What Is "Design for Independent Living," Anyway?

By: Dan Bawden, CAPS, CGR, GMB

Name one thing you’ve been doing since you were born. I’ve got one:  getting older!  In response to the huge wave of Baby Boomers starting to retire, all sorts of products and services are popping up catering to the 50-and-over crowd. However, none of them hits as close to home as the nationally acclaimed “CAPS Program”. 

CAPS stands for “Certified Aging in Place Specialist”.  It is a recent construction credential that has builders, architects, remodelers, designers, and even occupational therapists buzzing.  Far beyond using universal design ideas, aging-in-place (aka independent living) principles are sweeping changes designed to custom-fit your home to you and your family as time goes by. CAPS design takes your current and future circumstances into consideration. CAPS design principles focus on elegant, aesthetically enriching, barrier-free environments. These are changes that can actually increase the value of your home, according to some realtors. 

What is ”Aging-in-Place” exactly?  If you are like the majority of Americans you want to continue living at home in a familiar environment throughout your maturing years. Aging-in-place means living in your home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age or ability level. It addresses the need to remodel existing homes, and design new homes, so people can “age-in-place” and not have to move to assisted living facilities as they age.  Since the vast majority of homes we live in are not well designed for this, a new movement in residential construction has sprung up to meet this new consumer demand. 

Boomers are catching onto this trend fast - and they are 77 million strong, making up 28% of the total U. S. population.  The economics of doing aging-in-place modifications are a no-brainer. Moving to a typical assisted living facility can cost upwards of $60,000. per year each year, plus the cost of the move. The cost to widen the bathroom door put in safety bars and a roll-in shower would typically cost about $6,000 to $8,000. , but it’s a one-time expense, not a yearly drain on your finances. In addition to the economics, consider the psychological impact of and being uprooted from your community, familiar rituals, independence and privacy. The affordability of aging-in-place remodeling is made enhanced by the fact that medically necessary changes (such as wider doorways or a roll-in shower) are deductible on your taxes, if backed up by a letter from your doctor.

Too early to think this applies to you? Consider how many folks struggle with bouts of arthritis at an early age. If you fell and broke a leg, how easy would it be to get up and downstairs in your house? Perhaps you have aging parent or relative who is facing these challenges who may need to move in with you.

Construction and design professionals are taking advantage of the CAPS training across the nation and here in Houston . This new designation is taught through the National Association of Home Builders (“NAHB”), in collaboration with AARP.  In fact, you may have seen an article about Aging-Place in AARP’S Magazine, Modern Maturity recently. CAPS connects responsible professionals with homeowners who need these services on an ever-increasing basis. CAPS is a nationwide initiative, and it is just beginning.

Look for the CAPS credential as a reliable way to identify professionals to modify your home or build a new one that is “designed for a lifespan”. CAPS graduates receive training about the technical/construction aspects and learn about the unique aspects of working with older Americans.  They must also take formal business training, maintain their credential through continuing education, and even must subscribe to a Code of Ethics.

What kind of changes are we talking about? 

A host of things! The overall goal is to make the home safer, with less maintenance  and more barrier-free. Typical changes include the following:

Getting safely and securely into and out of the house. 

• Better outdoor lighting to get you from your car to the door.
• Attractive ramps or a “zero step entrance” for the home.
• Install a package shelf by front door.
• Add handrails at existing steps and porches.
• Front door with sidelight for security.
• Avoid stairs: build one-story ranch designs for new homes.

Changes in the kitchen for easier meal preparation and eating.

• Lever-handle faucets with pull-out spray.
• Raised dishwasher to avoid back strain (a good idea for front-loading washers and dryers, too).
• Rolling island that can be placed back under the counter.
• Revolving corner shelves and pull-out shelves.
• Lower, side-opening oven.
• Pull-out cutting board.
• Adjustable height sink.
• Side-by side refrigerator with slide-out shelves and a water/ice dispenser.
• Cooktop with controls on front .
• Larger, friendlier cabinet and drawer pulls.

Changes in the bathrooms - the Number One place for accidents in your home.

• Install 2 to 3 attractive looking grab bars in shower.
• Lever handles on faucets.
• Slide-bar-type hand-held shower, for sitting or standing.
• Shampoo nooks inset in the wall.
• Curbless showers – nothing to step over, and can be rolled into if a wheelchair becomes necessary later.
• Tub and Shower controls moved closer to entry point.
• Anti-scald, temperature and pressure balanced tub shower valves for safer bathing.
• Widen entry doors to at least 32”.
• 32”-36” pocket doors.
• Higher toilets with non-slam seats and lids.

Moving around within the house:

• Improve lighting with recessed fixtures in common areas and hallways.
• Lever handles on doors and windows.
• Lower light switches and thermostats; raise outlets.
• Planning for future elevator, by stacking closets.
• Adding blocking in walls for future chair lift at stairs.
• Wider doors that  accommodate wheel chairs and walkers.