Long Beach, CA

Aging in Place

"Aging in place" is the phenomenon describing senior citizens' ability to live independently in their homes for as long as possible. Those who age in place will not have to move from their present residence in order to secure necessary support services in response to their changing needs.

The Baby Boomers

As the baby boomers age, the 60+ population will spike from roughly 45 million in recent years to more than 70 million by 2020. Research shows that baby boomers' expectations of how they will receive care differ from that of their parents' generation. Overwhelmingly, they will seek care in their own homes and will be less likely to move into congregate living settings.

Why do many senior citizens prefer to age in place?

Nursing homes, to many, represent a loss of freedom and a reduced quality of life. Here are a few good reasons why these fears are justified:

•In 2007, inspectors received 37,150 complaints about conditions in nursing homes. Roughly one-fifth of the complaints verified by federal and state authorities involved the abuse or neglect of patients. Specific problems included infected bedsores, medication mix-ups, poor nutrition, and other forms of neglect.

•The proportion of nursing homes cited for deficiencies ranged from 76% in Rhode Island to as high as 100% in Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington, D.C.

•Many cases have been exposed in which nursing homes billed Medicare and Medicaid for services that were not provided.

•A significant percentage of nursing homes had deficiencies that caused immediate jeopardy or actual harm to patients.

Aging-in-Place Inspections

Inspectors may recommend corrections and adaptations to the home to improve maneuverability, accessibility, and safety for elderly occupants. Some such alterations and recommendations for a home are as follows:

Appliances

•microwave oven in wall or on counter;

•refrigerator and freezer side by side;

•side-swing or wall oven;

•controls that are easy to read;

•raised washing machine and dryer;

•front-loading washing machines;

•raised dishwasher with push-button controls;

•stoves having electric cooktops with level burners for safely transferring between the burners; front controls and downdraft feature to pull heat away from user; light to indicate when surface is hot; and

•replace old stoves with induction cooktops to help prevent burns.

Bathroom

•fold-down seat installed in the shower;

•adjustable showerheads with 6-foot hose;

•light in shower stall;

•wall support, and provision for adjustable and/or varied-height counters and removable base cabinets;

•contrasting color edge border at countertops;

•at least one wheelchair-maneuverable bath on main level;

•bracing in walls around tub, shower, shower seat and toilet for installation of grab bars;

•if stand-up shower is used in main bath, it is curbless and wide;

•low bathtub;

•toilet higher than standard toilet, or height-adjustable;

•design of the toilet paper holder allows rolls to be changed with one hand;

•wall-hung sink with knee space and panel to protect user from pipes; and

•slip-resistant flooring in bathroom and shower.

Counters

•base cabinet with roll-out trays;

•pull-down shelving;

•wall support, and provision for adjustable and/or varied-height counters and removable base cabinets;

•upper wall cabinetry lower than conventional height;

•accented stripes on edge of countertops to provide visual orientation to the workspace;

•counter space for dish landing adjacent to or opposite all appliances;

•glass-front cabinet doors; and

•open shelving for easy access to frequently used items.

Exterior

•low-maintenance exterior (vinyl, brick, etc); and

•low-maintenance shrubs and plants.

Entry

•sensor light at exterior no-step entry focusing on the front-door lock;

•non-slip flooring in foyer;

•accessible path of travel to the home;

•at least one no-step entry with a cover;

•entry door sidelight or high/low peep hole viewer; sidelight should provide both privacy and safety;

•doorbell in accessible location; and

•a surface on which to place packages while opening door.

Electrical, Lighting, Safety and Security

•install new smoke and CO detectors;

•install automated lighting, an emergency alert system, or a video-monitoring system;

•easy-to-see and read thermostats;

•light switches by each entrance to halls and rooms;

•light receptacles with at least two bulbs in vital places (exits, bathroom);

•light switches, thermostats and other environmental controls placed in accessible locations no higher than 48 inches from floor;

•move electrical cords out of the flow of traffic;

•replace standard light switches with rocker or touch-light switches; and

•pre-programmed thermostats.

Faucets

•thermostatic or anti-scald controls;

•lever handles or pedal-controlled; and

•pressure-balanced faucets.

