Research Paper on "Golden Years"

Research Paper 10 pages (3221 words) Sources: 7

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Gerontology

Golden Years

The older population which is made up of persons 65 years or older numbered about 39.6 million in the year 2009. They represented 12.9% of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans. It is estimated that by the year 2030, there will be about 72.1 million older people, which is more than twice their number that there were in 2000. People who are 65 and older made up 2.4% of the population in the year 2000 but are expected to increase to be 19% of the population by 2030 (Aging Statistics, 2010).

There is an overwhelming conviction that most older Americans want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, but lack knowledge of home and community-based services that make independent living feasible. It has been found that most Americans do not make a plan to age in place. Creating such a plan can help to avert unexpected things from turning into emergencies that compromise one's capability to live by themselves (Wheaton, 2009).

Historically if a person had trouble living alone, it was an indication that it was time to move in with family or go to a nursing home. Presently, for most people, this is no longer the case. People can live on their own for a lot of years, even as they grow older and start requiring assistance with many everyday tasks. This phenomenon is referred to as aging in place. When a person develops a chronic health condition, like diabetes, arthritis, or Alzheimer's disease, aging in place means more than just staying put. Seniors need a place to live that they consider safe and fits with their needs. One of the biggest problems that seniors face is the need for home modifications such as a ramps or lifts that can extend the time that they can live at home. Americans of all ages value their ability to live by themselves. But without an arrangement for aging in place, it can be very hard to manage ones life. Knowing a person's health risks and financial options can make a big difference in their ability to stay in a familiar setting (Wheaton, 2009).

In order to help seniors to be able to stay in their houses as long as possible a program that needs to be established is a Senior Housing Consortium. This program will support universal design and home repair along with modification strategies in order to improve seniors' ability to age in place. This program will consist of a network of construction entities that will provide trusted services to seniors. The goal will be to connect reputable construction companies with seniors who need new construction or remodeling services. Seniors characteristically remain in their homes even as their housing requirements change. Some do this because they want to stay in their communities, while others do so because they lack the resources to do anything else. Because of this, many seniors often refuse to leave homes that are in somewhat terrible conditions. Others whose homes are in good shape may still need modifications in order to help them manage disabilities or steer clear of falls and other accidents that often precipitate their need for more severe healthcare. Housing preservation is a significant step in allowing seniors to stay in their homes for as long as possible. It is also important to make sure that houses stay in good repair for the next generation of homeowners or for the family members who inherit them. Keeping residences in good repair and secure for those who live in them helps to decrease insurance and healthcare costs and helps maintain property values (Aging in Place Solutions to a Crisis in Housing and Care, 2002).

Reaching these seniors, who need help, can sometimes be a challenge. Even though of the five million households that include a senior, two million express a need for modifications in order to function well, seniors often don't ask for such help, or they have trouble finding reputable contractors and affordable loans that make such renovations possible. Ironically, many of the repairs that can greatly increase the longevity of both the housing and its occupants are relatively inexpensive: adding handrails near bathtubs, constructing wheelchair ramps, making minor improvements to roofs, repairing concrete steps and other such modifications, which can usually be done for less than $1,000 (Aging in Place Solutions to a Crisis in Housing and Care, 2002).

There are many contractors who don't want to do such small jobs, so either they drive up the work that needs to be done or a repair situation declines until a small problem becomes a much larger and more costly predicament. This is where the Senior Housing Consortium will come into play. This program will be provide outreach to seniors in their housing preservation efforts and help to ensure the stability and diversity of their communities. One key element to the design of this program is to have agreements with contractors that are trustworthy to visit with seniors to assess and provide what they need, oversee the rehabilitation process and guarantee its quality. These construction specialists will frequently work closely with other organizations' including lending companies that will help find the resources to fund repairs at minimal cost. This will require piecing together financing from different public, private and nonprofit sources to cover such costs as weatherization, emergency repairs and disability retrofitting (Aging in Place Solutions to a Crisis in Housing and Care, 2002).

The Senior Housing Consortium will be financed solely by fees charged to construction companies who wish to be part of the referral network. There will be no charge to seniors who will to use the referral service. Construction companies who wish to be part of the senior referral network will pay an initial fee to join the group and then have annual dues in order to continue to receive referrals for construction jobs. This will allow for these companies to be researched and certified as being reputable companies. Seniors have a hard enough time making ends meet and do not need to be subjected to shady companies that are just looking to rip them off.

There are quite a few federal laws and regulations that surround the requirements for accessibility for new construction, for alterations or renovations to buildings and facilities. Additionally state and local laws may also apply. Single and two-family homes are usually not subject to local, state, or federal ease of access requirements, but some localities require certain new homes to contain basic accessibility components. There are many multifamily houses that are often subject to a layering of local and state accessibility requirements in the form of a model building code, as well as federal accessibility necessities. Local building departments create model building codes, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has been in charge of the development and revision of the building standards. At the federal level, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974, the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) are often applicable (Accessibility Laws and Regulations -- Residential, 2000).

Home modifications generate a supportive home environment, which is a key factor in supporting older persons to reach their goal of aging in place. Transforming existing environments can:

Facilitate caregiving

Reduce accidents

Promote independence by making it easier to perform tasks

Enable older adults to engage in major life activities

Reduce health care costs and delay institutionalization

Unfortunately, much of the existing houses are not suited for aging in place. They have problems such as inaccessible entrances, stairs that are impossible to climb, and hazardous bathrooms. There are over a million older people who have unmet needs for home modifications such as ramps and kitchen and bathroom access (Pynoos, 2001).

Evidence has shown that a supportive home environment offers several key benefits. An accommodating environment makes it easier to carry out things like getting in and out of a home, bathing, cooking and even cleaning. Second, sufficient space and features help caregiving by relatives and the official service system. A bathroom that has enough space can make it possible for a caregiver to help a feeble older person use a tub or shower. In multi-unit housing the exchange of spaces for on-site health clinics or meals can make services much more easily reached to residents. Third, the addition of supportive features helps decrease accidents such as falls, an important cause of death for older Americans. Six out of every ten falls occur in homes, which characteristically contain a high prevalence of hazards such as loose throw rugs, the lack of tub grab bars, and blocked pathways. Home modifications can decrease the demands of the environment while making the home safer and more accommodating. Fourth, modifications can allow people to more easily connect in major life activities. Fifth, home modification is a cost-effective way to reduce health care costs and put off institutionalization (Pynoos, 2001).

In implementing this program it is going to be important to devise… READ MORE

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