To help older adults remain healthy and active throughout retirement, a nationwide consumer awareness campaign organized by the National Aging In Place Council (NAIPC) will be getting under way in October to increase seniors' knowledge and access to home and community-based services that promote independent living.

National Aging In Place Week, designated October 8-14 (although some NAIPC members are celebrating before and after these dates), will be commemorated throughout the country in communities located in Vermont, California, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Utah, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the greater Washington, D.C. area, Colorado and New York.

In most areas, seminars and resource fairs with exhibitors are being organized for seniors to learn about topics ranging from home safety and fitness to financial planning and budgeting, in-home healthcare and chore services, home accessibility issues, reverse mortgages and transportation and meal services. Other members are organizing luncheons for local businesses to meet, network and learn from each other the types of services that they provide to older homeowners.

"An overwhelming majority of older Americans want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, but lack awareness of services that make prolonged independent living possible," said Peter Bell, executive director of the National Aging In Place Council.  “We scheduled National Aging In Place Week in October to encourage thinking about this topic as families start preparing for the holidays. As families gather, it's a perfect time to discuss livability issues for parents and other older relatives."

Since the inaugural National Aging In Place Week held in 2003, NAIPC's outreach efforts have proved hugely successful among the various stakeholder groups involved. That year, NAIPC members held educational events in six cities, compared to 35 last year and 33 so far this year. They expect the number of events to reach 50 or more as activities are finalized. 

NAIPC serves as an ongoing forum for professionals from the private, public and non-profit sectors and businesses to work together to promote aging in place. Coalition members include skilled persons from a wide variety of fields, including remodeling, architecture, interior design, financing, elder law, product design and manufacturing, urban planning, social services, health, and others. Homeowners benefit if professionals from these various disciplines are acquainted with one another and professional networks will become better established.

Secondly, NAIPC encourages senior citizens, recent retirees, and baby boomers to be proactive in planning for their future housing and care needs, and provide ideas and information to help them do so.

To learn more, visit  www.naipc.org.
The information above is from a press release from NAIPC.

Find out about NAHB's Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation here.

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