Have you heard of house design to age in place? It is a new trend for seniors and seniors who dream of living independently in their own family home as they grow older, surrounded by many rich and rewarding memories that they have long treasured. When I recently started a new business focused on home modifications for the elderly and disabled in the Atlanta, Georgia area, I was very pleased to discover that the National Association of Home Builders was offering the courses I needed to earn my Certified Aging Specialist in the Place (CAPS) certification right here in Atlanta, Georgia. I was able to complete all three courses in February of this year, thanks to the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Many topics were discussed, including how to do home aging assessments.

The NAHB-certified Aging-in-Place program instructs individuals in business management, handicap accessibility aspects of architectural design, and customer service procedures necessary to make full-service design and installation modifications to homes. There are three aging categories in place. The first group is made up of people over the age of 50 who are in good health, but wisely put in the effort to remodel their homes as they age. The second group are people with progressive illnesses or disabilities who need to modify their homes to accommodate their increasing needs for greater accessibility. The last aging group in place are people who have been in an accident and require immediate modification to their homes as they return from rehab or the hospital. On-site aging specialists are trained to serve each of these three groups; skillfully serving the elderly and disabled as they seek to continue living independently in homes they have long cherished.

Home appraisals are professionally performed by on-site certified aging specialists. Home modifications are determined by evaluating the needs of the disabled resident and comparing the needs to Atlanta home spaces.

Who wants to get out of that comfortable abode where sweet thoughts of days spent with children or a beloved spouse fill their thoughts? On-site aging home specialists know how to make your home fit you like a glove—for a lifetime! Be sure to consult with an on-site certified aging specialist before embarking on any remodeling plans.