For starters, this great nation of ours was founded on trust in God and individual liberty. Please don’t take these things for granted and do what you can to prevent the erosion of our freedoms. This sense of liberty and individual freedom is one of the main reasons I believe so strongly in aging in place. The generation which began turning 65 this year are the recipients of the freedom that their parents fought and bled and died for in World War II. That liberty and independence is our birthright as Americans and we must continue to fight for it so we don’t lose it. We begin to lose some of that independence when through age or disability; we can no longer get around our homes or come and go as we please. Because this independence is precious to us as Americans, we fight to keep it. It is my honor and privilege to be able to make a difference in people’s lives by helping them remain in their own homes and retain their independence. I appreciate the opportunity to help so many people by modifying their homes to make them safe and comfortable as they age.

At this time of year our hearts also turn to family. All of us have loved ones that we have lost, and we miss them even more at this time of year. We long for just a few minutes with those who have gone on ahead of us. Make every effort to spend time with the family members you still have. We have no guarantees in this life, so let’s make the most of every moment we have. If you have loved ones who are struggling to remain in their homes and could use some assistance, consider giving them a gift of Home Modification. Here at Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc. we can improve the safety, comfort, and accessibility of their home and make a difference not just at Christmas but for the rest of their lives. Just get in touch with me to discuss the possibilities.

Of course, let’s never forget that Jesus is the reason for the season. In this increasingly politically correct society it has become increasingly prevalent to take the Christ out of Christmas. I for one will stand by Jesus who has done so much for me in my life. At this time of year, if you have an opportunity to reach out to someone with the love of Christ, I encourage you to do so. There are opportunities all around us to make a difference in someone’s life.

If we can make a difference in your life or a loved one’s life by modifying your home, please call us at (540) 384-2064 or send us an email at  cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a joyous and prosperous New Year!

No Step Entry  Make sure at least one entry to your home is accessible without any steps. If you are building a new home, the easiest way to accomplish this is to make the garage floor is level with the main floor. If you are building a two story house, create stacked closets with a removable floor to make it easier to add an elevator in the future.

Wider Doors and Hallways If at all possible, use 3’ doors and 4’ halls through out the house. If you are remodeling, enlarge doors to 3’ wide wherever you can. If it doesn’t fit the budget, use swing clear hinges to widen existing doorways. For a person using a wheelchair or a walker, a few extra inches can make all the difference in the world.

Accessible, Safe Bathrooms The bathroom is the room where the most falls occur, and falls are the leading cause of seniors being forced to move out of their homes. A non slip floor, plenty of grab bars, a curbless shower or walk in tub, and a comfort height commode can go a long way towards making the bathroom safer and easier to use.

All Controls Simple to Use and Easy to Access The principles of Universal Design call this simple and intuitive use. Ever notice how the control panels and remote controls of the various gadgets seem to get more and more complicated? Look for appliances, thermostats, and other controls that simple and easy to use. Mount all switches and outlets between 24” and 48” from the floor to make them easy for everyone to reach.

Good Lighting Bright, glare free lighting without shadows will make your home safer for everyone, but especially for anyone with diminished vision. Use bright, contrasting colors, particularly at the edges of work surfaces and stairs.

Watch the Clutter Make sure walkways are clear and free of tripping hazards. Throw rugs and trailing extension cords are two prime suspects. Preventing falls is probably the best way to keep you or a loved one living at home.

While this list is by no means comprehensive, it is a good starting point in creating a home that will work for us throughout our lives. For more information about Aging in Place or Universal Design please give me a call at (540) 384-2064 or visit my website at www.solidrockenterprises.com.

The first thing I recommend looking at is space. Make sure that there is enough room to get around. To have room to negotiate the space in a wheelchair if that ever becomes necessary, it is best to have a five foot radius turning circle and four foot wide corridors between cabinets. In many homes, this is difficult to do without adding on but can sometimes be accomplished by opening up the kitchen into other rooms of the house or reconfiguring the floor plan. In order to accommodate people of different heights as well as those who want or need to use the kitchen in a seated position, I recommend adjustable or varied height countertops. Having open knee space under the sink, cooktop, and open counter areas allows someone in a seated position to use these areas more easily. Appliances need to be easily accessed.  I generally raise the dishwasher 8-12” off the floor, install a wall oven adjacent to a countertop so that dishes can be slid out of the oven onto the countertop, and keep knobs, switches and controls near the front where they can be easily reached. In order to make cabinets easily accessible, I use a variety of rollout shelves in the lower cabinets and pull down shelves in the upper cabinets. There are also systems that mechanically lower the wall cabinets to countertop level at the push of a button! Lazy susans or pullout shelving units in the corner units makes access much simpler.

