The Mini-White House Conference on Aging: A Morton Kesten Summit

The “Partnerships for Aging in Place” is an independent Aging Agenda Event of 2005 WHOCA and will take place June 6-7, 2005. This event is organized by the National Home Modification Action Coalition (NHMAC, Inc.).

The 2005 Joint Conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Conference on the Aging in Philadelphia featured several workshops conducted on aging in place. This Mini-White House Conference on Aging (WHOCA) is a follow-up of the themes brought up at the Joint ASA-NCOA meeting. This event will take place June 6-7, 2005 at the National Homebuilders Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This Mini-WHOCA will be the first meeting of its kind that deals with housing concerns of older citizens. During this event there will be discussion about housing design, home modifications, community services and the role that housing policies pay in supporting aging in place. This conference seeks to bring more attention to aging in place issues for the 2005 October WHCOA.

The idea for the White House Conference on Aging was developed after several meetings in the 1950s about aging concerns. Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus took part in developing the WHCOA. The White House Conference on Aging Act was signed by President Eisenhower. This act stated that the WHCOA will be a “nationwide forum to focus public attention on problems and potentials of older Americans”. The first WHCOA took place in 1961 under President Eisenhower. The conferences are scheduled to take place every 10 years. The following WHCOA meetings occurred in 1971, 1981 and 1995. The 2005 October WHCOA will be the most current meeting that deals with the changing needs of older adults.

This event is sponsored by the University of Southern California, the National Association of Home Builders, the Home Safety Council, AARP and Rebuilding Together.

For registration contact: Leon Harper at (703) 590-9512 or leonudharper@aol.com . The early registration fee is $50 before May 25 th. Register at http://www.homemods.org/whcoareg.html

Source: White House Conference on Aging, “History” www.whcoa.gov

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Homeowners No Longer Want to Be Just “House Rich, Cash Poor”

More and more homeowners are applying for reverse mortgages to pay for unforeseen costs. Others are cashing in on the appreciation of their homes and moving to different communities.

In many communities, particularly in California, the appreciation of housing costs has grown in the last few decades. So for many older homeowners most of their wealth was tied to the values of their homes while they had few other investments. Since their wealth is locked up in their homes, many older adults cannot afford their increasing healthcare expenses and home maintenance. Some homeowners choose to sell their homes and move to a more affordable home. But many older adults want to age in place. More and more homeowners are considering reverse mortgages to cash in on the value of their homes.

Reverse mortgages are offered by three main lenders: Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, and Financial Freedom Senior Funding Corp. In order to apply the homeowner must be 62 years old. The homeowner can choose one of three different options to receive their money. The homeowner can receive a lump sum and has total control over how much is spent. Another option is to receive monthly checks. The final choice is to have a line of credit based on the equity of the home. The homeowner is still the title holder of the property and does not owe the bank any fees as long as they live in the home. The mortgage must be paid back with interest once the homeowner sells the home or dies. The AARP recommends going through counseling to figure out what is best for the homeowner’s financial situation.

Many homeowners use the money to pay off some of their increasing healthcare costs. Homeowners also use the money to take trips that they may not have had time or money to take before. Also the money is used to make refurbishments to the home. Some homes have not been remodeled since the homeowner moved in. The money could be used to modernize the home with various home modifications.

However reverse mortgages are not appropriate for everyone. The homeowner should not take out a reverse mortgage if the homeowner is planning to move in the near future. Also if the homeowner has just entered retirement, they may run out money over time. Another option as mentioned before is to sell their home and downsize to a smaller property. The leftover amount can be invested to pay for future retirement expenses.

For more information: AARP Reverse Mortgage Information http://www.aarp.org/money/revmort/

Source: Jonathan Decker, “Reverse Mortgages are Hot” ( March 28, 2005) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/21/national/main681851.shtml

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Personalized Healthcare Service Allows Aging in Place

Community Matrons organize all of the care of their older patients so they can remain in their homes. The community matrons program is a pilot program of the Department of Health in England. Community matrons (CM) are skilled nurses who coordinate all aspects of care for patients with chronic conditions. Not only do the nurses provide medical care but also care management for their patients. While most of the patients are older, it is a service that is available to all ages with serious chronic conditions. The goal of the program is to allow the patients to age in place.

In order to prevent patients from entering the hospital the community matrons will arrange in-home care and services. Community matrons will visit high risk patients once a week. Low risk patients will receive monthly visits. The Department of Health has found that there are less hospital admissions and a reduction in the length of the hospital stays. The program is so successful that it will be expanded to have 3,000 community matrons by March 2007.

The program is tailored to provide personal care for the most at risk patients. Once a community matron’s patient is admitted to the hospital, the computer system alerts her. They also work as a team with the patient’s general practioner (GP). This is especially important since most GPs do not visit patients in their homes. The community matrons are also able to obtain prescriptions for their patients. Linda, a current community matron, thinks that community matrons should be able to admit patients and to provide more treatments at home.

In the U.S. there is also training for nurses to become nurse social work practioners. This way nurses are also trained in the social work way of care management. These nurses can provide medical care and use care management skills while visiting a patient. It is a field that is still in the early stages and more hospitals are hiring these professionals.

