The Art of Aging-In-Place

Certified-aging-in-place (CAPS) contracting could be a key to remodeling success in the years to come. As the US population grows older, more homeowners are looking to age in place, which often entails transforming their home into a practical place to live as health issues and mobility begin to play a role in their daily lives.

Such steps include wider, wheelchair-accessible pocket doors, better lighting, reduction of tripping hazards, elevator installation, shower grab bars and tub cuts. Renovations such as these can mean the difference between a later life lived at home or one in a nursing home. That, for many of us, is a powerful incentive, accentuated by the fact that the average home itself is aging and in need of repairs anyway.

The Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation can be achieved through a three-day training course offered by the National Association of Home Builders, in conjunction with AARP. Some 3,000 home remodeling and repair contractors have been certified thus far. That’s a relatively small number compared to the fast-growing number of senior citizens in America.

The scope of CAPS remodeling is wide, affecting nearly every aspect of home re-design, from rocker light switches to low-pile carpeting. Even patterned flooring can become a problem for those with poor vision. Understanding the many ways aging-in-place remodeling can benefit the homeowner, as well as how to broach the subject in a respectful way, could be your ticket to an increased work load. Not to mention a work that helps people live out their life in the most comfortable and familiar way they can.

To learn more about becoming a CAPS contractor, see the NAHB website. The included courses teach the technical, business management and customer service skills to succeed in the aging-in-place sector. In the United States and most other developed countries, a growing percentage of the population is reaching seniority, while the younger population is shrinking. Furthermore, most homes in the US are 30 years or older. It’s a tandem that’s creating quite a market for knowledgeable CAPS professionals.

Photo Credit: Chuck Miller

Tags: age in place remodel, aging in place, CAPS certified, contractor tips, universal design

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 5:58 pm and is filed under Industry News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.