Who Will Change My Light Bulbs?
I met Joseph Coughlin, PhD about five years ago after his presentation at a financial planning conference. Joe is the Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, book author, lecturer, researcher and all-around smart guy. But the thing I liked most about him, was that we both have an affinity for the bow tie!
Through Joe’s research at MIT, he has come up with “Three Questions That Can Predict Future Quality of Life” as we age. In this three-part series, we will explore each of the questions…
Who Will Change My Light Bulbs?
How Will I Get An Ice Cream Cone?
Who Will I Have Lunch With?
I hope you enjoy these thought-provoking articles.
Roger A. Shake, CFP®, RLP®, CeFT®
Who Will Change My Light Bulbs?
By Joseph F. Coughlin, PhD
Preparing for the next stage of life often begins with determining where and how you'll be spending it.
One of the main questions facing aging folks today concerns housing needs. Specifically, it’s about the decision as to whether or not you'll be able to stay in your current residence and community as the years go on. According to the AARP, nearly 90% of adults age 65 and older intend to stay in their own homes as long as possible.(1) Often, the memories associated with our house and being comfortable in that familiar environment are the leading factors in wanting to stay put.
But here’s the reality: Even if you are determined to age in place, work needs to be done.
A Home For A Lifetime
How will you continue living in your home safely and independently? When people are younger, most take for granted their ability to do daily house cleaning, maintenance, and basic repairs—even home modifications. Forward-thinkers understand their homes as they appear today are most likely not ones that can sustain them into the future.
Incorporating universal design principles—a framework used to create a more functional living environment—into their modifications can greatly increase accessibility. These changes include widening hallways, creating single-floor living spaces, and adding safety modifications to accommodate medical equipment, walkers, and wheelchairs.
Work To Be Done
A 2015 study conducted by The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence and the University of Southern California Davis School of Gerontology found that 40% of baby boomers expect to remodel their homes in the near future.(2) The bathroom and kitchen—often areas most in need of updates for aging in place—came out as the top two rooms many people plan to tackle.
However, a majority of these projects were centered on aesthetics, with only 21% saying they were considering their age or health while planning the project.(2)
This is where it helps to be proactive as you get your aging-in-place planning started. Consider incorporating design modifications into already planned projects. These modifications (listed below) can range from minor to major, depending on their needs.
Top Trends For Aging In Place (3)
Here are the leading requests contractors hear when working with clients to upgrade their existing homes for longevity.
Throughout the house
Level the home’s entry way
Install proper lighting, both inside and out
Replace light switches with rocker switches and install lighted switch plates
Enlarge doorways to at least 32 inches wide (preferably 36) to accommodate a wheelchair
In the bedroom
Reduce the need to use the steps by shifting the bedroom to the main floor
Mount handles on beds to help with getting in and out
Install a closet storage system that makes things easy to reach
In the bathroom
Build a full bathroom on the main floor
Install a no-threshold shower
Add grab bars near the toilet and in the shower
Install higher toilet seats
In the kitchen
Free up space beneath a sink to provide open knee space for wheelchair use
Raise the height of a dishwasher to a comfortable height to make it easier to load and unload
Put easy-to-open pulls and handles on doors and cabinets
A Helping Hand
Understanding that modifications need to be made and working out the associated costs is one thing. Finding the right professionals to assist with those renovations is another. It’s often not easy to track down the most qualified contractors. You can begin by searching for qualified professionals through The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) program. The NAHB developed CAPS to teach the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential in what’s becoming one of the fastest-growing segments of the residential remodeling industry. CAPS-certified professionals can be a trusted ally in your quest to age in place.
To find one in your area, go online to www.nahb.org/caps for more information.
Locate Trusted Service Providers
Preparing to age in place is about more than just home modifications. As people get older, their ability to do work around the house themselves also may lessen. Household repairs, services, and ongoing maintenance are often overlooked in their retirement planning. They might need a helping hand to complete these activities. Locating the right local businesses that specialize in the services can be a key strategy in helping accomplish some of these daily activities.
It’s important to factor the expense of these home assistance services into your financial plan.
House cleaning
Home maintenance & basic repairs
Lawn care & landscaping
Grocery shopping & delivery
Laundry
Home modifications
In-home medical services & devices
Heavy lifting
Organizing & decluttering
Help To Envision Your Future Quality Of Life
When you consider retirement planning, it’s easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. The first thing that comes to mind is probably, “How much money will I need?” But whatever that amount may be, your finances are only part of the equation for a meaningful retirement. A Certified Financial Planner can help you adopt an integrated and holistic approach to prepare you to live longer and well in your home. Identifying the necessary steps to maintain your home may be just as critical to aging independently as the health of your retirement savings.
Helping you integrate these issues into a comprehensive planning discussion to make planning to age in place is a part of the services of Legacy Consulting Group.
Call us at 972-599-4750 to schedule a conversation on how we can assist you with your planning needs.
1: AARP PPI, “What is Livable? Community Preferences of Older Adults,” 04/14, www.aarp.org. Most recent data available used.
2: The Hartford, “Remodeling Today for a Better Tomorrow,” The Hartford, 07/15,www.thehartford.com
3: Source: The National Association of Home Builders/AginginPlace.com, n.d.
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Registration is not an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators and does not mean the adviser has achieved a specific level of skill or ability.