Senior Living Facilities - Certifications

We share a startling observation of how new senior living facilities are missing critical elements.
Some important certifications to look for in a contractor or designer and a few organizations that are working to improve industry standards.

Transcript

Podcast Episode 3

Welcome to the Renovation Secrets Podcast where we hope to untangle to mysteries of the renovation world. This is our third episode, welcome back if you happened to catch any earlier episode and if you are new so glad to have you stop by. BTW I am still looking for the right music!!

My name is Natalia Pierce and I will be your host. I am a kitchen and bath designer and small business owner and this month (August 2020) I have reached 10 years of being solely on my own! Even though I started my company almost 15 years ago (and we will celebrate that milestone in December) I left a full time job managing the kitchen and bath department and installed sales manager for a local Home Hardware where I developed their sales from $0 to $600K in 18 months. But is was more than the money and sales that drove me to go on my own. As I have learned in the past 10 years it is about changing lives and making the lives of my clients and their families better, one renovation at a time. 

This process has been so important to me that I started writing my books when I kept finding clients under prepared for the renovation process. My goal was to not only improve their homes but to make that experience a more positive one. We have all heard the nightmare stories on TV and unfortunately many of them are true, BUT I know there are MANY great skilled trades and companies out there that feel the same way I do and in the coming episodes you will have a chance to hear from them too.

I know it has been a few weeks since our last episode and I apologize for the delay. There has been some really eye opening experiences that want to share with you and it has taken me a few extra weeks to be able to process my thoughts into this episode.

The most recent experience I want to talk about has to do with senior residences. I recently had the opportunity to review a set of architectural drawings for a large high-end seniors residence being built here in Ottawa. The residence is in a prime central location and will be devoted to able bodied older adults. This is not a long-term care facility but a seniors residence. Although there will be assisted facilities the units are designed for independent living. Many units are fitted with small kitchenettes, a short bank of upper and lower cabinets. 

2:35 My startling observation was finding these kitchenettes included a microwave oven placed ABOVE 55” off the finished floor. I’m sure a few of you are scratching your head thinking - “SO, what’s the big deal”! Let me explain. The average height of an individual aged 65 or older is approx. 5’5” for men and 5’ for women. This means for the average height their shoulder height is approximately 4’ 6” and 4’1” or 54” and 49” meaning that EVERYTHING to be put in the microwave needs to be lifted above the shoulder. Now if you are in your 20’s or 30’s and probably even into your 50’s this doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, however, it is no secret that as we age we continue to lose muscle mass. After the age of 40 I believe the figure is 1-3% a year. And here in a home DESIGNED for people OVER 65 they will be required to lift plates, mugs or bowls above the shoulder. Upper body strength is often the weakest compared to other large muscle groups and lifting above the shoulder can be challenging then add in a heat factor. 

3:51 How can this be possible? With all the information available and programs created to educate designers, builders and architects about aging related concerns I am shocked at how critical details like this can be overlooked. If you are a builder, architect, developer or designer or a curious individual PLEASE call me, I would be more than happy to consult on your project, or at the very least look into the CLIPP or CAPS programs. 

This isn’t just fluffy design advice, these decisions can make enormous impact on the health and well being of a loved one. Just for reference this was the SECOND senior living facility I have observed that missed critical safety elements. As a matter of fact I actually came up with at least 12 crucial recommendations for this facility. Many of my recommendations don’t cost a penny more, it is only a matter of attention to detail and specifying the right product and materials. It is not enough to use universal design practices, which were developed over 20 years ago and although were an essential milestone are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to creating sustainable, safe living environments for our families. 

Ok, that’s the end of my rant!

As I continue to devote a lot of time to research for my new book, Wellness in Design, I am discovering more ways to improve our health and wellness through changes we can make in our homes. Yes, some of these involve more extensive alterations, like a full renovation, but if you are already planning for a renovation a change of product, material, system or appliance can be easily done when it is part of the initial planning process. 

5:56 Talk to your designer or contractor about what your goals are for your renovation. Is the purpose to upgrade an out-of-date space, overcoming storage issues or bad layouts or including upgrades that will allow you to stay in your home for decades. Whatever the motivation consider what’s your current age and stage of life, how long you plan to stay in the home, or do you have family or guests that would benefit from improving accessibility. There are many influences that prompt upgrades in your home. With senior living facilities and long term care homes being somewhat riskier now with covid something that people are considering  adding accessory dwellings or inlaw suites into their homes.

 6:45 I read an article years ago that provided new home buyers a realistic approach to home maintenance. It stated that a homeowner should budget 1-3% of the homes value a year for maintenance. That is probably a pretty fair assessment depending on the age of the home. Keep in mind that investing in your home is as important as contributing to your retirement plan. With your home being your single largest asset keeping up the maintenance also helps increase your property value. More importantly your home should work for you, not the other way around. 

7:18 Family needs and life stages often dictate the list of “must-haves” when purchasing a home, but occasionally life throws us a curve ball and those needs change. To get the most out of a renovation and your hard earned money you might consider working with a Certified Living In Place professional. To find a CLIPP graduate in your area you can use the search function on the Living In Place DOT institute website. Designing your home for many of life’s stages has great benefits for both today and tomorrow. When you work with a professional that holds certifications you reap the benefits of all their knowledge, training and experience and can be introduced to methods and products that improve functionality and wellness for you and your family. And chances are a professional that holds appellations is often more committed to keeping current and up-to-date with advancements in the industry.

8:13 Some certifications to look for include National Kitchen and Bath Association designations, Living In Place Institute certifications, Certified Aging In Place, Association of Interior Designers, Well Building Standard, Fit WELL and so on. Some of the key organizations that have a strong code of ethics for their members are National Association of Home Builders (or NAHB) National Association of the Remodeling Industry (or NARI), National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), RenoMark, Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association (or GOHBA here in Ottawa). Look for these organizations in your area.

If you want a more detailed guide to help you plan your renovation or decide if home improvements are right for you send me an email I would be happy to send you my book Inside Renovations ABSOLUTELY FREE no strings attached. Just include FREE in the subject line my email address is Natalia@detailbydesign.ca

You can always check out our website at detail by design.ca

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Thanks again for stopping by until next time this is your host Natalia - happy renovations!