Lighting is an important consideration for safety and ease of use. Most of the time our eyesight diminishes as we grow older, so bright, glare free lighting is very important. Having contrasting colors on the edges of countertops and other surfaces helps those with diminished eyesight work more safely in the kitchen. Installing non slip flooring is important to help prevent falls and installing grab bars in strategic places will go a long way to help promote safety. Just remember that you can retain your independence in your own home and enjoy your kitchen throughout your life. For more information or to see what we can do to transform your kitchen, give us a call at (540) 384-2064.

As you know if you have read Housing Matters before, I am a strong advocate for helping our seniors remain in their own homes for as long as possible. The physical, mental, and emotional benefits to remaining in a comfortable home environment where we have many fond memories is well documented. As an additional advantage, the costs of home care are considerably less. However, as this study points out the additional costs and strains on family members can take its toll. One way that this added responsibility can be eased is through remote activity monitoring. I have written about the Simply Home® system several times in Housing Matters, most recently in the July edition. Simply Home ® allows seniors to continue to live independently while still providing the peace of mind that comes from knowing a loved one or a trained responder at the call center will be notified immediately if there is any indication that something is amiss. Also by assessing the home environment and making modifications to improve safety and comfort, the probability of falls is greatly reduced. Studies show that in 2007 more than 18,000 older adults died from falls, and in 2009 2.2 million fall injuries were treated in emergency rooms, with 581,000 of these patients being hospitalized. An ongoing project is being conducted at Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia to develop a sensor that will be able to predict an increased chance of falling before it happens by measuring small changes in gait, posture, and mobility. As the age wave crests, (Approximately 10,000 of us will be turning 65 each day over the next 20 years) new and innovative solutions will continue to be developed. I will continue to espouse the benefits of Universal Design that will create homes that can be used by everyone to the greatest extent possible, without the need for specialized alteration and modification. In the meantime I will continue to make home modifications to make my clients home safer, more comfortable, and more accessible. Home modifications can be as simple as adding a grab bar or swing clear hinges, or as elaborate as adding an elevator or an overhead lift. If you or a loved one is struggling to remain in your home, please get in touch with us at Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc. Our phone number is (540) 384-2064 and our website is solidrockenterprises.com. We would be delighted to help you age in the place you love….HOME.

Fortunately there are answers to this conundrum. We are increasingly hearing the term “Aging in Place” used in the conversation about options for our aging loved ones. Aging in Place refers to remaining in the home we are already living in throughout our lives. In fact, studies show that 70% of seniors will spend the rest of their lives in the home where they spent their 65th birthday. A four year study conducted at the University of Missouri’s Sinclair School of Nursing confirms what I have seen in my own business. Seniors who remain in their own homes as they age not only spend thousands less on care but have greatly improved mental and physical health outcomes.

As a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) I specialize in helping seniors remain safely and comfortably in their homes as they age. At Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc. we offer home modification services such as ramps, doorway widening, bathroom and kitchen renovations to improve access, grab bars, etc. We also provide assistive technology such as remote activity and wellness monitoring, overhead lifts, stair lifts, platform lifts, and elevators. We also serve our country’s brave veterans with HISA and SAH grants. To find out more about aging in place, visit www.solidrockenterprises.com or call 540-384-2064.

