For Boomers & Their Aging Parents

Aging in Place: Attitudes about Homeownership

05/04/2012 15:37:00

Along with the desire to age in place comes the question of exactly where to age. Should you stay in your existing home or move to another? If you stay, should you renovate to improve comfort and safety and will those renovations add value to your home? If you move to a different location, should you purchase another home or is it more practical to rent?

No matter which option you’re leaning towards, you’ll need to factor in an evaluation of the current housing market along with emerging trends.

The Colton Housing Group recently conducted a national study among 3,005 homeowners and renters to better understand how Americans feel about today’s housing market and their aspirations for owning or renting a home in the future. The survey and six focus groups were commissioned by Hanley Wood, LLC, and its two main publications, BUILDER and REMODELING magazines.

The 70-question survey focused on attitudes towards the current housing market and problems encountered in the home buying process. Do Americans still view housing as a good investment? Is now a good or bad time to buy or remodel? How do consumers feel about obtaining a mortgage in today’s environment? Is homeownership still important? How do consumers compare owning with renting? Do consumer expectations vary among different age groups and socio-economic segments of the population?

The result of the survey paints an uncomfortable future for the nation’s housing market in the short term — a market where credit is tight and one where there is little urgency to buy now. It clearly identifies major bottlenecks in the mortgage market that are keeping many buyers on the sidelines and preventing any significant rebound in housing activity.

Over the long term, however, the survey tells a more positive story. Specifically, the survey findings show that the desire to own a home has not been derailed by the difficult economic times we're experiencing and that Americans generally understand the important role housing plays in creating new jobs, generating household wealth, and sustaining a long term economic recovery.

First, the question of rent or buy. While the dream of owning a home is certainly alive and well, renting is on the rise because for many it’s become the only option due to tough lending requirements. When asked what sort of housing they would look for if moving to a new location, 62% of the renters said they would have no choice but to rent again. In sharp contrast, only 10% of home-owning households said they would rent rather than buy another home. According to real estate website Trulia, buying was cheaper than renting in 74% of the country's 50 largest cities. In addition to a continuing decline in home prices, low interest rates have added a lot of weight to the buy side of the scale. Add in the tax perks of home ownership and for those who can afford it, it’s still a buyer's market.

So, what are the expectations for home prices during the next year? More than one-fourth (28%) of the homeowners expect to see some decline in prices in the year ahead, and one-third (33%) expect some increase in prices in their market area. Expectations vary from region to region. In the Northeast, 24% of the owners expect home prices to decline some in the year ahead, and 35% expect prices to increase. In the West and Midwest, about 30% of the owners expect prices to decline some, and another 30% expect home prices to rise. In the South, 27% of the owners are expecting prices to decline a bit more, and 34% expect prices to rise in the year ahead.

In response to the question, “Have changes in home prices influenced your home-buying decision?” 35% of owners and 38% of renters said yes. And while 50% of homeowners under the age of 35 reported that changes in home prices influenced their home buying decision, that percentage fell with age: 37% for owners in the 35-44 age group, 28% for 45- to 64-year olds, and 17% for owner aged 65 or older.

What seems to be sorely lacking in today’s market is not desire but a real sense of urgency to buy a home now. Two out of three homeowners and 23% of renters are comfortable with their current living arrangements. And both owners (40%) and renters (45%) cited “no urgency to buy now” as one of the principal reasons for staying out of the market.

Another trend reflected in the survey findings is the increasing number of people who are doubling-up with friends and family. More than one-third of the owner households and about one fourth of the renter households are doubling-up – young adults with parents, elderly parents with their adult children or grandchildren, unrelated adults living together. In order to project future housing demand, it is important to recognize the trend and understand why it’s occurring, whether it’s to cut expenses and ride out the recession, care for an aging parent, or for some other reason.

For those who question whether or not to renovate in order to remain in their current home, remodeling is becoming a more attractive option in today’s housing market. One out of five homeowners (22%) has recently completed a remodeling job or plans to remodel in the next two years instead of buying another home. Baby-boom generation homeowners are the most optimistic about the remodeling market, not a surprise given that homeowners over age 50 had a strong preference for staying in their current home throughout their retirement years. Among all respondents 50 or older, more than half (54%) said that they would stay in their current home for their entire retirement. Another 18% said they would stay in their current home first then buy another home later, and 10% said they would move to a different home (brand new or existing) before retiring or had already bought another home after retiring.

