Steve Jobs gains the attention of the national press when he introduces a new Apple product. Many of us hear the word “technology” and visualize the newest flat screen television. Few of us hear that word and immediately think about emerging technology for seniors, however. Much is currently available; there is much more in on the horizon.

The baby boomers – those born from the end of World War II into the early 1960s – comprise the largest generation the US has known. The boomers have changed every social structure they have moved through, and now the first of the boomers have started to retire. In decades past, families often took care of their own aging parents. Nursing homes were dreaded destinations for those whose care needs were beyond the abilities of family members in an age in which home health care was virtually unknown. As families increasingly became defined as being two-earner entities and as divorce rates increased, adult children and their aging parents found themselves with fewer and fewer options. Seniors loathe leaving their homes, however, and technological advances are such that baby boomers can both care for their aging parents and continue to pursue careers and basic livelihood.

Technology’s Influence

Computers, email, cell phones and other common technological tools came to be commonplace with many individuals in the bottom age range of those who now are considered to be elderly. They used those technological tools in work and life, and so they are not entirely foreign. Others did not use such tools, and technology remains mysterious though they know those tools exist. The technological advances that currently exist are simply astounding even for the most technologically-connected, however. Tools that exist today can be of great assistance for still-working caregivers. Tools expected to be available in the next several years are nothing short of astounding.

Fall Alerts

Consider falls, as example. The “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” line has been abused by comedians over the years and has come to be a point of derision, at least until such a fall becomes a possibility or even a reality. For the senior, often the tipping point between being able to remain at home and having to move to an assisted living or skilled nursing facility is such a fall. Stories of seniors who have fallen at home and been stranded in the floor for days are commonplace.
One of the technological innovations that will be available in the future is the fall alert system. The system as envisioned may take one of two forms, each of which begins with a house-wide network of sensors. The first approach requires placement of sensors in the floors of each room, and in several places. Where there is weight that has not been present in the past, the sensor can serve to alert a remote caregiver. The second approach causes sensors to initiate alerts when there is lack of movement in a room when movement should be expected.

Safety Issues

Managers of assisted living facilities specializing in Alzheimer’s patients often disconnect ranges so that there is no danger of fire originating from a forgotten stove eye. One of the solutions that technology offers is a “smart” stove eye that turns off when there is no weight on the eye for some period of time. The stove allows the senior to cook, but it also turns itself off if the senior forgets.
Some seniors have no difficulty with wearing an alert necklace that calls a monitoring company, but others consider such appliances to be only for “old” people even though the security the necklace offers is attractive. For years there have been telephones targeting those seniors. The senior wears a necklace and perhaps places another by the bed. If the senior has a problem and pulls the cord on the necklace, that action initiates a telephone call first to some preprogrammed number and then to 911.

Some of the Products

FrontPoint Security provides wireless home security that the homeowner installs. One thing that separates FrontPoint Security from other security systems is that it is wireless and operates over the cell phone system, preventing it from being circumvented by would-be intruders. This fact alone makes it attractive as a basic security system, but it offers specific features that makes it highly attractive for baby boomer caregivers. Of course there are sensors for windows and doors, but the company also offers cameras that can be placed in any number of rooms. What occurs in front of those cameras then can be accessed through a smart phone. For baby boomer caregivers with careers or who simply need an income, this feature allows them to view rooms where their parents might be. They can see either that all is well or that it is not; in any case, they can act on the information they gain through the combination of the camera and their smart phone.

HaloMonitoring.com provides fall detection automatically when a fall occurs. Seniors who do fall generally never are able to manually activate an alarm, according to HaloMonitoring. The individual may be stunned or even injured with a broken hip. The HaloMonitoring device can be worn on the wrist or around the chest under clothing. If the senior falls, the monitoring device sends a message for help, without the need for the senior to take any other action. The HaloMonitoring device also tracks vital signs, including heart rate and temperature. The device also “knows” when it is not being used and will dial the company’s call center to report that fact. Perhaps best of all, either the individual wearing the HaloMonitoring device or select family members can log onto the company’s website to check on the current status of a HaloMonitoring customer who also is a client.