The system works by installing a series of discreet wireless sensors throughout the home that measure the activity (or inactivity) of the individual. Each system is tailored to the specific needs of the particular situation. Once the system is in operation, it operates inconspicuously in the background. There is no need to push a button to call for help. (Although that option is available as well) Reports of daily activity are available on the Simply Home website. These reports can help detect any warning signs of potential health problems. With the optional Virtual Care Management, a health care professional will review these reports and look for any troublesome trends or signs of trouble. Alerts can be customized in many ways. For example, if you have the Simply Home system installed in your mother’s home and she doesn’t get up at her usual time or doesn’t take her medicine at the proper time, you can program the system to send an email, a text message, or a phone call to a family member a caregiver, or a call center staffed 24/7 by nurses and EMTs. The system also has the ability to track vital signs such as weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. Each system is configured to meet the needs of the person using it. A sensor could be installed on a stove with the ability to turn it off if there is no activity in the room for a certain period of time. The system can be tied into the lighting, HVAC and other systems in the house, so that, for example, lights come on automatically when you get out of bed. A camera could be set up at the front door so you can see who is at the door without getting up. The possibilities are practically endless. The best part of the system is that it can allow people to safely remain in their own homes for far longer than they would otherwise be able to.

The Simply Home system operates on built in cellular communication, is portable, easy to set up and operate, and is available for lease with no contract required. Another unique ability in the Simply Home system is what they call “sequential decision making”. In other words the system is able to analyze a series, or combination of events to determine if an alert needs to go out. For example, getting out of bed at 2:30 am may be normal, but the front door opening, followed by no motion in the house would signal an alert. The system is completely customizable and can be reconfigured or adjusted at any time. Simply Home can be purchased or leased and systems can be leased for as little as $129 a month. Please give us a call at 540-384-2064 to schedule your free, no obligation in home assessment. As always, thank you for reading Housing Matters and remember, with Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc., you can age in the place you love…..HOME.

Although the concept of Universal Design had been developed by an architect named Ron Mace beginning in the 80’s it was still an idea that was largely unknown. Most people, if they thought about any kind of accessible design at all, envisioned something clinical, stigmatizing, and unappealing. Today more and more people are recognizing that living spaces can be designed and built that will not only serve us well throughout the course of our lives, but will be wonderful places to live, easy on the eye as well as comfortable and safe for everyone to use.

So what will the next ten years bring? One thing is for sure, we’re all getting older. Americans will be turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 a day for the next twenty years. The percentage of Americans over 65 which stands at 13% today will be 19% by 2030. Life expectancy continues to rise. Studies show that approximately 75% of older adults would prefer to remain in their own homes as they age. In fact 70% of people spend the rest of their lives in the place where they spend their 65th birthday. However, most of the housing we live in is “Peter Pan” housing. (Housing for people who never grow old) So what’s the answer? I am very encouraged by the growing awareness I see of aging in place solutions. Many people are having Home Modifications done to make their lives easier. New technologies are appearing almost daily to help people age in place. I have written about some of these and will be writing a lot more in the months to come about some of the exciting new products that I will be making available here in Southwest and Central Virginia. People are banding together in new ways to help each other with daily challenges. Lynchburg Area Village expects to have the first village operational by the end of the year, and I expect to see some other ones popping up soon. I believe that we will gradually see more housing built using Universal Design principles that will accommodate our changing needs as we grow older or face temporary or permanent changes in our cognition, mobility, and other issues. I will continue to look for new ideas and new products to make people’s lives safer and more comfortable in their homes throughout the course of their lives. There is a lot to be encouraged about as we look towards the future in terms of living longer and better lives in our own homes. Thank you all for reading and let me know if you have questions or comments. I can be reached at (540) 384-2064 or cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com.

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. As a firm proponent of Universal Design, I encourage people to live in an environment that will be supportive in all circumstances. In other words, anybody might slip in the bathroom, regardless of age, health, or mobility. Anyone could break a bone or suffer some other injury. In many ways the younger and more active you are, the more likely you are to sustain an injury. If all houses were built with grab bars in appropriate places, wider doors and hallways, and zero step entries, no one would think anything was unusual about these features. Then, if there was a need for these features, on a temporary or permanent basis, they would be there. One of the greatest goals in my work is to increase the daily use of universal design features in every day use in people’s lives. It makes so much more sense to incorporate grab bars and other safety features in our homes before we need them rather than wait until we really need them, because then it is often too late.

The trouble with waiting until we need safety features to get them is we often discover that we need them only when we fall. Falls are the leading cause of injuries to older adults in the U.S. It would be great to have grab bars installed long before we need them and to have developed the habit of holding on to them as we get in and out of the tub or shower for example. Then we would be much more likely to reach for them instinctively if we felt ourselves falling. Two thirds of those who fall will likely fall again within six months and one third of falls are due to environmental hazards within the home. So, please take the time to look around your home and assess the fall hazards within your home and take steps to mitigate the danger of falling. If you need help, please give me a call. I would be more than happy to perform an assessment and make whatever modifications you decide to do.

