Caps Connection - 07/17/2009 (Plain Text Version)Daryl Kemp, CGR, GMB, CAPS, Chair
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E-mail Our Editor In this issue: Cashing in on CAPSThe Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation is becoming an increasingly valuable asset as communities across the country become involved in aging-in-place initiatives. As the initial wave of boomers turn 60 and older, local community agencies are assessing ways to support their older citizens maintain their quality of life and age in place. There is recognition by those that focus on senior related issues, government agencies and non-profits alike, that providing programs that support the overwhelming desire of seniors to age in place is a primary goal. CAPS Increasingly Relevant One of the highest-ranking priorities of seniors, as they age in place, is to have access to reliable and qualified contractors to provide home repair, remodeling, and upkeep necessary to maintain their existing homes. Surveys have found that seniors desire reputable contractors to help with major renovations to increase accessibility in their homes and for more routine maintenance items such as roof and plumbing repairs. Community governments and non-profit agencies are looking to connect with qualified contractors and CAPS designees are ideally positioned to meet this increasing need. The big question is: does your community know about the CAPS designation and the strength of the training that stands behind the designation? Toot Your Own Horn As a CAPS designee you have an unprecedented opportunity to promote and increase your business by partnering with local governments and non-profit organizations, however, you must take the initiative to promote yourself and introduce the organizations to the CAPS designation. Government agencies and non-profit sponsors need to be educated that the CAPS program exists. They need to understand the benefits of the program and how a CAPS designee can assist with the goal of helping community residents age in place. Initiate a marketing program by identifying the major players in your community that are engaged in assisting seniors age in place. Connect with your local Area Agency on Aging. There is a national network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAoA), and more than likely there is one in your community. Find out about any aging-in-place initiatives the local AAoA knows about in your community. The AAoA may be directly involved in sponsoring aging in place initiatives or they can direct you to government agencies or other non-profit groups that support aging-in-place initiatives. According to Louis Tenenbaum, CAPS, CAASH, Independent Living Strategist, the best way to connect with the network of senior providers in your community is through your local Area Agency on Aging. “Provide seminars and in-service meetings for service providers, potential clients and members of the community. The Network itself is a great source for speaking opportunities to promote home modifications and your services,” advises Tenenbaum. You can read more about connecting to the aging-in-place network from his article: http://www.housingzone.com/GIANTS/article/CA462903.html. Another resource to explore is your local Commission on Aging. Most communities have a Commission and they are involved in a myriad of issues that support seniors’ well-being and quality of life. The Commission is well connected with local non-profit groups working with senior aging-in-place initiatives. Introducing yourself and the CAPS program to Commission staff and volunteer commissioners is another opportunity to partner with organizations promoting aging-in-place programs and who are looking for help identifying contractors to assist seniors stay in their own homes. They will be delighted to find you and particularly impressed by the AARP endorsement of the CAPS program. There is also a network of aging-in-place and accessibility groups. You can connect into these groups by looking on the Web for accessibility groups or by asking government agencies for information about the network of professionals such as physical therapists, social workers, and disability activists who are involved with aging-in-place programs. It’s About Villages Do you know about community “Villages?” Villages were invented in the early 21st century by neighbors in the Beacon Hill community of Boston. The Village program is a way for seniors to stay in their homes as they age by providing a variety of services for members of the community. The Village concept is a well-defined and organized program. Often communities create a 501(c) 3 non-profit for the purpose of obtaining grants, they have rules of procedure, budgets, programming and membership dues. The Village program relies on neighbors helping neighbors either as an all-volunteer organization or with some paid professional staff. Beacon Hill has promoted their program and there are Villages growing all over the country. Very likely there is at least one Village in your community. Villages Want Connection to Reliable Construction Professionals Again, one of the highest priorities for services in these emerging Villages is creating a list of reliable contractors to help Village residents maintain and remodel their homes. Many Villages have Web sites and you might be able to identify them and get contact information from their Web sites. You can also try to get contact information about Villages in your community through your local government, the Commission on Aging or the local Area Agency on Aging The need to support senior’s age in place is growing and it will only increase with time. There is an unprecedented opportunity for the CAPS professional to partner with and gain business from a large number of organizations assisting the senior population. Many seniors can afford to pay for home maintenance assistance themselves. For those who can’t afford to pay for needed home repair and remodeling, communities are creating programs to provide financial assistance. Community Initiatives Focusing on Seniors In my community, Montgomery County, Md., the County Executive has put senior issues to the top of his priority list. He called together a “senior summit” of all the county stakeholders in senior related issues. One of the top priorities coming from the Senior Summit was for the county to provide assistance to those communities wishing to create community Villages. Our community has several government agencies and non-profit groups working on aging-in-place programs. When I mention the CAPS program as a resource to help with seniors making their homes more accessible, very few, if any, government officials or non-profits have heard of the CAPS program. However, they are most interested in connecting with CAPS designees once the understand the value and are particularly impressed by the AARP support of the CAPS program. Don’t Miss A Great Opportunity A small investment in researching your community’s involvement in aging-in-place programs often leads to increased business opportunities for you as a CAPS professional. You may want to get involved in your community programs, and educate those that are creating the aging-in-place programs the residents in your community. The payoffs in new business and referrals will more than compensate for the time invested.
Leslie Marks has a small consulting company and works with builders and developers who are developing age-restricted housing. She is a CAASH designee. Leslie volunteers her time as a member of Montgomery County’s Vital Living Committee, a group of appointed volunteers that works on the community’s senior related issues and programs. She is currently working with the local government to write a toolkit explaining how to start a community Village. Leslie was the Executive Director for the NAHB Seniors Housing Council for eight years and currently serves as a trustee on the 50+ Council. For more information or to contact us directly, please visit www.NAHB.org | ©2009, National Association of Home Builders |