Aging in place
Local firms help seniors continue to live independently
By Sande Snead CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Wayne Booze (right), owner and president of DesignLine Remodelers, discusses an addition project with homeowner Pat Manson (left) and senior lead carpenter David Stowers. The addition will incorporate multiple sources of light to accommodate Manson's macular degeneration.

Wayne Booze, owner and president of DesignLine Remodelers, has been in the remodeling business for 15 years, but he's still learning a thing or two. Now that he is over 50 himself, and his in-laws are living with him, he's given a lot more thought to the aging process and the importance of planning ahead for it.

"We're waiting to get my wife's parents into an assisted living program," he said. "In the meantime, this experience has made me a lot more aware of what I'm going to face."

So much so, in fact, that Booze's Chesterfield-based company is now one of several in metro Richmond that is helping seniors continue to live independently in their own homes.

Just four months ago, Booze became the first remodeler in Richmond to earn certification as an "aging in place" specialist. The idea is that people want to stay in their own homes as long as possible, and if their home can be modified so that they can continue to do so safely, it's a positive outcome for everyone involved.

The program Booze attended in Virginia Beach addressed the special housing needs of the aging population and people with various handicaps.

"There are so many things you can do to make your home more conducive to living there as long as possible," Booze said. "You can use levered door handles versus round knobs. You can use plywood or a backer bar behind the tile in the shower so that if you ever want to put a grab bar in, you can."

Also helping seniors find ways to adapt their home as they age is Steve Murphy, president of Add-A-Deck. The company's Accessible Adaptations division specializes in creating user-friendly environments for people with physical disabilities.

"Not many people think to call a deck company for adaptations for their home, but we can build ramps, widen doorways and renovate bathrooms for easier access," he said.

Murphy recently built an entire addition for his mother.

"My mom had an aneurysm, and she lived in a tri-level," Murphy said. "We made the bathroom accessible with a roll-in shower, and we built an addition to the house, so she's all on one level. She loves it. It's huge to be able to stay in your own place and function all on your own."

Other area professionals have also noticed the push toward aging in place. After more than 30 years as a physical therapist, Karen Mc- Combe started the Independent Living Project (ILP) in 2004. ILP is a new community-based health service that helps older adults continue to live safely and independently in their own homes.

"There is a huge gap among older people who don't qualify for home health care, but whose balance is off, endurance is low and vision is failing," McCombe said. "What I do is go into their homes and offer an assessment of how the home can be set up for aging in place, and what kind of care they need."

McCombe conducts a screening test and thorough evaluation of the home. She looks at medications and goes through the closets. McCombe charges $275 to $300 depending on the size of the home and what problems exist. Clients receive a 10+ page report, detailing her findings and recommendations.

Most of her clients are middle-aged children of elderly parents who want an objective opinion on how their loved one is coping with living alone.

"Most seniors are not going to call me because they don't want to draw attention to the fact that they might need help. Also, most people in this age bracket went through the Depression and are tight with their money."

McCombe's evaluation might conclude that the house can be adapted and the senior would be safe to continue living alone for five years longer or more. Or she may find that there is limited ability for the house to be adapted to the older person's needs.

Diane Peterson, senior advocate for Chesterfield County, takes inquiring phone calls on this very subject all day long. People want to know what options are available for their elderly parents or spouse with medical issues.

"Nine out of 10 people who call me want these seniors to remain in their own home as they age, but they need support services," Peterson said. "We link them with the resources they need."

In addition to offering support over the phone, Peterson also provides contact information if a Chesterfield resident would like a home visit. Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency on Aging, is a nonprofit agency that will send a care coordinator to do an inhome assessment.

"Studies show that people do better psychologically in their own homes," McCombe said. "They usually have a social network where they live, and they are comfortable with the area. They do not want to lose their autonomy or personal space."