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Aging-in-Place Specialists --- New Group !!

By Edward D. Nikles

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Ed Nikles Custom Builder , Inc. / Nikles Realty , Inc. PA Broker-RM060117A

May 06, 2009 03:23 PM

Yesterday , I was notified by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) that I officially received my Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) Designation ! I wasted no time founding the group Aging-in-Place Specialists in ActiveRain . This designation is especially important to me as my 7 year old son , Colin , has Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy & is Wheelchair bound . A couple years ago , I added an Accessible Ramp from my garage into my mudroom to allow Zero Threshold access to the main floor living areas . I purchased an Accessible Van with ramp to allow us to keep Colin in his wheelchair as we transport him . I know I will have to make Further Modifications to my own home as my son gets bigger & heavier ! My 4 year old 2 story office building is already fully accessible with Elevator & Ramps , as well as 3 Accessible Baths .

My 100 year old Maternal Grandmother , who lives with my parents ( Elder Care) , has severe osteoporosis & cataracts and uses a Walker to get around . She has a Hospital Bed in her 1st floor Converted Den/Bedroom & needs special Grab Bars in the bathroom . My 87 year old Paternal Grandmother . who Lives Independently in an Active Adult apartment complex nearby , also uses a walker to get around .

As a Father , Grandson , Custom Builder , Remodeler , & Realtor I look forward to your design & marketing ideas , product information , input & support as I continue on my journey to learn as much as I can about Aging-in-Place , Accessibility & Universal Design . I will be incorporating these Smart Design ideas in my own home & clients homes in the near future . Thanks in advance ! Edward D. Nikles CAPS , CAASH , CGP , GMB , CGB , CGR

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James J. Weber

Keller Williams Pocono - Milford, PA

Ed - Congrats on the new group!

It's obvious how important accessability is to you and Colin. I hope we can create interest in these topics so those involved in the housing industry can also realize the importance of smart design for clients that want to age-in-place or need accessability.

May 07, 2009 02:12 PM

Lance Sonka

Spec Homes - Houston, TX

Ed, this is a fantastic idea for a group here on AR... an even better idea to serve those with special needs in your community. Way to be, and God bless you!

May 13, 2009 02:59 AM

Edward D. Nikles

Ed Nikles Custom Builder , Inc. / Nikles Realty , Inc. - Milford, PA

Jim , thanks for the support hopefully we'll get lots of other ActiveRainers to become active participants in Aging-in Place Specialsts !

Lance , thanks for the comment ! Please join our group & share some of your thoughts !

May 14, 2009 03:04 AM

Barry Lebow

RE/MAX Ultimate Realty Inc. - Toronto, ON

Jim, as founder, in Canada of the Accredited Senior Agent designation for REALTORS, this is timely and I hope to find new concepts. As we baby boomers age new programs will develop that are not even as yet on the drawing boards. Didn't one state recently decree that all doors must eliminate thresholds, that they are wider, etc.? Makes so much sense as the costs to build new for wheelchair access are negliable but the costs of conversion late are great and of course people will want government grants at costs to taxpayers.

Today, the price of installing elevators in new construction have fallen and they are practical. I would love to have an elevator in place as I have what we refer to in Toronto as an infill house. Raised basement, 9 foot floor-to-ceiling heights from basement to the upper level makes for a lot of stairs. Wish that bungalows were less expensive to build.

Looking forward to reading posts from across the land.

Founder, Accredited Senior Agent designation

Toronto, Canada

Jun 15, 2009 09:33 AM

Barry , thanks again for the post . I look forward to your contributions to the group ! I agree with you about zero-threshold entries & wider doorways in new construction as ways to make homes more accessible for marginal costs . We need to encourage others to be as forward thinking ! Keepin' it Green !

Jun 15, 2009 02:49 PM

Michelle Rios

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty - Washington, DC

Edward,

Congratulations! And thank you for starting the new group. I am Michelle Rios, a Coldwell Banker Senior Advantage Specialist Reator in the Washington, DC area. I encourage you to reach out to a wonderful group I became acquainted with this year http://www.house-works.com/homepage/index.htm.

The founder Andrea Cohen is a true innovator and is taking the senior industry by storm with her intentional community management among many other things all across the country.

I also belong to DCSRG. Washington DC Senior Resource Group. A very dedicated group of Senior Resource providers that meets at a once a month speaker series to both network, share ideas and in general just further our understanding of this ever evolving community. http://narconline.org/DCSRG.htm

I look forward to many great ideas from this group!

Best,

Michelle Rios, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

5028 Wisconsin Ave NW Ste 100, Washington DC 20016

202-352-4826 cell 202-362-4826

mrios@michellerios. www.michellerios.com

Jul 15, 2009 10:15 AM

Karen Barbour

Access Homes NC - Cary, NC

Cary, NC ePro

Edward, thanks for starting this group. I totally understand the passion and commitment that you bring to this area of expertise. I'm a Realtor that distinguishes myself as a disability housing specialist. My mission is to serve the disability communitywith their real estate needs. I come to this because of my life experience and wanting to give back to this community. I grew up with a deaf sister and after she passed away and I graduated from college I worked in the deaf community in the Boston area. I am fluent in ASL and have always enjoyed the deaf culture and community.

Also after my youngest son was dxed with autism I got very involved in advocacy and family support in the developmental disability world. I have grown to be very comfortable with different levels of ability. SO when I became a Realtor I decided to make that my niche. It helps that the NC center for Universal Design is in my back yard. I have also found it very helpful to have partnered with a contractor who is CAPS certified and TOTALLY gets it.

I look forward to the posts and learning in this group.

Aug 28, 2009 03:41 PM

Thanks Karen ! I apologize for not acknowledging your post sooner . I can only hope that others take as much interest in providing access to housing to people with unique abilities as you do ! Keepin' it Green !

Feb 10, 2010 05:40 AM

Michelle , thanks for the link ! House Works site is very impressive in deed ! I look forward to your contributions as a Senior Advantage Specialist Realtor ! Keepin' it Green !

Feb 10, 2010 05:50 AM

Aging-in-Place Specialists --- New Group !!

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