The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has recently in October announced a new grant totaled more than $604 million in housing assistance for low income elderly people. This fiscal effort intends to improve housing opportunity for low-income seniors in the nation; allowing more affordable, quality, and safe dwellings. Under HUD's Section 202, the grant is issued to non-profit organizations in 43 states and Puerto Rico to built 6,000 federally subsidized apartments for elderly individuals.

Existing statistics show there is a definite need for housing assistance to the elderly population. In 1999, of the 21.4 million households occupied by seniors, 19.7 percent were renters with median income of $12,566. Moreover, approximately 6.8 million elderly people pay more than their financial abilities on monthly rent; which exceeds 30 percent of their income.

The grant is not only awarded to fund construction and rehabilitation projects in apartment-building, but also to subsidize rents on the apartments for 5 years. The effort may help increase affordability on rental housing, so senior residents will pay 30 percent or less of their income as rent. Specifically, HUD grants 2 forms of Section 202 funds to non-profit groups; the first being capital advances, which covers the capital cost of building the structure. Recipients of this money do not need to repay HUD as long as the housing is made available to very low-income seniors for a minimum of 40 years. The second type of funding is project rental assistance, which covers the difference between residents' contribution in rent and the cost of maintaining the project.

To be eligible for housing assistance, the household has to fall under the very low-income category, which is defined by less than 50 percent of the area median income, equivalent to less than annual income of $18,375 nationally. Since the distribution of funding to respective states, about 384 housing provider groups have applied for the Section 202 assistance and 157 have received grants.

For a list of state awarded and the breakdown of grant allocated, visit HUD's website.

Originally published in 1996, the Fair Housing Act Design Manual: a Manual to Assist Designers and Builders in Meeting the Accessibility Requirements is revised and re-published with updated information about accessibility requirements of Fair Housing Act and a new preface written by HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. The updated manual includes technical recommendations from HUD and requirements under the Act. The accessibility requirements included apply to the design and construction of various types of housing, namely four-unit or larger dwellings that are built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 and that are either owned by private or public sectors.

The Fair Housing Amendments Act was established in 1988 to protect persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and children under age 18 against housing discrimination. In addition, the Act not only allows more housing choices for the protected classes, but encourages future designs and construction of new buildings to comply with the Accessibility Guidelines to meet the needs of an aging population. The guidelines include modifications like wider doorways, and grab bars to help promote independent living.

The "Fair Housing Act Design Manual" includes detailed explanations and illustrations of accessibility guidelines and regulations governed by the Act. The manual is organized into three parts; the first section outlines the Fair Housing Act, the type of housing covered under the Act, and other existing national laws that regulate accessible designs. The second part leads to more details regarding the specifics of seven design requirements of the Accessibility Guidelines. The final section contains an appendix that includes a useful list of product resources and references, as well as reprints of the Guidelines and a Supplemental Notice to the Guidelines.

To order "Fair Housing Act Design Manual", visit the HUD USER website at www.huduser.org/publications/destech/fairhousing.html. For people who have the 1996 edition, updated pages are free of charge and are available for ordering online.

2001 Winner of Excellence in Program Innovation Announced!

On October 22, 2001 the Archstone Foundation and the American Public Health Association (APHA) announced this year's recipient of the Award of Excellence in Program Innovation. The award is presented to Elder Services Network (ESN) of Mt. Iron, Minnesota for its Groceries to Go program. The program has shown effective practice in weekly grocery shopping and delivery for people over age 60. The program exceeds the standard food services for the elderly in that it targets a wide-range of elderly individuals; with special consideration given to reach frail elderly who are most in need and those residing in rural areas.

The award was established 4 years ago by the Archstone Foundation to recognize and encourage best practice models in the field of gerontology and geriatrics. Programs are also judged based on their effectiveness in linking academic theory with actual application in meeting the increasing needs of older population and public health. Created in 1999, Groceries to Go program stands out among various other competitive programs. It does not only show effort to reach elderly individuals of various functional abilities and who reside in different geographical areas, the program is practical enough to be replicated and serves as a model program.

ESN received a $1,000 cash award, which was presented at the 129th Annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in Atlanta and will also be presenting the program in a special Gerontological Health Section Award session. Other outstanding programs in the competition that have received Award for Excellence in Program Innovation Honorable Mentions are:

• DuPage County Health Department in Glen Ellyn, Ill. for its Centralized Nursing Assessment Service Program,
• The Area Agency on Aging 10B, Inc., in Uniontown, Ohio for its S.A.G.E. Project, and
• United Services for Older Adults in Greensboro, N.C. for its Senior Wheels Program.
  Each of these recipients received a $250 cash award.