So all that said, what’s the bottom line? Home ownership remains an important part of the American experience and receives broad-based support from all age, ethnic, and income groups. And even though more than half of the homeowners surveyed experienced some decline in their home’s value over the past year, they still regard homeownership as a good, long term investment.

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC

Recent Questions: Designing Small Spaces

04/24/2012 09:27:00

Question: My husband and I recently retired and decided to move to another area of the country. We sold our larger, family home and purchased a two bedroom condo in our new location. I'm struggling with how to turn this much smaller space into something that feels comfortable. What can you suggest?

Answer: Decorating a small space can be a big challenge, so here are some tips for creating a spacious feeling in your new home.

Stick to a single color palette. A monochromatic room can feel clean and calming. Vary the tones and textures of a single color and keep all of your furniture in a light, muted palette. Break your color scheme with a few saturated accents.

Make your furniture multi-task. Look for furniture that does double duty - a cabinet that folds out into a guest bed, or a desk that expands into a table. These units are completely functional when opened but can easily be minimized when not required to save on space.

Create Illusions. Define different living areas with half walls or open room dividers which help to open up the space visually. Area rugs will do the same thing. Color and contrast also work to make a room appear larger or smaller. The more saturated the wall color is, the more the walls seem to advance towards you creating the feeling of a smaller room. The paler the color, the more the walls seem to recede, making the room appear larger.

Use vertical space as well as horizontal space. Do not ignore the value of wall space. Build shelves under staircases, install floor to ceiling kitchen cabinets, hang pots over your stove and utensils from a wall over a work counter. You can also install open or closed cabinetry over a desk and a built-in medicine cabinet in the bathroom.

Bigger is better. A lot of small furniture can make a room feel cluttered. Instead, arrange the room around a few prominent pieces to make the room feel sleeker. Lightweight pieces in simple designs work best. Furniture with legs make your rooms appear larger as do glass tables.

Work from the top down. An overhead focal point draws the eye upward and increases the visual height of a room. Choose a ceiling color a few shades lighter than your walls for an uninterrupted floor-to-ceiling flow.

Make every closet count. Custom designing your closets will give you maximum use of that very valuable space. Don't settle for a simple rod and shelf -- you'll be amazed at how much storage you can get in a well designed closet.

Select accessories you love. Keeping things simple helps a small space seem uncluttered, but a house becomes a home when it’s filled with things you love. Hang the chandelier you found at the flea market, display the carving from one of your travels, and hang that well loved quilt. Not only will your favorite accessories make your home more interesting to others but they will give you a sense that you are indeed still home.

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC

Fair Housing & Disabilities

04/04/2012 16:35:00

The Fair Housing Act is a federal law that prohibits all housing providers from discriminating against persons with a disability. The Fair Housing Act covers most housing – single family houses, apartment complexes, mobile home parts, condominiums, retirement communities, cooperatives, time shares, senior housing, boarding houses, residential hotels, group homes, and assisted living facilities. In some circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family housing sold or rented without the use of a broker, and housing operated by organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.

According to this Act, a disability is defined as “a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities.” Examples of impairments include mobility and cognitive impairments, vision, hearing, AIDS or HIV infection, mental illness, learning disabilities, head injury, asthma, chronic fatigue, or history of alcoholism or drug addiction. Disability does not include current use of or addiction to illegal drugs.

The Fair Housing Act protects all housing applicants, buyers, and tenants with disabilities as well as anyone associated with them, such as family members. It requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations and allow reasonable modifications so that people with disabilities can use and enjoy housing on an equal basis. A housing provider does have the right to request proof of the disability (a doctor’s note should suffice) and how the requested accommodation or modification would increase that individual's safety and comfort.

Reasonable accommodations are those changes to policies, rules, or practices that persons with disabilities may need in order to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their home. For example, waiving a no pet rule for a guide dog, or creating a reserved parking space near the building entrance for someone who is mobility impaired.

