Adapting our homes to our needs as we grow older
Aging in Place empowers older citizens with Choice and Control, Dignity and Independence - the essentials of happier homes, better lives and more economical housing and care.
Louis Tenenbaum is the nation’s leading authority on Aging in Place. He has years of experience helping individual families, builders/developers and communities set the stage for folks to remain safe and comfortable in their own homes.
What is Aging in Place?
Aging in Place integrates design, equipment, and services to provide the opportunity and ability to remain in the home of your choice indefinitely. Aging in Place works best when people prepare their home environments in advance of accidents or injuries using Universal Design to preserve independence and create ergonomic care environments. Aging in Place relies on a comprehensive and dynamic management system to use human, financial, and medical resources efficiently. Aging in place preserves housing stock, fosters community continuity, and strengthens families.
What isn’t Aging in Place?
Forced moves in a crisis from expectable health changes.
What is 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. –Ron Mace
Universal Design is…the process of embedding Choice for all people into the things we design. The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal Design benefits people of all ages and abilities.
What is home modifications?
Home modifications is remodeling homes for comfort, ease of use, and safety. Basing home mods in the principles of Universal Design assures that remodeling provides lasting value.
What is Independent Living Strategy?
Independent Living Strategy is the consultation process that empowers clients to make good choices about a mix of remodeling and services. A good strategy makes good use of assets over time preparing for Aging in Place.
Louis’s Rules for Aging in Place
1. Older folks can return to their own homes following expectable health crises.
2. (Corollary) If we can build a system that allows people to return home, lets use it for Prevention, Wellness & Planning
Aging in Place implies the realignment of spending so care in the home is the norm -Waivers needed for nursing homes!
Please click on the audio icons located throughout this web site to hear Louis talk with you about aging in place and universal design.