Flooring

•if carpeted, use low-density with firm pad;

•smooth, non-glare, slip-resistant surfaces, interior and exterior; and

•color and texture contrast to indicate change in surface levels.

Hallways

•wide;

•well-lit; and

•fasten down rugs and floor runners, and remove any that are not necessary.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

•install energy-efficient units;

•HVAC should be designed so filters are easily accessible; and

•windows that can be opened for cross-ventilation and fresh air.

Miscellaneous

•30-inch by 48-inch clear space at appliances, or 60-inch diameter clear space for turns;

•multi-level work areas to accommodate cooks of different heights;

•loop handles for easy grip and pull;

•pull-out spray faucet;

•levered handles;

•in multi-story homes, laundry chute or laundry facilities in master bedroom;

•open under-counter seated work areas; and

•placement of task lighting in appropriate work areas.

Overall Floor Plan

•main living on a single story, including full bath;

•5-foot by 5-foot clear turn space in living area, kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom; and

•no steps between rooms on a single level.

Reduced Maintenance and Convenience Features

•easy-to-clean surfaces;

•built-in recycling system;

•video phones;

•central vacuum;

•built-in pet feeding system; and

•intercom system.

Stairways, Lifts and Elevators

•adequate hand rails on both sides of stairway;

•residential elevator or lift; and

•increased visibility of stairs through contrast strip on top and bottom stairs, and color contrast between treads and risers on stairs with use of lighting.

Storage

•lighting in closets;

•adjustable closet rods and shelves; and

•easy-open doors that do not obstruct access.

Windows

•plenty of windows for natural light;

•low-maintenance exterior and interior finishes;

•lowered windows, or taller windows with lower sill height; and

•easy-to-operate hardware.

Advice for those who wish to age in place:

•Talk with family members about your long-term living preferences. Do you want to downsize to a smaller single-family home, or do you plan to stay put in your traditional family home?

•Take a look at your finances and retirement funds. With your current savings and assets, will you be able to pay for home maintenance? Consider starting a separate retirement savings account strictly for home maintenance.

•Remodel your home before your mobility becomes limited. As you age, changes in mobility, hearing, vision and overall health and flexibility will affect how easily you function in your home. Consider making your home "age-friendly" as a phased-in and budgeted home improvement, rather than waiting until you need many modifications at a time due to a health crisis.

•If you decide before you retire that you want to live in your current home through the remainder of life, consider paying for "big ticket - long life" home projects while you still have a healthy income. Such items may include having the roof assessed or replaced, replacing and upgrading the water heater or cooling unit, completing termite inspections and treatment, having a septic tank inspection and replacement, as needed, and purchasing a riding lawn mower.

•InterNACHI advocates healthy living, as it plays a vital role in your ability to age in place. Most seniors leave their homes due to functional and mobility limitations that result from medical crises, and an inability to pay for support to stay with them in their home. Effectively managing health risks and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you stay strong, age well, and live long at your own home.

In summary, aging in place is a way by which senior citizens can avoid being dependent on others due to declining health and mobility.

We are proud to announce the addition of Bret Lewis (Long Beach, CA) to our 100% Commission Real Estate team.

At Realty Source we hire only the best real estate agents in the market. If you are looking for a seasoned professional, please contact one of the agents mentioned above.

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Last night I heard a true story about a 9 year little old girl whose sister was in a car accident in front of a burger stand in 1990. She said there was a man who witnessed the accident and followed their ambulance to the hospital. The man turned out to be a pastor and prayed with her mom. What the pastor didn't know at the time, was that her mom was an abusive alcoholic. She said that very day her mom was saved. Their lives were dramatically changed because one man took his calling seriously.

This story was told in a letter by the now 29 year old at my church's 30 year anniversary celebration for my pastor and his wife, as we celebrated together our church's opening thirty years ago. Speaker upon speaker told us countless stories of how this very ordinary man was always first a pastor, unwavering in his calling no matter whom he encountered. Whether it was a mayor at city hall who thought to impress him with his title, only for my pastor to warmly greet him and respond, "That's nice, but are you saved? Are you ready?" or a group of men on a "guy's fishing trip" that turned into a humbling and purging counseling experience for them all. Each speaker shared a distinctly different personal encounter with him that basically told the same story about his great character.