A reasonable modification is any physical change to a rental unit, condo, co-op, or common space that is needed for an individual’s full enjoyment of his/her home. Generally speaking, a modification is considered reasonable when it is practical and realistic and linked to a particular disability. Here are some examples of reasonable modifications:

Installing grab bars in the bathroom

Widening doorways

Installing a ramp at the building’s entrance or front door

Installing lever doorknobs and faucets

Converting a tub to a curb-less shower

Lowering shelves or kitchen counter tops

It is each person’s responsibility to pay and arrange for whatever modifications they are requesting. A housing provider can require a deposit to be used to restore the unit back to its original condition when it’s time to be rented or sold. They can also require architectural drawings showing that the work complies with all state and local building codes.

If you think your rights have been violated, the Housing Discrimination Complaint Form is available for you to download, complete and return, or complete online and submit, or you may write HUD a letter, or telephone the HUD Office nearest you. You have one year after an alleged violation to file a complaint with HUD, but you should file as soon as possible.

What to Tell HUD:

Your name and address
The name and address of the person your complaint is against
The address or other identification to the housing involved
A short description to the alleged violation (the event that caused you to believe your rights were violated)
The date(s) to the alleged violation

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC

Multi-Generational Housing: Turning One Home into Two

03/25/2012 15:38:00

In September, the Census reported that almost a third of households were “doubled up,” meaning more than one generation of adults were living under one roof. All in all, 61.7 million adults, or 27.7 percent, were doubled-up in 2007, rising to 69.2 million, or 30.0 percent, in 2011.

The AARP Public Policy Institute also confirmed multi-generational homes are on the rise in the United States, reporting there were roughly one-half million more households that were multi-generational in 2010 than in 2009, and that in the past two years, the number of multi generational households grew faster than in any other two-year period since 2000, coinciding largely with the recession of the past few years.

For a variety of reasons, both cultural and economic, families today are rethinking their housing needs. Adults are living together with their grandparents, in-laws, or grown children who are not economically ready to move out. Particularly for those who want a comfortable way to look after elderly parents, multi-generational living is an appropriate solution. Parents can comfortably live near their caregivers, while still providing independence and privacy for everyone.

As a result, builders are receiving more requests to build in-law suites or, as the term is starting to emerge, to “turn one house into two.”

An in-law addition can be built just as any other home addition, can be purchased as a modular unit that’s then attached to your home or set on your property, or can be built in a garage (attached or detached). These suites typically are on a single level and usually comprised of a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and a small living room area. In-law additions need to include extra amenities so as to allow for aging in place, such as wider hallways and doorways, no step entrances, extra room in front of bathroom and kitchen cabinetry, grab bars, levered handled door knobs, comfort height toilets, and curb-less showers.

You can find in-law home addition plans in magazines and on the Internet that can often meet your requirements. If building new, expect to pay around $110 to $130 per square foot for construction. And while a remodel or addition can make the cost of an in-law prohibitive for some homeowners, it can be less expensive than the money required for long-term care for aging relatives in a facility - and a potential source of income down the road.

Before getting too involved in the idea however, check with your municipality to find out how your local zoning and building codes affect this type of addition. There may be zoning issues to having two separate residences on the same building lot, or special features that the addition must include, like separate utility services, as mandated by code.

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC

Recent Questions: Tub Options for Aging in Place

03/18/2012 14:05:00

Question: I plan to renovate my guest room and bath for my elderly mother who frequently comes to visit. I had intended to remove the bathtub in that bathroom and install a walk in shower for her but she prefers a bathtub over a shower so I’m now uncertain what to do. I don’t want to spend money renovating the bathroom only to have to renovate again in the future. Are there bathtubs that work with the idea of aging in place or should I try to convince her that a walk in shower is the better long term choice?

Answer: Walk in showers are great for everyone, young and old, but there are a few bathtub options that will also work for your mother and are designed for aging in place.

