Renowned aging in place expert Louis Tenenbaum shares his thoughts on today’s $150 billion remodeling industry to meet the needs of older adults. The author of the CAPS Certified Aging in Place course and Aging Place 2.0 white paper shares information on his SBIR grant and introduction of a bill to Congress that would provide incentives for making aging place home modifications.
About Louis
Louis Tenenbaum is the Founder and CEO of HomesRenewed Ventures. He is a multifaceted professional who has left an indelible mark on the intersections of building, aging, and policy. With a dynamic career spanning several decades, he is recognized as a leading figure in advocating for aging in place and home accessibility.
Key Takeaways
- The CDC definition of aging in place is the ability to remain in your home throughout your life, regardless of your health or condition. Aging in place is carrying out your years with dignity in the home.
- People have changed and the built environment needs to change to catch up. “Hospital at home is a trend but there is no infrastructure. Family homes are not designed to provide medical care.
- Roughly 5% of homes in the U.S. meet three out of these five accessibility factors, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS). Five accessibility factors: 1. No-step entries, 2. Single-floor living, 3. Wide doorways and hallways, 4. Accessible bathrooms, 5. Lever-style door handles.
- Aging in Place 3.0 is about interconnected ROI—a seamless, systematic model for delivering aging in place services. Stakeholders need to understand that their ROI depends on other stakeholders. The interconnected return comes from the system.
- Fall prevention needs to move upstream. Once you've fallen, you have missed out on the value of prevention. Since most falls happen in the shower, why not have grab bars?