The Oregon Center for Aging and Technology (ORCATech) is developing an array of future products and currently testing others at a Portland, Oregon retirement community. One volunteer has sensors on surfaces all over her apartment, including ceilings, doors, furniture and appliances. The sensors monitor how often she moves in her apartment and the speed at which she moves. Because the sensors are just that and contain no cameras, she has no worries about her privacy.
Another ORCATech item she is testing is a smart pillbox. It reminds her when to take vitamins and medications, and keeps a record of her compliance. ORCATech also has supplied her with a computer on which she plays specific games. The games are word and number games, and the computer tracks her scores. The goal of this activity is to track changes in cognitive ability. If it declines, caregivers can intervene much earlier.
The program volunteer’s favorite ORCATech test item is a wireless video communication robot that can follow her from room to room. The V-Go Active Presence Robot has been used for some time in business and so is already available. ORCATech’s test is for senior-specific use. The Oregon volunteer uses Skype but complains that is only stationary. Relatives and caregivers can activate the robot as well, allowing them to check on the user any time a concern arises.

Future View

Intel Corporation and GE are collaborating on product development focusing on allowing seniors to age in place. Many existing products are very new and can be expected to be enhanced in the future, and many other products are being developed. Still others, such as the V-Go robot, are being repurposed specifically for the growing “gray” market.

References:

Hernandez, Manuel E., Allon Goldberg and Neil B. Alexander (2010, January). Decreased Muscle Strength Relates to Self-Reported Stooping, Crouching, or Kneeling Difficulty in Older Adults. Physical Therapy, 90(1), p. 67.
Imagine the Future of Aging. (2007, August 13). YouTube.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBH9dkCZsXQ.
myHalo Advanced Medical Alarm with Automatic Fall Detection System Overview. (n.d.). YouTube.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3iDr5o_xmY&feature=player_embedded.
Oregon Center for Aging and Technology. (n.d.). Orcatech.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.orcatech.org.
Parisi, Jeanine M. (2010, March). Engagement in Adulthood: Perceptions and Participation in Daily Activities. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 34(1), p. 1.
Singer, Natasha (2011, February 5). In a Graying Population, Business Opportunity. The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.orcatech.org/NYT.Feb.5.2011.A.Graying.Population.Spells.Business.Opportunity.pdf.
Skiba, Katherine (2008, June 18). Healthcare Costs and Social Security Could Cause Economic Woes; At a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Gene Dodaro warns that the country is on unsustainable path. U.S. News & World Report, p. NA.
VGo Communications’s V-Go Active Presence Robot. (2010, June 11). YouTube.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSV_v9zeVkA.

Mother in-law suites are usually generated from three major types of remodeling, the basement remodel, the garage conversion and the suite addition. These are the most widely used plans. No matter which one of these projects you choose, you need to ask these question and follow the advice that I’m about to give you. The following paragraphs are  broad overviews. I will be expounding upon them in later articles.

1) Are There Any Covenants or Restriction to Keep You From Building a Mother-in-Law Suite?

Check with your subdivision, city and/or your county to see if they will allow two separate households to reside at the same address. You may be able to use same address “front, rear or side”. Even if you don’t need a permit to build your in-law suite always ask this question. Is there any public entity that may have judgment over your “zoning” privileges? Zoning can specifically define the use of your property.

2) Are Your Existing Utilities Sufficient For A Mother In Law Suite?

This could be a big one. Check the utilities of your existing home, to include the electrical service (power panel), the plumbing (both waste and water supply) and the heating/ cooling system to see if they are large enough to handle the new in-law suite. Use our “Concept Design Form” found at or website. Print it out and present it to a licensed mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractor to evaluate the additional need that the remodeling project will demand. They will be able to give you a ballpark estimate on the cost according to your need. Caution, some of the MEP upgrades costs will be quite significant but they are necessary to a successful project that will add value to your home.