There are walk in tubs that you get into through a door in the tub wall. Once inside the tub, the door latches shut and seals tightly so you can fill the tub with water. There are a number of manufacturers offering walk in tubs with varied features, such as hand sprays, grab bars, anti scald valves, locking mechanisms, hydro jets, etc. Not all walk-in tubs are the equal so it’s important to research what each manufacturer has to offer. There are tubs with inward swinging doors and those with outward swing. There are larger tubs and smaller tubs to suit different areas of the home. There are tubs with dual drainage systems, presumably to drain water faster, and those with single drains. You can easily familiarize yourself with these products by researching online. Walk in tubs are also not flush to the bathroom floor so while they only present a small step, there still is a need to step over a small threshold in order to enter the tub. The big negative to a walk in tub is that you can’t get out of the tub until all the water drains out. So if this is the option you choose, I’d suggest also installing a heat lamp above the tub to take the chill off while waiting for the tub to drain.

A less costly option is a standard tub that has a ledge built into the side. Rather than climbing over the tub wall (a task that gets increasingly difficult as we age), you sit on the ledge and swing your legs into the tub. Some bathtub manufacturers are now including an option for grab bars to help with getting up and down in the tub. Alternately, grab bars could be mounted on the wall within easy reach when sitting in the tub.

If your tub is in good shape or you do not want to replace it at this time, there are bath lifts that fit right into the tub and raise and lower into the bath via a remote control. The only problem with this option is that you’re basically dedicating your tub to bathing and not showering because the lifts are too cumbersome to be taken in and out of a tub easily. For that reason, you might consider adding a hand held shower head low enough on the wall so as to be reachable while sitting in the tub.

Of course we cannot predict what's physically in store for any of us as we age. If built properly, walk-in or curb-less showers are an optimal solution because one could easily get into the shower in a wheelchair, if necessary. But then again, not all curb-less in showers are equal either. All too many "curb-less" showers are built with 4"-6" curbs, which doesn't really solve any problem for someone who can't step over a threshold or manage a step. The other issue has to do with size. I recently was asked to redesign a curb-less shower that replaced a 29" x 59" bathtub. The space was so constrained that it was impossible for the owner, a large man in a large wheelchair, to comfortably maneuver the shower space and keep water in the shower rather than all over the bathroom.

Recommended minimum dimensions for a residential walk in shower are 36" width x 60" length. 42" width is better and 48" width is ideal. However, there are people who prefer larger showers and others who need assistance while bathing. A shower 5 feet by 5 feet allows enough space for a person in a shower wheelchair and an aide. So if you're working against space constraints and don't have sufficient room to build a shower that meets minimum requirements, a curb-less shower is not the answer and one of the tub options might, in fact, be best.

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC

Design: Bathroom Floors

03/11/2012 17:53:00

When selecting material for a bathroom floor, it’s really important that the floor stands up to water and offers a safe, non-slippery surface for wet feet. Falls can happen anytime and anyplace to people of any age, but most falls by people aged 65 and older occur in the home during everyday activities. Slippery bathroom floors are one of the culprits when it comes to falling at home.

So what are good flooring options for the bathroom?

Ceramic tiles are a practical choice given that they are relatively inexpensive, durable and water resistant. Look for those that are textured and not glossy which will prevent the tile from becoming slippery. Ceramic tiles come in many different shapes and colors which makes it easy to be creative with patterns or borders.

All a ceramic tile floor requires for cleaning is sweeping and light mopping. A light water and vinegar solution is a safe and cost efficient cleaner that will not damage the tile. Avoid steel wool or other rough materials that can scratch the surface of the tile. Ceramic tile can chip or crack if something heavy is dropped on it so make sure to keep some extra tiles for repairs if needed.

Traditional ceramic shower tiles are starting to be replaced with the rich earthy tones of natural stone tiles, a good fit for most bathroom renovations. Natural stone has some benefit over ceramic tile, especially for more modern designs. Natural stone is durable, resistant to wear and stains, and comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes. There are many types of stone available each with its own characteristics.

Slate is a very durable stone and highly recommended for bathroom applications. It is easy to clean and with a little maintenance is almost completely impervious to stains. Slate also has a rough texture, making even honed slate non slippery – a very important consideration for the bath.

Quartzite is one of the hardest and most resilient stones available, whose colors range from repeating sequential patterns to multicolored unique formations, depending on the type of quartzite which is used. This stone is good in a bathroom because of its durability, its resistance to stains and water, and the fact that its texture makes it non-slippery

Limestone and Travertine are softer and more permeable then slate or granite. The patterns that emerge in these stones, while unique, are more repetitive than in multi-colors and so the range of any given color of stone is more subdued. This material is appropriate for bathroom use but it is not as good at resisting stains, nor as durable as either slate of quartzite.