Keep in mind that sixty percent of injury related deaths are due to falls. Also remember that many falls result in broken bones that can be very difficult to heal in older adults. The old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is very fitting to this subject. Oftentimes something as simple as a loose throw rug or a dangling extension cord can lead to a life altering fall. Please be careful and call me if I can be of assistance. I can be reached at 540-384-2064 or by email at cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com.

The first solution that occurs to most of us is a ramp. For an immediate solution, they’re hard to beat. We have modular aluminum ramps available for sale or rent and we can have them installed within a couple of days. Ramps do have their drawbacks, however. Many people do not like the idea of a wheelchair ramp sticking out of the front of their house. Depending on the topography, you might be able to put it in the back or in the garage. The other drawback of a ramp is the space they take up. A properly installed ramp should slope no more than one inch of rise for every one foot of run. Suppose you have three steps on the front of your house. The typical step is about seven inches tall, so your ramp would have to be at least 21 feet long. Even in a garage where your ramp might be only 7 to 8 feet long, you may be taking up parking space you can’t afford to lose.

Another option to consider is a platform lift or a chair lift. A platform lift will accommodate a wheelchair or a standing person and raises straight up and down. A chair lift is a seat that mounts on the stairs and goes up and down the stairs on an incline. Both of these types of lifts get around the space required by a long ramp, but the cost can be quite high.

If you have the luxury of planning ahead, I would recommend building a zero step entry into every house that is built. Often, the easiest way to do this is to simply build the garage floor level with the main house floor. While building codes used to prohibit this practice, it has been accepted for almost ten years now. Unfortunately most builders continue to build with the step down. Another way to accomplish a zero step entry is to build up earth into a berm leading to the vicinity of the door and constructing a level “bridge” to the door. This prevents the problems associated with backfilling against the wood floor framing of the house which can lead to rot and termite problems. A gently sloping sidewalk is installed leading from the end of the “bridge” to the street or driveway. And don’t forget to install a door with a low threshold that won’t be an obstacle to anyone with mobility issues. It’s also a good idea to provide a roof over the entry to help prevent water from coming under the door as well as to protect you from the weather as you are entering the house.

If you need advice about your specific situation, please give me a call at 540-384-2064.

There are many platforms and setups on the market and more are appearing every day it seems like. Rather than get into specifics and individual systems, I’m going to talk about some of the different approaches and features that are available. I intend to begin offering some of these monitoring systems in the near future, so if you’re interested, I would very much like to know what features are important to you.

First of all, there are two broad categories of information we might want to monitor. These are “remote vital signs monitoring” and “remote passive activity/safety monitoring”. In other words vital signs monitoring gives a caregiver the ability to check things like blood pressure and heart rate while activity/safety monitoring allows a caregiver to make sure that everything is OK. All of these systems rely on sensors of various kinds. There are motion detectors, sensors that can tell when a door or window is opened, or a stove is turned on, or a toilet flushed. Many of these systems will “learn” a person’s patterns and alert a caregiver if something is out of the ordinary. For example a pressure sensor in the bed registers that your loved one usually gets up between 8:00 and 8:30. If there is no movement by 9:00 it triggers an alert. Because of privacy concerns, some systems eschew the use of cameras while others use them only in common areas or at ankle height. Most systems are highly customizable to adapt the installation to the individual’s needs. Motion detectors can sense movement and turn on the lights. Another distinction is whether or not there is a central monitoring service available. While many systems require family members or other caregivers to receive the alerts and respond accordingly, at least one system offers a centralized switchboard of tele-caregivers. Options are available for constant surveillance, scheduled check ins, or on call only. This kind of support is great for people who don’t have family to take an active role in monitoring their loved one. Another neat feature I found is a video screen than can be set up to display the patients schedule, weather, news, and other information of interest to them. Family members can even send pictures or videos whenever they want. Also the system can be set up with a video chat feature so you can see and talk to a family member even if they are on the other side of the world!

There are many more features and more every day. I’ll be writing more about this subject in the months ahead so let me know if you have questions. You can reach me at 540-556-0650.