3) Hiring An Architect?

I suggest hiring a licensed architect. Here again, use our “Concept Design Form” listing the number of bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms and other rooms you think are required to help an architect find the layout that will give you the best use of the square footage you have to work with. Remember that this space is for home care for a senior or other loved one. You’ve got one shot so get it right the first time. You may also need an architect’s seal on the drawing for the building permits. He will also make sure you meet compliance for emergency and secondary egress. As a Realtor I see clients shocked after spending hard earned money to remodel and find that without the correct window size or walk out, that it does not qualify for “living space”. That could mean a big fat zero gain when you list your home for sale.

4) Getting Estimates

The documents the architect produces gives you a devise to obtain complete estimates with fewer duplications and/or omissions. Getting three estimates is standard operating procedure. Give the contractor two weeks or fourteen working days for a bid dead line. Put in writing. Remember this is a buyers market. Be sure to have a schedule including a start date, a completion date and a payment schedule. Most contractors use the one-third system. Once again get it in writing, one-third on starting, one-third at the middle of the schedule, and one-third on completion. Get lien waivers from the general contractor as well as his sub-contractors and suppliers. Make sure the big ticket items are paid for, such as the ac-unit, copper wire and power panel box, bath tub with surround, roll-in shower, doors and windows, flooring, etc. Make their certificate of insurance for liability and worker comp part of the contract. One last thing you might want to get in writing is to make sure they supply a port-a-potty. This will help to keep your bathrooms clean during the construction.

5) Choosing The Right Contractor for Your Project

Pick a contractor that you feel at ease with. Check his references. Check all of them. How long has he/she been in business? Ask friends, neighbors and even your city about them. Use the Better Business Bureau. They may have a record of any complaints about them and how the complaints were handled. You must be sure that your contractor is trustworthy, responsible and prompt. This is a time of quick decision and close working space. I always feel as if I am at my clients beckon call. You never know when the electric will go off or the water doesn’t work. I’ve seen it all. The best-laid plans do go a stray. You probably have better odds at the casino than having a completed project end without some kind of hiccup. Building your mother-in-law suite can be a good experience. If you ask lots of question, do your homework, and choose wisely, you have a pretty good shot at enjoying the construction of your mother-in-law suite.

A new product that is being introduced for the first time in the nation presents an affordable alternative to the traditional nursing home. While it’s not a panacea, it can very well be of significant benefit to thousands of families faced with the prospect of caring for an elderly or disabled member. Moreover, this new product can also be a major positive factor from the standpoint of third-party payers of healthcare benefits since it can facilitate a dramatic reduction in the cost of health care services provided to beneficiaries of Medicaid and other federal and state-sponsored programs (including those supporting disabled veterans).

Modular Mother In Law Suites

The Rockfall Company, LLC, a Connecticut-based modular builder and home remodeler, has developed and is currently introducing a modular home addition that can significantly affect the lives of thousands. Their specially-trained staff of Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (“CAPS”, a designation awarded by the National Association of Home Builders in cooperation with AARP) has been focused on the goal of keeping the elderly and handicapped out of institutions, and they may have indeed taken a major step forward. A visit to the company’s website, www.palsbuilt.com will present a more complete description of their “Practical Assisted Living Structures”(PALS) modules.

These units are modular home additions designed to quickly (e.g. in a matter of days following delivery) and inexpensively modify virtually any home to provide the homeowner with a specially-adapted bathroom, bedroom and living space for use by an elderly or handicapped family member in need of such accommodations. Rockfall recently installed the first of these units in the home of a disabled veteran in West Haven, Connecticut and a second in the home of another disabled vet in Bristol, CT. Both installations are highlighted on the website, and more are in the works, including one being considered by a family living with MS and another with an elderly (94-year old) mother. These pre-manufactured modules, when coupled with the home-delivered skilled and custodial services provided by home care agencies and medical equipment suppliers, offer very low-cost alternatives to nursing homes and other institutional providers. While the basic module offers complete bedroom, living room and bath accommodations, the possibilities for expansion are practically limitless including specially-adapted kitchen facilities, patient transfer accommodations, 24-hour patient monitoring capabilities, caregiver accommodations, etc.