Marble is a classic stone that, in the past, has been used frequently to add elegance to a bathroom. And while it’s known for its color and high shine surface, it’s exactly that high polish that becomes very slippery when wet. Marble is also a delicate stone, prone to chipping and staining making it an impractical choice for the modern bathroom.

Natural stone can be cut and finished in any number of ways, giving you more flexibility in your designs and with the wide variety of stone available, you should take time to consider all of the options. While natural stone tile may be more expensive than ceramic tile, the beauty and durability are often worth the money.

Glass tiles are another choice for your bath and shower floors. They are water resistant and long lasting with reflective properties that make the most of the light in any given space. These are the tiles to use if you’re looking to create an intricate mosaic pattern for your bath floor.

Unless treated, a normal glass tile is no different from polished porcelain tile in terms of skid resistance. Like any high gloss ceramic tile, glass tiles are usually slippery when wet. If small format (1 × 1" or smaller) tiles are used on floors, the relatively frequent grout lines create texture that inhibit slippage. For this reason, tile setters sometimes introduce un-textured glass tile mosaic inserts into fields of large ceramic tiles.

If you are using large glass field tiles on floors, you will need to choose a tile that is specifically floor-rated. Glass tile manufacturers all produce large format glass floor tiles. They are made with a textured surface that provides a high coefficient of friction, mitigating or eliminates slipping, while still delivering the luminous qualities of glass wall tiles.

Vinyl tiles are an inexpensive, quick solution for those looking for easy do-it-yourself bathroom projects. Vinyl tile is moisture resistant and available in a variety of patterns and colors. Vinyl can be purchased as individual tiles or as a sheet cut to the dimensions of your bathroom floor.

Vinyl tiles are usually 12” or 18” square and are available in all sorts of prints and styles. There is vinyl that simulates hardwood flooring as well as that which resembles ceramic tiles. When installed properly, the effect of these tiles is identical to the original materials.

Vinyl tiles are usually coated with a form of urethane which gives them a shiny finish and protects the tiles from wear and tear. Look for vinyl tiles with textures so that the floor does not get too slick when wet.

Vinyl flooring can be wet mopped without fear of damaging the surface. Because the surface is impermeable, liquid will not seep into the floor, so mold and mildew is also not a problem. Consequently, vinyl flooring is a perfect choice for areas that are prone to spills and moisture such as bathrooms.

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC

Being a Long-Distance Caregiver

03/03/2012 12:53:00

If you live an hour or more away from a person who needs care, you can think of yourself as a long-distance caregiver. This kind of care can take many forms -- from helping with finances or money management to arranging for in-home care; from providing respite care for a primary caregiver to creating a plan in case of emergencies. Many long-distance caregivers act as information coordinators, helping aging parents understand the confusing maze of new needs, including home health aides, insurance benefits and claims, housing requirements, medications, and durable medical equipment.

The National Institute on Aging estimates that approximately 7 million Americans are long-distance caregivers. And while economic factors are forcing people to move away from their families and hometowns, lifespans are lengthening leaving many of the elderly without family caregivers nearby. Shifting demographics exacerbate the problem. Over the next four decades, the number of people 65 and older is expected to grow, while the number of people aged 20 to 64, those most responsible for care giving duties, will hold steady.

I recently read an article by Matt Sedensky entitled Elderly Parents: Caring for Aging Parents Long Distance in which he interviews Lynn Feinberg, a care giving expert at AARP. Though care giving is a major stress on anyone, distance can often magnify it, Feinberg said, and presents particular difficulty when it must be balanced with an inflexible job. “It’s a huge stress,” she said. “It can have enormous implications not only for someone’s quality of life, but also for someone’s job.”

Without question long distance care giving is a difficult task. It can certainly be a burden financially. As last surveyed, annual expenses incurred by long-distance caregivers averaged about $9,000, far more than caregivers who lived close to their loved one. Some caregivers had to cut back on work hours, take on debt of their own, and slash their personal spending in order to help another. Emotionally, people are left feeling as if they are split in two trying to maintain their family and work routines as they dash across country to deal with real and imagined emergencies. To say the least, it’s exhausting.

