Process begins with home audit
When determining what modifications are needed in a house, it's important for the selected builder or remodeler to sit down with the clients to determine what is appropriate for their situation.
The CAPS certification recommends a home "audit for independence" that asks crucial questions of all the residents to determine their needs. Scott Sevon noted that the needs of a husband in a wheelchair may be different from those of his wife who may have no mobility problems at all, but may have vision difficulties.
"What we do with people taking the (CAPS) course is give them eyeglasses with Vaseline on them, and we give them mittens," Sevon said. "This way they can see what it's like to live their life with failing eyesight or what it's like to have arthritis in their hands."
The audit asks whether residents have light, moderate or severe problems with general living tasks such as vision, hearing, strength, use of hands and neck, reaching and stretching, balance and the like. In addition, the audit goes through various areas of a home, such as entryway, hallways and inside doors, stairs, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room, and family room, to see what problems are encountered in each. Among the questions asked are whether clients have difficulty:
• Climbing up or down stairs
• Distinguishing thresholds and edges
• Using doorknobs and opening doors
• Turning lights on and off
• Using electrical outlets
• Opening and closing windows and window treatments
• Using cabinets, closets or other storage
• Reaching and/or using appliances such as refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, etc.
• Using water taps, sinks, toilets or bathtubs
• Tripping on rug corners and edges
• Entering and exiting rooms
• Moving around in specified rooms
• Seeing in certain areas because of low light or glare
• Using closets, including opening and closing, and reaching clothes
Most modifications are simple, but some require more design input and specialized installation. These modifications include a home elevator, notification system with flashing lights for those hard of hearing, sound alarms for the visually impaired, and remote monitoring systems that track the activities of a senior who lives alone. NARI's Dan Taddei cautions that remodelers may have a CAPS certification, but may not necessarily be qualified to do a particular installation.
"You have to understand what your limitations as a remodeler are," Taddei said. "A remodeler may not have experience in installing intelligent systems. You don't have to know how to do everything, you just have to know where to find sources."
A good rule of thumb, particularly for older senior citizens, is to have a son or daughter or other trusted individual with them when discussing remodeling modifications to ensure that the most important considerations are covered.
- Arlene Miles