maintain my CAPS designation.

6. Identify Goals

7. What’s Right for You? Temporary Adaptations
Welcoming an aging parent or relative.
Easing the effects of an injury.
Aging-in-Place
Planning a livable home.
Investing in your future.
Ease of Access
Making your home more visitable.
Creating a barrier-free home. 1
Talking Points: Discuss with clients/audience the different types of goals. You may need to explain the terms adaptable, aging-in-place, and visitable.
Before you get started, you need to figure out what makes sense for you?
Do you need to make your home adaptable? You might you have an aging parent or relative coming to live with you. Or perhaps you or a loved one suffered an injury that affects mobility.
2) Maybe you are thinking long-term. You might be fine today, but you are looking at your future needs and want to make your home livable.
3) Or perhaps you have regular visitors to your home with a mobility issue or injury and you want to remove barriers. 2
Images courtesy of 1), 2) the Center for Universal Design.

8. Adaptability Plan ahead to adapt your home as needs change.
Make adjustments over time.
Build a doorframe that can be widened when needed.
Allow for temporary or reversible accommodations.
Install a grab bar or other adaptive equipment that can be removed when desired.
Create flexible living spaces whose function can change in the future.
Add a bathroom to the first floor. Turn the office into a bedroom in a few years.
Talking Points: When remodeling or doing new construction, structural considerations can be made to allow for possible future modifications, such as widening a doorway or installing grab bars. A closet can be turned into an elevator shaft.

9. Stacked closets for future elevator.
Plan for Adaptation
Adaptable design takes into consideration potential future projects. 1 2
Stacked closets for future elevator.
Images courtesy of 1) Mike Weiss; 2) RL Mace Universal Design Institute.

10. Plan for Adaptation
Continued
Reinforced wall supports allow for a grab bar, fold-down seat, or other accommodation to be installed when needed.
Talking Points: According to the CDC, about one in three adults over the age of 65 has a fall each year.
Falls are the number one cause of injury-related death in people over 65. The CDC recommends the installation of grab bars and railings to reduce risk.
Source: Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview (September 20, 2012)
Images courtesy of Marnie Renda, 2012 Homes for Life award winner.

11. Aging-in-Place Stay in the home and community you love.
Make your home livable long into the future.
Stay in the home and community you love.
Invest in the comfort and functionality of your home.
Improve your home to meet your changing needs.
Talking Points: If you are like the majority of Americans over the age of 45, you want to be able to remain in your home throughout your maturing years.
According to AARP, 84% of older homeowners prefer to age in place (2011 AARP Boomer Housing Study).

12. Aging-in-Place
“Boomers especially say their homes fit them—for today.”*
Boomers acknowledge the benefits of many features that allow them to stay in their home in later years, including:
Main floor bedroom
Non-slip floors
Easy-to-reach switches and outlets
Lever handles*
Talking Points: Give the audience some statistics on their demographic group from the 2011 AARP Boomer Housing Study.
According to AARP’s Boomer Housing Study from 2011, boomers say their home meets their current needs and, because most are relatively healthy, they admitted they have delayed planning for their later years.
However, boomers recognize the need for future modifications that include design features such as a bedroom on the main floor, non-slip floors, easy-to-reach switches and outlets, and lever handles.
* AARP 2011, Boomer Housing Study

13. Aging-in-Place
Continued
Yet, less than a third have thought seriously about the needs they will experience in their home and community in retirement and later years.*
Talking Points: Modifying your home not only allows you to stay in the place you love, it can potentially be less expensive than alternative arrangements.
Again, this is where the CAPS program plays a pivotal role. In order to keep your house a home for a lifetime, you may need to make some modifications to be able to effectively use the features of your home that you currently enjoy.
*AARP 2011, Boomer Housing Study.

14. Accessible Design Eliminates barriers.2 1
Eliminates barriers. 3
Talking Points: “A visitable home is marked by three core architectural conditions:
One zero-step entrance at the front, back, or side of the house, depending on site conditions
Doorways that provide 32 inches of clearance
At least a half bath on the main floor” (*AARP 2008, Increasing Home Access: Designing for Visitability)
Provides an accessible bath on the first floor.
Allows more room for mobility.
Images courtesy of 1), 3) Dan Bawden, Legal Eagle Contractors; 2) Marnie Renda, 2012 Homes for Life award winner.

15. Accessible Design
Many homes have unnecessary barriers and obstacles that can make life more difficult.
Level walkways and wide doors make it easier to move furniture, push strollers, or get around with limited mobility.
Having an accessible bathroom on the first floor makes good sense, whether you’re accommodating visitors or anticipating a change in living needs.
Talking Points:
A growing percentage of the nation’s population is over 65 and living longer.
The vast majority of single-family homes in the United States present significant obstacles to people with limited mobility.
Wider doorways and barrier-free entryways allow for the transport of assistive devices throughout the home, which may lessen the likelihood of falls and improve independence.*
*AARP 2008, Increasing Home Access: Designing for Visitability

16. Universal Design

17. Universal Design
Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
Talking Points: Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. It’s used to help people age in place.

18. Universal Design For You For Loved Ones For Now For the Future
Continued
Talking Points: Universal Design benefits people of all ages.
Universal Design elements can be integrated to manage a temporary need and enhance the livability of your home for many years to come.
For You
For Loved Ones
For Now
For the Future
Images courtesy of the Center for Universal Design.

19. Fewer Barriers Smooth Transitions Curbless Showers Zero-Step Entry
Talking Points: Universal Design benefits people of all ages.
Universal Design elements can be integrated to manage a temporary need and enhance the livability of your home for many years to come.
Zero-Step Entry
Images courtesy of the Center for Universal Design.