Essentially, PALS modules can:

1. Save millions in state-supported payments to institutional healthcare providers for Title XIX (Medicaid) and other programs (e.g., In Connecticut alone, where the average cost of a year’s stay in a nursing home is approximately $135,000, annual payments to institutions for long-term care exceeded $1.5 Billion in 2008. Moving only 10% to a PALS unit could save this one state in excess of $100 Million!);
2. Bring thousands of people home to the safety and care of their loved ones and families;
3. Be funded, in whole or in part, through federal programs such as the DHHS “Money Follows the Person” (MFP) demonstration currently in progress and through other state and federal programs yet to be developed;
4. Create new jobs resulting from an expanded demand for homecare services as well as for services involving building, transporting, installing and maintaining the modules; and
5. Reduce the demand for 24-hour institutional care replacing it with less-expensive intermittent home-delivered healthcare related services.

Cost Comparison

The relatively low cost of these units, amounting to a fraction of the cost of institutional care, even when you include home-delivered caregiver and equipment costs, will make PALS modules a very attractive option for many thousands of users, to scores of third-party healthcare payers and governmental programs, and to organizations supporting people with disabilities (e.g. DAV, National MS Society, MDA, ALS Association, etc.). Additionally, the raw cost of a PALS module is significantly lower than the cost of conventional building modification. For example, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced the granting of awards under its Assisted Living Conversion Program in four states to modify existing housing units to accommodate residents needing assisted living amenities. Conversion costs per unit in those awarded projects ranged from $102,000 to $362,000. Basic PALS units, including shipping and installation with exterior siding to match the host home, would cost the homeowner or supportive program less than $60,000 each!

Article by:
John P. Ruocco, Director
Resource Development and Government Liaison
The Rockfall Company, LLC

What are your thoughts about modular mother in law suite additions? Leave a comment below!

In this economy, spacious living quarters that are also affordable can be hard to come by. Many individuals have decided to use their garage space as an additional room by transforming it into a living space. This article will discuss some important aspects to keep in mind during the renovation of a garage space.

Garage Renovation Basics

When considering converting a garage into an additional room, there are basic things to keep in mind. These would include the style, decor, and overall look that you want your new room to have. Since most garage spaces are very basic and bare, they will need carpet or other flooring, paint, and fixtures. Deciding what type of floor would be best suited to the home owners needs and then choosing other room fixtures to match is a great starting point in planning the design of the new living space.

Some Remodeling Is Best Left To The Professionals

The basic renovation of painting and adding decorative touches will be easy for most people to handle on their own. However, there will also probably be some things that will need to be done by a professional. A few of the most essential professional Room Remodeling requirements will be discussed below.

• Electrical Wiring

While it’s true that most completed garages already have electricity, they may not have enough individual wall outlets to allow for a comfortable living area. Additional electrical outlets will need to be added, and the allowance for larger electrical equipment may also be necessary. Refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners are all common appliances that need a larger electrical current to operate on. Having a professional ensure that the garage space is adequately equipped to handle these types of appliances will help prevent circuit overloads and possibly even fires.


• Windows & Doors

The addition of windows and doors may also be needed. Having more than just one entrance to the room is important, as home owners will always want a back up escape route in cases of emergencies. Windows will allow more natural lighting to enter the garage, which is normally quite dark. The more natural light a room has the less need for relying on artificial light that will increase the homes electricity bill. In order for windows and doors to be energy effective, they are best installed by professionals.

