Hints 'to' Heloise - Ideas Wanted for Independent Living

Last year in May 2000, during the Older Americans Month, a contest co-sponsored by the American Association for Retired Person (AARP) Andrus Foundation and columnist Heloise of "Hints from Heloise" was held to obtain helpful hints for Independent Living. Ideas were submitted from numerous enthusiastic visitors to the AARP Andrus Foundation Web site and are posted online in the categories of winners, runners-up, and other helpful hints, as a method to disseminate useful information.

This year, due to the positive feedback from the participants and the copious practical ideas received, the contest is once again taking place. The contest is also held in celebration of the Independent Living Week of 2001, so that everyone is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to submit his or her ideas 'to' Heloise and to the Andrus Foundation. The hints and ideas that the contest calls for are simple and practical points that make independent living for elderly people more attainable. Three winners will be chosen as well as seven runners-up; and in addition to having these ideas publicized online, each winner will receive a basket of useful gadgets and information. Other selected entries will also be posted online at the Andrus Foundation Web site and the "Hints from Heloise" column.

The entry deadline is June 15th, interested individuals can enter online at Andrus Foundation or send hints via mail to: Hints to Heloise Contest, AARP Andrus Foundation, 601 E. St. N.W., Washington, DC 20049.

Extended Home Living Services is awarded in "The Big 50"

"The Big 50" is a section in the Remodeling magazine that features fifty outstanding companies in various sector of the remodeling industry. The section highlights the prominent achievement of the listed companies and offers statistics of the size and background history of them.

Found in the Industry Impact Part 2 category of "The Big 50", the owners of Extended Home Living Services, Allan and Joanie Browne are distinguished for their pioneering focus on home modification in the remodeling industry. The aging baby boomers population will surely affect the sector, and become a major group of consumers that remodeling business may have to accommodate to. Consequently, to tap into this growing consumer group, Extended Home Living Services runs a core system called Comprehensive Assessment and Solution Process for Aging Residents. The system begins by having remodelers complete a questionnaire that would be assessed by business like Extended Home Living Services, then an explicit modified remodeling plan is sent to the remodelers for action. The company is located in Wheeling, Illinois and has been in business for 20 years with an impressive volume of $4.1 million in year 2000.

To read the full article, visit remodeling magazine.

The U. S. Administration on Aging has posted two new Web pages containing valuable information on making senior-friendly Web sites that also accommodate to various disabilities. The information included is extensive, ranging from image collection, usability, to announcement of dissemination of the newly created sites. Specifically, these two new Web pages have links to several Web sites on general principles of site design and information on making Web sites more accessible to people of all ages and levels of disabilities. There are also links to manuals and convenient checklists to help site developers follow the guidelines. To visit these pages, go to http://www.aoa.gov/webresources/access.html, http://www.aoa.gov/webresources/websitedev.html.

(Source: Administration on Aging - Web Site Development for the Aging Network)

Senate Aging Committee Examines Assisted Living

The Senate Special Committee on Aging heard two complaints on Thursday, April 26 about the rapidly growing assisted living industry. The complaints include that the assisted living facilities are loosely regulated and consequently, low-income seniors often are unable to afford the expensive retirement facilities. The committee reviewed a new Congressional Research Service study that details uneven state-by-state regulation, contributing to wide differences in services, costs and government oversight. The hearing comes exactly two years after another hearing on the same topic. At the 1999 hearing, titled, "Shopping for Assisted Living - What Consumers Need to Make the Best Buy," the General Accounting Office reported that while assisted living is becoming increasingly popular, some facilities were not routinely providing prospective residents with sufficient information to adequately choose a facility. Committee members closed that hearing by calling for self-policing of the industry. The April 26 hearing examined whether the self-policing policy is effective. The hearing was webcast live and is available for viewing now at the Aging Committee Web site. For testimonies on each panel, visit senate testimonies or for video of hearing, visit video.

(Source: Senate Special Committee on Aging)

CONFERENCE UPDATE - May 8th, 2001

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CONGRESS WORKSHOPS THE MONTRÉAL INCLUSION BY DESIGN DECLARATION

Inclusion by Design is a unique occasion for presenters, delegates and exhibitors to discuss and encourage Universal Design and inclusive policies, which can be developed and implemented through government, corporate and community infrastructures. To assist everyone, the Congress Organizers have developed a process of drawing up and announcing a Declaration that identifies a set of general principles. It is these principles which will serve as guidance and inspiration for how stakeholders across programs, groups, states and nations think about and implement ideas in the future. The Congress Organizers are suggesting to all participants that they be involved in the steps of writing The Montréal Inclusion by Design Declaration, which will articulate the perspective, delivered at the congress. This international instrument will set the standard for Inclusion and a Barrier-free World. The Declaration will be presented at the Closing Ceremony. Attendees and organizations from around the world may then use this Declaration as a means to urge their governments to adopt policies promoting a barrier-free environment. To learn more about The Montréal Inclusion by Design Declaration, visit the congress website: declaration.

UNE SOCIÉTÉ INCLUSIVE - 1er au 5 JUIN 2001

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LA DÉCLARATION DE MONTRÉAL SUR UNE SOCIÉTÉ INCLUSIVE

Une société inclusive est une occasion unique pour les présentateurs, les délégués et les exposants de discuter et faire la promotion du design universel et des politiques inclusives qui peuvent être développées et mises sur pied par le gouvernement, les corporations et les organismes communautaires. Les organisateurs du congrès ont développé un processus afin d'écrire et d'annoncer une Déclaration qui identifie un ensemble de principes généraux. Ce sont ces principes qui serviront de source d'inspiration pour la mise sur pied de politiques dans le futur et cela pour les intervenants dans le développement de programme au sein des groupes, des états et des nations. Les organisateurs du congrès suggèrent que tous les participants soient impliqués dans le processus d'écriture de la Déclaration de Montréal sur Une société inclusive, déclaration qui résumera les perspectives mises en lumière au cours du congrès. Cet instrument international servira à identifier les normes pour un monde inclusif et sans obstacles. La Déclaration sera présenté lors de la Cérémonie de clôture du congrès. Puis les délégués et les organisations de partout à travers le monde seront invités à utiliser cette Déclaration pour recommander à leurs gouvernements l'adoption de politiques faisant la promotion d'un monde sans obstacles. Pour en savoir plus, visitez le site internet du congrès: declaration.