So what do people do when faced with the situation? Most long-distance caregivers create a patchwork of resources they rely on to manage the situation. They make sure to keep in touch on a daily basis via phones and video calls. Relatives or close friends living nearby are enlisted to check on the elderly family member to make sure all is ok. Local service providers and agencies are brought into the picture when any of the benefits they offer match the individual’s needs. And for those who can afford it, professionals are hired to handle many necessary tasks like grocery shopping, driving, cooking and bill paying.

There is no simple solution when trying to care for someone at a distance, but being proactive and investigating local resources to plan for those inevitable emergencies will certainly help reduce stress. Successful long distance caregivers set in place a network and establish routines that minimize the need for those rushed trips across country.

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC

Recent Questions: Difficulty with stairs & Senior cell phones

02/24/2012 07:27:00

Question: My aunt is 78 years old and lives in a two story home. She is starting to have difficulty managing the stairs up to her bedroom and bathroom due to a developing arthritic condition. She intends to stay in her home for as long as she can but does not have the funds for any major remodeling. Would a stair chair make sense and how much do they cost?

Answer: Installing a stair lift chair is certainly a practical solution that can be a cost-effective alternative to remodeling, depending on the configuration of the staircase. For example, if the staircase is straight, has no turns, and is not particularly narrow, you can expect the cost to run between $3500 and $4500 including installation. On the other hand, if your aunt’s staircase is curved, or there are other factors that might make installing the stair chair lift more difficult, the cost can rise significantly. Stair lifts do come in varying models with varying price tags, so researching the features offered in different models is important to controlling the cost.

Stair lifts can be rented and can also be purchased pre-owned. And while Medicare does not cover the cost of this equipment, there might be some federal funds available for this type of home modification. Your local Area Agency on Aging might have additional information on fund availability. For more detailed information on stair lifts, read our blog on Managing Stairs

Question: Are there cell phones that are easier for seniors to use? My mother often doesn’t hear her phone ring and never seems to remember how to retrieve her voicemail.

Answer: Many older people have trouble with cell phones because they are too complex to navigate, are not intuitive, and have screens too small to read. There are a few, however, that have been designed specifically for the senior market. Here are just two that are available:

Just5 was designed for seniors or people with hearing or eyesight problems. This phone is simple yet very attractive and well designed. Features include big buttons for easy dialing, a “speaking” keypad, which confirms the buttons pressed, an emergency button, amplified sound, simple keyboard lock and a long lasting battery. There are no confusing menus, options or settings to frustrate the user. The phone itself is approximately $120, monthly fees are low, and there are no contracts required.

The Emporia Life Plus was designed for easy reading and the buttons and keypad are easy to use. The phone is meant to be used closed most of the time. The default screen is the contact list, so there is no menu navigation when you want to call someone; just arrow down to the number and hit the big green button. There is a large emergency button on the back of the phone. Once pressed, it will dial up to 5 numbers that can be programmed into it. As an added bonus, this phone will run off AAA batteries when the Li-Ion battery runs down. It offers speakerphone and text messaging as well.

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC

Updates on Technology

02/19/2012 10:21:00

There’s so much new technology in the marketplace aimed at the aging in place market that’s it’s difficult to keep up. Every few months though, I spend time researching some of the newest software and gadgets that have recently made their debut - specifically those designed to help seniors living on their own and their remote caregivers keep in touch.

Not surprisingly there has been a growing number of applications available for use with smartphones and tablets. Here are a couple:

SwannView is a video monitoring solution that works on virtually any Smartphone or Tablet without the need for a computer or webcam. The Swann Security kit (cost: $449) includes four color cameras and a digital video recorder to record up to 30 days of video from all four cameras simultaneously. SwannView works over wi-fi or cellular connectivity on an Android, iPhone, BlackBerry or any Windows device so you can remotely log in to see a live, real time view. The cameras are easily mountable and have an infrared LED night vision feature that allows you to see up to 65 feet in the dark. You can set this kit up to send you an email if the cameras detect motion.

The iCam app for iPhone, iPad or iPod touch (cost: $4.99) allows you to monitor multiple live video and audio feeds over Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. With a computer and a webcam, you can visually check- in to make sure all is well. You can also set up the app to notify you when motion is detected.