Beginning on November 1, 2001, the Archstone Foundation will be accepting nominations for the 2002 Award for Excellence in Program Innovation. The program will continue to implement the Foundation's vision to bring public health innovations to older persons in America and encourage organizations to partake in this innovative effort to improve services for the elderly. For more information, visit the Archstone Foundation website at www.archstone.org.

(Source of article is from Ascribe Newswire on October 22, 2001.)

On October 9, 2001the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the award of an $891,000 educational grant to the International Code Council (ICC). This additional funding aims to increase housing opportunities for people with disabilities by ensuring more apartments and condominiums incorporate universal designs and follow the revised model building codes under the Fair Housing Act. Moreover, local governments are encouraged to disseminate information and serve as role model in adopting the revised model building codes.

The ICC will collaborate with the National Organization on Disability in a national education and outreach campaign to educate critical parties on regulations and requirements of the Fair Housing Act. The parties involved include builders, contractors, real estate agents, as well as disability advocates. From a study conducted by HUD commission, the result shows the additional cost is much less if builders comply with the Fair Housing Act during construction rather than after completion of the building. The additional cost was found to be only half of one percent of the original cost.

The Fair Housing Act was amended in 1988 to prevent housing discrimination especially against people with disabilities. In 1989, HUD adopted the Act's design, construction regulations, and requirements to ensure that apartments and condominiums are accessible to people with disabilities. To further promote the Fair Housing Act to necessary groups, HUD published the "Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines", which includes specifications of the Act. HUD's effort in educating and encouraging agencies to incorporate Fair Housing Act is in part due to legislation's requirement of HUD to promote accessibility requirements of the Act to state and local government units.

Though Congress did not change the building codes requirements that many builders rely on and are contend with, HUD is asked to review the nation's current variety of model building codes. In 1999, after assessing four model building codes HUD concludes that ICC's "Code Requirements for Housing Accessibility" is most equivalent to the Fair Housing Act. Thus, as part of HUD's Fair Housing Initiatives Program, the grant is awarded to ICC to further disseminate educational seminars around the nation and to further influence both state and local government agencies, builders, architects, and any parties involved in ensuring building accessibility for people with disabilities.

(Source of article is taken from HUD website)

Opened in September 2001, University Living is an assisted living facility based on innovative concept of partnering with the academia field. The new facility is associated with University of Michigan at Ann Harbor, while located off campus it accepts student volunteers to work with its residents through individual projects. This unique collaboration not only aims to bridge the generations, reach beyond stereotype on aging, it also allows valuable real-world research opportunity on aging.

Standing on 4.55 acres of land with the building size about 61,373 square feet, the facility has 75 units, of which half is currently occupied. The average age of the residents is 80 years old, though there are many who enter the facility in their 70s who do not need assistance. The facility consists of a variety of suites including deluxe or traditional one-room, two-rooms, and two-rooms with two baths suites.

Another feature of this unique assisted living place is their focus on Mind, Body, and Spirit to form the 3 University Living Centers. For the Mind, there is the Library and Technology Center where residents have access to state-of-the-art senior-friendly computers, Internet, and books that incorporate assistive technology to reach residents of all abilities. For the Body, residents can enjoy the facilities in the Health, Beauty, and Wellness Center where a Jacuzzi spa, exercise room, and beauty salon are available. In addition, nursing and medical services are obtainable from the Exam and Wellness Center. For the Spirit, there is a Cultural and Entertainment Center which features daily lectures, musical concerts, theater, and art presentations by both the university students and faculty members, and sometimes even the residents themselves. An upcoming facility attached to the Cultural and Entertainment Center is the University Living Bistro that will provide food for residents during special events like football games or other presentations. Spiritual services of residents' choice are also available, as the center can serves as a venue for chapel.

For the students, the University Living offers valuable learning environment, with 3 ongoing projects conducted during the academic year. One of the projects is a weekly discussion group, in which seniors and students meet on a one-on-one basis to discuss any topic of their choice. Through numerous activities and services, the University Living offers unprecedented opportunities for both seniors and students. Hence, by promoting interactions between two generations, students may gain new perspectives toward aging issues, and the seniors may continue to learn materials of their interest and remain active, both physically and mentally throughout their life.

To learn more about University Living, visit their website at www.univliving.com.