20. Everything Within Reach
Talking Points: Placing switches and outlets at an appropriate height makes them easier to reach for everyone.
Lowered Switches
Raised Outlets
Images courtesy of the Center for Universal Design.

21. Easy-Access Appliances
Everything Within Reach
Continued 1 2 3
Talking Points: Appliances placed at midrange require less stooping and stretching. A front-loading washer or dryer is more accessible. Cabinets can be installed with a variety of pull-down or pull-out features.
Easy-Access Appliances
Front-Loading Washer
Reachable Storage
Images courtesy of 1) Center for Universal Design; 2) Marnie Renda, 2012 Homes for Life award winner 3) Leslie Shankman-Cohn, 2008 Homes for Life award winner.

22. Flexible Faucets or Showers
Innovative Solutions 1
Talking Points: Use fixtures that are easy for everyone to operate, like levers instead of knobs, or faucets and shower heads with flexible hosing.
Flexible Faucets or Showers
Lever Handles
Image courtesy of 1) Dan Bawden, Legal Eagle Contractors.

23. Lighted Toggle Switches
Innovative Solutions
Continued 1 2 3
Talking Points: Use fixtures that are easy for everyone to operate, like levers instead of knobs, or faucets and shower heads with flexible hosing.
Timer Switches
Lighted Toggle Switches
Sensor Switches
Images courtesy of 1) Dan Bawden, Legal Eagle Contractors; 2) the Center for Universal Design; 3) NAHB.

24. Knee Space Under Shelves and Counters
Open Space 1 2
Talking Points: Whether moving a sofa, installing a refrigerator, pushing a stroller, or maneuvering a wheelchair, open space makes moving around the home easier for everyone. This can be accomplished with wider doorways and by allowing for clearance around and between doorways.
Room to Maneuver
Knee Space Under Shelves and Counters
Images courtesy of 1) Carole Ponzio, 2011 Homes for Life award winner; 2) Dan Bawden, Legal Eagle Contractors.

25. Tour

26. Exterior Sufficient Light Porch Cover Lever Door Handle Sloped Walkway
Talking Points: The slides in the Tour reveal UD features one by one as you press the arrow key on the keyboard or click the mouse. Explain the subtle modifications as they are revealed. Discuss with the client possible needs/interests they have in this particular space. You might also point out non-glare surfaces, toe-kicks, at-level appliances, and the easy-reach utensil rack above the sink.
Sloped Walkway
Zero-Step Entry
Image courtesy of RL Mace Universal Design Institute.

27. Counter-Height Shelving
Kitchen
Towel Bar and Hand Rail
Crank Windows
Open Spaces for Easy Maneuvering
Counter-Height Shelving
Multiple Level Counters
Images courtesy of UniversalDesign.com.

28. Bedroom Ample Lighting Toggle Switch with Dimmer Wide Clearance
Note: The slides in the Tour reveal UD features one by one as you press the arrow key on the keyboard or click the mouse. Explain the subtle modifications as they are revealed. Discuss with the client possible needs/interests they have in this particular space.
Easy-to-Reach Outlets
Space to Maneuver
Smooth Flooring
Image courtesy of Marnie Renda, Homes for Life award winner.

29. Bathroom Lever Handles Adjustable Mirror Higher Toilet
Sufficient Knee Space
Talking Points: The slides in the Tour reveal UD features one by one as you press the arrow key on the keyboard or click the mouse. Explain the subtle modifications as they are revealed. Discuss with the client possible needs/interests they have in this particular space.
Slip Resistant Floor
Protected Drain Pipes
Images courtesy of 1) Ben Morey, 2008 Homes for Life award winner; 2) Patricia Nunan, 2009 Homes for Life award winner.

30. Take the Next Step

31. Ask Yourself These Questions
What changes do I want in place today? What changes will I want in the future?
Am I remodeling existing space or adding new construction?
What is my budget for this project?
Who will benefit?
Talking Points:
Before starting your project, you may want to ask yourself these important questions.
What changes need to be made today and is that enough? Will these changes be able to accommodate future needs?
What is the size and scope of the project and how much are you willing to spend?
When the project is complete, who will benefit?

32. Take the Next Step
Hire a knowledgeable CAPS professional to help you evaluate your home and anticipate future needs.
Choose someone with the training and expertise to find a solution that fits your life, your budget, and your style.
Talking Points: It’s important to consult someone knowledgeable about aging-in-place principles. Again, the CAPS training included a segment on home assessments; this allows me to assist you in determining your specific home modification needs.
A CAPS professional, like myself, can provide you with solutions.

33. Take the Next Step
Continued
Make a list of improvements you would like to see in your home.
Schedule a time to walk through your home.
Hear what satisfied customers are saying.
Visit nahb.org/CAPS
Note: Before giving the presentation, you may want to order CAPS brochures to distribute to potential customers or to your audience. You can customize brochures through Demand Marketing ( where you can add your company logo, contact info and testimonials from past customers. Your audience may ask you for examples of home modifications pricing. Be prepared to provide a ballpark estimate for certain projects.
Talking Points: Decisions this important are generally not made in one visit.
Before getting started, make a list of improvements you’d like to see in your home.
Schedule a walk-through where we can make suggestions on how to best incorporate aging-in-place features into your home.

34. Take the Next Step
Find a professional you can consult confidentially about your aging-in-place needs.
Talking Points: Where can you find a professional?” You already have. I have earned my CAPS designation and I am here to assist you.
You’ll find me and other CAPS professionals on the CAPS Directory at nahb.org/CAPSdirectory.

35. Contact Us Inpros, Inc. Fort Lauderdale, FL brock@inprosfl.com
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