More information: USC Nurse Social Work Practitioner Program http://www.usc.edu/dept/socialwork/academic/NursePractitionerprogram.php

http://www.dh.gov.uk/...

Source: “Sisters of Mercy” ( March 9, 2005) The Guardian Unlimited http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,1432919,00.html

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Accessible Housing in London

The Greater London Authority is developing an online service for locating accessible housing. At the end of last year the Greater London Authority produced a study called “Accessible Living in London- A Feasibility Study for Accessible Housing Register for London”. From this study they are recommending that an online Accessible Housing Register (AHR) be available for residents. AHR would allow residents to view and bid for public and private properties.

Currently there is no streamlined way for persons with disabilities to find the limited accessible properties that are available in London. Even here in the United States it can be hard to find accessible homes. Many properties are not necessarily advertised as having home modifications that would be helpful for persons with disabilities. But this is starting to change and consumers are realizing that home modifications are useful for all ages and will help residents age in place.

The AHR will be a one-stop resource for residents who want homes with modifications for their abilities. A pilot program is planned and will be based on the input of current Londoners with disabilities. Also local organizations that advocate for older people and persons with disabilities will also provide guidance about the needs of their clients.

More information: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/housing/docs/accessible_living.pdf

Source: “Disabled Londoners should get web-based accessible housing register says study” ( December 15, 2004) PublicTechnology.net

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Financing Home Modifications

The Illinois Housing Development Authority’s (IDHA) “Single Family Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program” provides to loans to older adults to rehabilitate their homes. The goal of the program is to keep many of the long time residents in their home and also remodel many of the historic homes that they live in. Older home owners can apply for up to $297,000 in loans to make their current homes more livable. Depending on how long the owner plans to remain in the home, up to $40,000 in loans can be forgiven. Before the loan is given, an inspector will check to make sure that the home is safe and livable. The loan can be used for all kinds of kinds of rehabilitation but especially for mobility products. Many of the older adults remodel their bathrooms with grab bars and walk-in showers so that they can stay in their homes.

Mary Angell is one of the home owners that received a loan. She is 83 years old and has lived in her home for 46 years. The loan paid for permanent modifications that neither she nor her children could fix. Some of the changes included new electric outlets in her room, a new front door and energy-saving windows. Also her bathroom was remodeled to make it more accessible.

The modifications that this program provides can prevent older adults from a premature and unnecessary move to a long term care facility. Since the programs inception in 1996, the IDHA has remodeled 36 homes in Quincy, IL’s Historic District.

Source: Reg Ankrom, “Home, sweet home” Quincy Herald Whig Online Edition, ( March 30, 2005) http://www.whig.com/289283597332774.php

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Families should not jump to long term care placement before considering all options available. The Southwest Missouri Office on Aging has a created a helpful directory to help families make the appropriate decision for their family.

Older adults and their families usually do not know where to start when making long term care plans. For some families the best decision may be to move the older adult to a long term care facility. However for many older adults changes to the home environment could prevent early placement in a facility. The Southwest Missouri Office on Aging saw that there was a need to help planning future housing arrangements. For this reason they created the free Senior Solutions directory for Green County which will help families explore their options.

One important suggestion is to make sure that whatever is decided that is come to by group consensus. Adult children should not make decisions for their parents. The article mentioned that many older adults feel their children want to move them before it is necessary. Older adults who are not cognitively impaired may be best served by staying at home. Many older adults can remain in their current homes with certain modifications. Families should learn about social services in their community that will help them remain in their home such as in-home chore work or transportation services. This is more cost effective for families and the older adult can remain in their own home.

Source: Sony Hocklander, “Looking out for aging parents”, News-Leader.com ( March 29, 2005) http://springfield.news-leader.com/lifestyle/today/20050329-Lookingoutforag.html

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The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) has recently funded a program to find out the needs of Baby Boomers in Atlantic Canada. They will create a report on what Atlantic Canada will look like in 2025 with the growth of Baby Boomers.

Canada like many other countries is concerned about the future needs of aging Baby Boomers. Right now Atlantic Canada has the highest concentration of older adults compared to the rest of the country. Learning about the housing needs of Baby Boomers is one of the main research areas on Baby Boomers in Canada. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) has recognized the need for housing in Atlantic Canada. The SSHRC is planning to provide $1 million to create more housing options for future older adults.

Donald Shiner, a professor at Mount Saint Vincent University, will be leading the research team for SSHRC. The research team will be comprised of professionals from four different Canadian universities. The research will mainly focus on predicating the financial and physical health of older adults. From these finding they hope they can help implement policies and housing that will fit the needs of Baby Boomers. The team also wants to find out the opinions of older adults on their future housing plans. The researchers realize that Baby Boomers will change the way that society views issues of aging.

The team will also consider various housing plans in different countries. For example they will study the aging in place program that the Swedish government has recently implemented. More international governments are seeing the benefits of aging in place programs for their older citizens. They will also look at the “active lifestyle” complexes that are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Many Baby Boomers in the U.S. are attracted to this option because the have access to all modern conveniences that they want without having the image of traditional retirement communities.

Source: “Meeting the housing needs of aging boomers-Helping Atlantic Canadian seniors remain in their homes and communities” (March 30, 2005) http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2005/30/c9828.html

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