With a pending wave of baby boomers preparing to receive aging-related services and care, home builders are getting ready for the trend by fine tuning building practices suited for aging in place.
As of this year, there are now 5,000 builders certified to build homes equipped especially for people who plan to remain in their homes for the duration—receiving care there.
Jeffrey Tucker, president of Ohio-based Tucker Building & Design LLC, recently became the 5,000th graduate of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) program.
Launched in 2002, the CAPS program teaches the technical, business management and customer service skills for serving the nation’s fastest-growing segment of the residential remodeling industry: seniors.
Tucker, who has many clients aged 55 and older, felt it was important to earn the CAPS designation.
“I want to be able to provide the best solutions for my customers so that they can age-in-place comfortably and also show them that these home modification can be stylish while at the same time making their homes low-maintenance,” said Tucker.
In collaboration with Home Innovation Research Labs, NAHB Remodelers designed the program to address the increasing number of individuals who require home modifications to accommodate illness or age.
The program is not specific only to remodelers, as many members are also builders, general contractors, designers, architects and health care professionals such as occupational and physical therapists.
“The major it of people age 55 and older say they want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, and professionals with a CAPS designation are able to provide the expertise these families need in order to age-in-place comfortably and safely,” said Joseph Irons, chairman of the CAPS Board of Governors and remodeler with Irons Brothers Constructions, Inc.
To earn CAPS designation, candidates are required to complete three classes about operating in the aging-in-place market, including areas of study on marketing, design solutions and business management.
Written by Jason Oliva
Companies featured in this article:
National Association of Home Builders, Tucker Building & Design LLC