According to a 1997 National Alliance for Caregiving/American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey, 62% of caregivers are employed and out of this group, 52% are full time employees. Even more unexpected is the high cost of inconsistent employee attendance due to caregiving responsibilities. The cost to U.S. businesses is estimated to exceed $29 billion annually, which stems from replacement costs for employees, absenteeism, and interruptions from work due to elder-care crisis. With such stunning statistics, caregiver stress is clearly an issue that deserves much attention, in which it is no longer just a personal problem of someone who struggles between a full-time job and caring for his/her beloved elderly one.

As an attempt to salvage what seems like will continue to exacerbate with the increasing aging population, Metroplex companies are providing benefits and services to help alleviate caregiver stress on employees who carry this dual responsibility. The benefits are provided free to the employees and the extensive services include information sources, phone consultation, national elder care provider referrals, and a website. A model example of the benefit program is LifeWorks implemented by Texas Instrument (TI) when it first realized the tremendous amount of aid its employees need.

TI has about 18,000 employees and more than 800 have utilized LifeWorks in 2000. However, providers are still concerned about a lack of awareness on this support program. In addition, TI has a work/life intranet site that is also available as an alternative to LifeWorks. The company also conducts seminars at work that covers major issues, such as nursing home choice, elder legal issues, and funding for health care needs.

Another company that also sets the example of accommodating to the gradually increasing need of employees is also one that is twice named by Fortune magazine as the best company in America to work for. The Container Store takes pride in its quick response and adaptability to the changing trend of its workforce; in 2000, it offered a course titled Elder Care 101 to disseminate critical and useful information to its employees. Moreover, the effort continues to expand, as the company aims to launch a more inclusive program called Senior Source. The program will include toll-free numbers, and a website on subjects like housing, day care, and financial issues. The company believe such continuous effort to offer support programs and gather resources is effective in saving employees' time and alleviating emotional stress. Such pioneer programs are also expected to grow in the coming years with increasing number of employees who has elder-care responsibilities.

(Source of article is taken from Dallas Business Journal dated on October 1, 2001.)

LILA, a unique online project that serves people with disabilities in Los Angeles County is proud to announce their recent receiving of a three-year grant from The California Endowment. The grant will allow the project to further enhance its online technical capabilities in serving the disabled population in Los Angeles County, as well as to expand its range of community outreach. The project integrates the knowledge of local disabled residents to form an information system that identifies local independent living resources. Additionally, the system also features public and agency databases that are pertinent to local seniors and disabled persons.

LILA's advanced technology offers the latest GIS (Geographic Information Systems) interactive information resource database, with input from personal knowledge of local disabled residents on independent living facilities. The database allows visitors to map and identify local resources for people living with disabilities in L.A. County. These valuable resources include services and programs, local businesses that serve the community, the ADA accessibility features of public buildings, accessible routes of travel, and recreational programs, to name a few.

Currently, the database includes over 650 disability-related resources in L.A. County, organized into communities with specifications on available services, programs, contact information, as well as a geographic map of the organization. LILA also has links to more than 300 other websites that feature information pertinent to the disability community and their advocates. In addition, the abundant collection of resources is established and continuing to expand partially due to LILA's unique interactive tool, where users can enter their own local resources for others to know about. To further disseminate information, the website has a Public Forum where individuals may exchange ideas, announce events, or simply network.

The emphasis on the online feature is mainly to target the untapped Internet resources for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as much barrier to independence still exists, due to fragmented information dissemination and service delivery. In addition, it is hoped by promoting online technology, seniors and the disabled group may remain involved in the new high-technology information age. The meaning of accessibility would no longer be restricted to just the physical surroundings, but also to intellectual access. Through high-technology, barriers to information on education, employment, political issues should be minimized and hence empower independent living for the elderly and persons living with disabilities.

To visit LILA website, go to http://lila.ucla.edu.

The Access Board has recently completed research on the best practices in designs of toileting and bathing facilities for people with disabilities. Through the Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, this accessibility issue was tackled by interviewing a group of designers, workers in healthcare and senior living facilities. Numerous innovative designs were collected on toilets and showers that accommodate people who need either assisted or independent transfers. Focus of the project evaluated specifications of layouts and configurations of assistive devices, such as the design and height of grab bars, location and height of toilets, as well as alternative designs of showers and bath tubs.

