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6 LIVE IT UP! SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2014 SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL by JeffTalmadge President ofTalmadge Construction, Inc., a Certified Remodeler and a Certified Aging In-Place Specialist through the National Association of Home Builders. Aging in Place Beautifully D id you know that 10,000 people will turn 65 every day in the U.S? People who are age 65 or older will comprise 25% of the total population by the year 2025! Where will all these people live as they head into their golden years? I can tell you that most people want to live in their own homes. The American Society for Interior Designers did a survey recently on the subject. Here are some of the respons- es they found: "We like the location" "We like our neighbors and our neighborhood" "We like the design and layout" "Our home is comfortable" "Our home is paid for" "We like the size of our home" Unfortunately, only 5% of the re- spondents said they want to stay in their home because it was easy to move around in the home. If you want to stay in your home as you get older, or if you have a rel- ative who may come live with you who has accessibility needs, then please read on. The number one feature of a home that is well suited for Aging in Place is a home with a bedroom and a full bath on the first floor. Converting a downstairs space into a master suite with a shower solves the problem and adds value to your home. Most of the homes in our area are two story and many with re- verse floor plans to catch the beauti- ful ocean views. If that's your home and the only bathroom with a tub or shower is on the second floor, you may want to consider installing a stair lift or even an elevator. There are a lot of different types of stair lifts for many different applications.They typi- cally mount to the stair s and not to the walls. They will use a basic 110V power outlet that charges a battery that operates the lift. The rider sits on the chair and rides up or down to the next level. Other lifts, called 'incline lifts', have fold down platforms that can carry a wheelchair to the next level. The person in a wheelchair does not have to transfer when using these types of lifts. Another great feature for a home that is well suited for Aging in Place is a level entry shower - one that does not have a curb. These types of showers have been around for many years in Asia and Europe and they can look really great! Most home related accidents involve entering or exiting a tub/shower. The solution is to remove the tub and replace it with a curb-less shower. curb-less shower installation byTalmadge

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