Aging Spaces

Ernie MacNeill, a longtime contractor and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), points out problem spots as he tours Elliot Goldberg’s home. MacNeill makes note of carpet that needs to be taken up to remove it a possible tripping hazard, doorways that need widening to possibly accommodate a wheelchair, and discusses moving a closet to make space for an electric lift. Goldberg, 71, has difficulty traversing the multi-storied space . Despite living in a three-floor, split-level home, memories of a deceased wife and family keep him from relocating. MacNeill, part of a growing group of specialists, focuses part of his practice on remodeling homes for aging homeowners that may have mobility and access issues.

There are currently around 3,500 CAPS graduates spanning across the country, but their dispersion is uneven and focused in large cities. While the need for such individuals may be growing, their relative scarcity leaves a gap that has been partially filled by occupational therapists. Though not performing the work of tearing down walls and ripping up carpet, these individuals make suggestions to clients to alleviate some of the common risks found in the home. These suggestions include installing bars in the tub, adding curbless showers, improving lighting, and installing stairless walkways.

While these solutions are practical and may potentially save trips to the emergency room, many of these changes come at a high price.  To counter this, some architects have proliferated the idea of a “universal design.” This would encompass some safety features, like a zero-step entrance, with a selling point considering not just the elderly but also the parent hauling twins with a stroller in tow. By incorporating these design features into new homes and scheduled remodels, contractors create a living space their clients can enjoy even as they age and become less mobile.

See Paula Span, Planning to Age in Place? Find a Contractor Now, N.Y. Times, May 19, 2017.

Special thanks to Lewis Saret (Attorney, Washington, D.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.