Many seniors who live independently often use a medical alert system to get help in an emergency such as falling. The problem is that in the past, the majority of these systems only worked within range of a home based receiving system. When a person was out of their home, they no longer had on-the-go access to emergency assistance.

Today’s fall detection devices include fall detection that works away from home and allows other family members to monitor the whereabouts of the wearer using GPS tracking. ActiveCare’s Personal Assistance Link (PAL) is a handset offering a range of features to assist people who want to continue living independently. The device, which connects via a cellular network, includes a one-click help button to call for 24/7 assistance, a built in fall detector that’s monitored remotely, and GPS. The PAL offers one touch communication to Care Specialists from anywhere at anytime. It looks like a cell phone but is easier to operate with large buttons and quick one-touch access to family and the 24/7 Care Center. (Cost:$180 activation fee, $60/month service charge)

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of American along with Breadcrumb LLC recently announced a state of the art locater device and caregiver-friendly monitoring system. This innovative new tracking device – BC 300 GPS Device – is designed specifically for the dementia population and aimed at immediately and precisely pinpointing a person’s whereabouts. .The BC300 system works by setting up a virtual fence around a person’s residence and/or other locations, such as a relative’s home or an adult day care center, and sends an alert when the wearer leaves that zone. As one of the smallest, most lightweight tracking devices on the market, the BC300 is strapped around a person’s ankle with a heavy duty band. Designed with the symptoms of dementia in mind, including memory loss, confusion and other cognitive loss, the device is not dependent on the user’s activation. Caregivers can access the wearer’s real time location 24/7 on a Google map via computer or smartphone. In the event the person wearing the locating device leaves a designated safety zone, an alert is sent to the Breadcrumb Customer Care Center--as well as up to five caregivers and if necessary, the proper authorities are contacted . (Cost: $190, $38/mo service charge)

As more and more families are caring for older relatives, the need for better ways to share sensitive health information has become obvious. There's many types of information to track, for eg. emergency contacts, details about care-related services or treatments, legal and financial documents, all of which family members in multiple locations may need access to.

This past week, CareZone, launched it's new site offering a way to share and manage information associated with caring for another individual. You set up a profile about the person receiving care, list their current medications, sketch out to do lists, add any relevant contacts, share notes and upload files. As the creator of a profile you can give others access which you can also revoke at any time. You might give access to family members who share caregiving responsibilities, professional caregivers or medical staff. The company plans to charge $5/month or $48/yr for each person for whom care is provided. As an introductory offer you can sign up for free until March 15th.

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC

Renovating a Condo for Aging in Place

02/11/2012 11:27:00

For those who live in condos and are looking to make aging-in-place renovations, there are special considerations to be taken into account when planning a project.

For any renovation that would require a permit, the condo association must grant approval. The documentation required for review varies according to each association, but usually includes a description of your project, associated drawings or plans, and information on your contractor, including certificates of insurance.

Your first step then is to find out about the approval process either through the condo association directly or via the management company of the building. They not only can supply you with a list of submittals required and rules for renovation, but also the dates when the association meets for plan review.

From my experience, the most stringent requirements imposed by condo associations have to do with restricted work hours. Their biggest concern is that your neighbors are not inconvenienced by the work being done in your home. Many condo associations also impose additional restrictions on the contractor, such as what entrance and elevators can be used, where parking is allowed, procedures for debris removal, areas for material storage, etc. Make sure you give this information to any contractor pricing your job. It’s important they understand the restrictions so as to be able to set up an orderly approach (and realistic costs) for your renovation.

It makes common sense that it may be difficult to obtain approval for any structural changes to your condo considering that your condo is only one unit tied to the structure of an entire building. Often there are hidden utilities behind walls and over ceilings that feed other units. Even if approved, structural changes may be prohibitive when compared to similar renovations to a single family home.

Keep in mind that each association is different in their requirements so do not rely on assumptions from a contractor or be intimated by stories from friends living in other locations.

And while it may seem like an additional burden and a frustrating delay to have to go through your association’s approval process, if you understand an association’s requirements before committing to a remodeling project, you’ll save yourself both time and money in the long run.

Susan Luxenberg

President

HomeSmart LLC