• Water Lines

Another vital addition to the garage will be water lines. Unless a garage already has plumbing, water lines will need to be added so that a bathroom can be created. The number of necessary lines will also depend greatly on what additional appliances that use water will be placed in the living area. Commonly used appliances include washing machines, kitchen sinks, bathtubs, and dishwashers. While it may not be necessary to have all of these appliances in the garage, it will likely be more convenient if they are. If someone else plans on using the garage as a home, they will likely enjoy the convenience of having all the necessary amenities at hand. Additionally, those residing inside the home will appreciate the added privacy of not having the garage resident come into the home to do laundry, cook, and bathe.

Mother In Law Garage Suites – An Affordable Solution

Many responsible adults find the task of caring for their elderly parents daunting and expensive. Nursing homes are pricey and do not always provide the kind of care that our elderly ones deserve. For this reason, many have decided to renovate garage space into living space for the elderly family members to avoid the need to place them in long-term care facilities. While the task can seem overwhelming, it’s an affordable option to a predicament that many people find themselves faced with every year.

The Video Below is from a 3 car garage in which on bay was converted into a cozy mother in-law suite

To see more photos of this Garage Conversion Click Here

While there are many other tasks involved in the conversion of a garage into a hospitable home, these are a few of the basics that will get one’s creative juices flowing. Garage conversion can be a lot of fun, even though it requires quite a bit of forethought and planning. With the right tools, a little advance knowledge, and an open mind, a garage can become a gorgeous living space. This renovation can add value to the home and provide an enjoyable place for loved ones to live comfortably for years to come.

If you have any tips, stories, or ideas, about renovating garage space into living space please share them with our readers by leaving a comment below!

Your basement is a part of the house you have neglected for too long. It does not need to be a dark, uninviting room useful only for laundry and storing boxes of things you haven’t looked at in decades. Your basement can become a perfectly good, useful part of the house – even a place for someone else to live comfortably. In this article, we’ll mention some basement remodeling ideas to get you started. Once you start with ideas for remodeling your basement, you will find that it’s almost like you’ve added a new floor to your house!

Here’s a scenario that many of us may face: what if you have a relative, like a mother-in-law or a child, come back to live with you for a time? The basement can be an excellent place to remodel for this purpose, giving your relative space they can feel at home in. The basement naturally feels a little different from the rest of the building – you can use this to your advantage. That “different feeling” will make your guest feel more comfortable with calling a certain portion of the house their own.

You can seize on that “different feeling” for other purposes, too. Once you’ve renovated the basement, you will find that the space’s unique qualities make it very suitable for rooms in the home that aren’t meant to feel quite like the rest of the house. The basement can make an excellent playroom for children, or a good home office space. Since you want to be able to focus on work rather than the demands of home, having this different space can be a real asset. A game room or a den with a bar might also be good options. Since most basements are huge, open spaces in comparison to other rooms, you may even be able to utilize more than one of these concepts without even needing to build new walls.

Basement Remodeling Considerations

There are some things you will need to take into account as you remodel your basement, though – the basement just isn’t like the other rooms in your house. The biggest difference is lighting. Pretty much every room in the upper floors of your home has windows to let in some ambient light, but because the basement is below the grade of your property, it lacks this property. Don’t respond to this just by flooding the place with bright lighting and whitewashing your walls – while that will make things very bright, it will also make it garish and uncomfortable. Instead, consider using warm, bright colors, and using things like can lighting and sconces. The dark quality of the basement can be an advantage in some settings, like a game room or a den.

Other things to consider are elements like pipework or ventilation ducts. Try and keep these along the walls of the basement, so that they don’t crowd the space in the center of the room. You can also cover them up with paneling so that they don’t stand out, or paint them a darker color for a more moody effect. There are plenty of ways to make these pieces work for your renovation.

The main thing to remember is to not be daunted by the task at hand. Your basement has the potential to be as inviting and useful a part of the home as any other room, and has other advantages besides – that “different feel” we mentioned, which makes the basement a perfect place for a mother in-law suite, a playroom, an office, or dozens of other uses. Instead of just a place to store your high school memorabilia, why not give the place a remodel and see what a difference adding a floor to your house makes?

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