There were many ceremonial plaques, certifications and awards given from several city mayors, councilmen and the average Joe. But it was one last gift from the church that was covered in a red cloak that was to later impress me the most. It was something that was said to truly represent the nature of our pastor as so many others saw him. Unveiled was an intricately carved three-dimensional bronze statue of Jesus Christ washing the disciple Peter's feet in reference to John 13:3-17. In this passage Jesus demonstrates how we are to serve others no matter how great or low the position. If He who is greater can serve us, who are we not to serve others? The sculpture was beautiful, with the meaning behind it even more beautiful.

If you see your position in this real estate industry as a calling, you will undoubtedly be placed in a situation to serve others who are considered to be in "critical condition." Some are losing their homes, their credit, with some families breaking up due to job loss, divorce and foreclosure. With the announcement of more foreclosures due to come our nation's way this year, will you simply be an ambulance chaser, obtaining the latest designations and hunting for defaults for mercenary reasons? Or will you do those things in the hopes of positioning yourself to be in the emergency room to serve others who truly are in need of "intensive care?" Will it be with a sincere heart that you seek to help them transition into a more "stable condition" because its your calling and duty to serve them in such a way?

photo courtesy of Laura Bates

SEO AND SOCIAL MARKETING AGE - WHERE WILL YOU BE WHEN IT HAPPENS?

THE PROPHECY

It was foretold. Now all of the signs are here:

the list goes on and on...
Terms like SEO (search engine optimization), Social Media Networking, Google Rankings, Google Web Crawlers, Lead Capture, Lead Conversion, Blogging, Regional Branding have been preached at every corner and business stage platform from coast to coast. All of a sudden we're inundated with every form of internet marketing you can think of.

THE PERCEPTION

Where was Facebook 2 -3 years ago except on my son's dorm room computer screen? And Twitter? I thought it was the most idiotic thing I'd ever heard. I didn't want to know when you were going to the potty party or your every move in "real time." I thought it was just another self-glorifying device that was feeding our narcissistic driven society. Boy was I ever wrong! No matter how adolescent the social platforms were initially perceived, they are all grown up now and considered to be some of the most effective marketing tools of our time. If you still don't think you need to take platforms like Twitter seriously, think again. Google Announces Search deal with Twitter. Google loves new content and what better way to showcase it than with live Twitter feeds. With every tweet you have a chance to better your SEO. Has your brain exploded yet?

THE PURPOSE

How and when did all of this fluff turn into something respectable? Real Estate Agents, freelancers, Fortune 500 companies, politicians and scientists are even on board now. Why? If you have a product or service that needs exposure of any kind, you need to position yourself online in the most effective way possible. How do you do that? By using social marketing platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter as directional tools to boost your SEO rankings, thus steering people to the front door of your website. The better your SEO, the more exposure, the greater potential for business - PERIOD. If your business lands on page 2 or 3 of a consumer's search engine results for your type of product or service, you will have lost business to your page 1 competitors. When was the last time you were searching for a specific service or product and searched past page 1, hm?

"...the better your SEO, the more exposure, the greater potential for business - PERIOD."

THE PARTICIPATION

Most of us at one time or another have felt overwhelmed with just how fast technology has taken over our industry. I heard one person say they were going to ride "it" out. "It" being the social networking thing because it was just a fad. Based on the customer insight that 66 percent of people are using Internet search more frequently to make complex decisions* the value of Social Networking and subsequent SEO is not going anywhere anytime soon. The public dependent businesses most likely to survive this internet marketing age are those that will have taken the time to educate, participate and consistently promote themselves on some type of social marketing platform.

It's not too late to start now. The likely alternative is to find yourself by yourself wondering "Where did everybody go?" Your "A" referrals (family and friends) can only keep your business afloat so much. It's the "B" and "C" folks (acquaintances, soft referrals, friend-of-a-friend and future clients) that are all online now visiting and getting up close and personal with your competitors.

Stat Source*Ipsos 2009