The resulting report is titled Best Practices in the Design of Toileting and Bathing Facilities for Assisted Transfers, which includes comprehensive details of the project from background, purpose, methodology, to recommendations, as well as the interview questions. The background of the project addressed the inadequacy of existing regulations, and the lack of focus on the current needs of older adults. Examples are the preferred ADA configuration for toilets; previous studies indicate older adults who need assisted transfers report much difficulty in using toilets that has preferred ADA configuration. Moreover, majority of previous studies were conducted on independent transfers, which neglected the increasing number of frail older adults who have limited upper body strength, and need assisted transfers. Hence, the study was in effect to address this gap between supply and demand, to identify and analyze the model examples of design solutions for assisted use of toileting and bathing fixtures.

The conclusion shows there is a problem in appeasing the difference between innovative designs that are suitable for frail elderlys' needs and designs that meet the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), which earns few positive responses, if any at all. Ironically, many innovative designs are not accepted by building code officials, unless they also meet the ADAAG specifications. Moreover, results of the study also shows there is a serious lack of reliable research information to guide others to adopt the innovative designs. Consequently, even when ADAAG specifications are known to be inappropriate for many older adults, there is not enough evidence or data to show the innovative designs are the suitable alternatives. Designers then end up yielding to the inapt ADAAG specifications, but try to extend its limit as far as possible to meet the required innovations.

Based on the conclusions of the study, the Board suggests more research is undoubtedly necessary to set precedence in providing the necessary data and appropriate designs. More research is also needed to further understand the effect of designs on caregivers and the older adults in assisted transfer use of toilets and showers. Furthermore, despite the lack of information, immediate adjustment should still be made to the ADAAG to appropriately accommodate frail elders in need of assisted transfers.

(Source of article is based on the final report released on August 1, 2001. It is available for viewing online at http://www.access-board.gov/research&training/Toilet-Bath/report.htm.)

Under the Senate Bill 0816 that was passed on July 20, 2001, a Prevention of Unnecessary Institutionalization Act Grant and Loan program was created in the state of Illinois and being administered by the Department of Human Services and the Department on Aging. The program is designed to provide the necessary funding for home modifications or assistive technology devices to enable independent living in a dwelling of their choice.

The Bill was introduced with findings that show older adults and people of all ages with disabilities prefer to reside in their own homes or within family communities that are close to families and loved ones instead of being institutionalized. Further findings also show that older adults and persons with disabilities are often unnecessarily institutionalized or forced to remain institutionalized. These detentions are often due to a lack of resources to find modifications on their homes and to obtain assistive technology devices.

Eligible applicants to the program include those age 60 or over and persons with disabilities of all ages who have verifiable impairment that significantly limits at least one activities of daily living. Preferences will be given, however, to people who are at risk of being institutionalized, or who are already institutionalized and are ready to return to their home dwellings, but the home requires structural modifications or assistive technology devices to sustain their independence. Other applicants of priority are those who currently have inadequate resources or who have no access to resources due to geographical location, as well as those with income limitation and hence are unable to qualify for low-interest loans.

For full text of the legislation, click on SB0816.

Housing options are both abundant and fragmented as the growing need of Older Americans to remain living independently becomes more recognized. The process of choosing and locating the suitable housing environment may be difficult without guidance or resources. As a quick solution, the Administration on Aging (AoA) has a fact sheet that highlights the importance of appropriate living arrangement as key to helping older adults to remain independent. The fact sheet covers the background issue of supply and demand, as well as the critical components in deciding the best housing choice.

AoA indicated that there is a strong demand for home modifications, as statistics show out of the 5 million households that have a senior citizen, 2.1 million express the need for home adaptations, but only half of this group state they have received the modifications they need. The fact sheet indicates that additional problems occur with growing longevity; older adults face life altering events such as the death of a spouse, debilitating illness, or limited financial resources. Such situations often lead to dilemmas or hasty decision-making in the hope of finding quick resolve. Moreover, the constantly changing policies, and housing options further increases difficulty in finding the right place or the right options.

Before any modifications are carried out, AoA suggests assessment on the living environment to determine whether home modification is practical or if relocation is a better option. Part of the fact sheet is a list of questions one needs answers on when choosing the appropriate living arrangement. These questions include:

• Does this arrangement provide a supportive environment for retaining maximum independence?
  
• Is it easy to move about in the home environment or can home modifications enhance continued mobility?
  
• Is there access to in-home and community services when and if needed?

Some general housing terms are also included to help consumers identify the variety of housing alternatives in different communities, examples are:

• Single family dwelling
  
• Congregate living
  
• Assisted living.

Furthermore, for the convenience of caregivers and families who are looking for care facilities for their elderly one, the AoA provides an Eldercare Locator toll-free number 1-800-677-1116 that is available Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. To view the fact sheet, visit the website www.aoa.dhhs.gov/factsheets/housing.html.