PAUL L. SULLIVAN
Preparation ‘wise’
A little more than two years ago Dan Bawden, a home improvement contractor in Houston, came across a study that showed that 85 percent of Americans want to remain in their homes as they age, instead of downsizing or moving to a retirement community.
But those same Americans reported that they had a tremendous distrust of contractors, making them reluctant to hire a remodeler to modify their home to make it easier and safer to live in as they age. The study was an eye-opener for Bawdin, who has been doing remodeling work for 25 years.
As a trustee of the Remodelors Council of the National Association of Home Builders, Bawden knew there were trustworthy and competent builders who were eager to assist this growing population of older adults. He immediately contacted AARP, who sponsored the survey, and the report’s author, Leon Harper, to discuss ways that the two opposing worlds of remodelers and seniors could be merged.
The result? Bawden, with Harper’s assistance, developed a program that teaches builders the technical, business management and customer service skills needed to make home modifications so people can remain in their homes longer. Professionals who participate in the three-day program end up with the Certified Aging-in-Place, or CAPS, designation.
It wasn’t easy trying to convince Harper and AARP officials to develop a program.
“My idea [for the program] was met with some skepticism,” acknowledged Bawden, adding that Harper wanted the designation to be of a “higher caliber” than other designations.
Harper insisted that CAPS designees subscribe to a code of ethics, and that the program include closed-book tests. Once the details were worked out, the Remodelors Council, in collaboration with AARP, the NAHB Research Center and NAHB’s Seniors Housing Council, started offering the three-day designation program.
The program was first offered in May at the Senior Housing Symposium in Orlando, Fla. So far, 125 people have earned the designation, including five remodelers in Massachusetts.
Paul L. Sullivan, president of a home improvement company in Newton, and one of his business partners, John Marsoobian Jr., earned the designation after taking the classes in May. Sullivan’s company, DOMO Inc., doesn’t do a tremendous amount of remodeling for older clients. But given demographic trends, Sullivan is anticipating that his company will be working more with that clientele group in the future.
“I think it’s only wise for a professional remodeler to prepare … to better serve this population,” said Sullivan, who was part of a team that helped develop a marketing plan for the CAPS program.
However, Sullivan stressed that the designation program offers design information that applies to remodeling for all age groups – not just the elderly and physically challenged. “The principles that we learn as students apply across the board,” he said.
In addition to Sullivan and Marsoobian, the other Bay State contractors who earned the CAPS designation are John DeShazo and Bob Ernst, owners of FBN Construction in Hyde Park, and Dale Nikula of Dale R. Nikula Co. in Dennisport.
According to NAHB, the fastest-growing segment of the residential remodeling industry is home modifications for those who want to age-in-place.
“We’re not having any trouble generating interest for this program,” said Bawden, who in addition to having the CAPS designation is also a certified graduate remodeler and a graduate master builder.
Local builders associations are offering the training. Regionally, the Home Builders Association of Hartford County will be offering the program in April in Rocky Hill, Conn. Besides remodelers, the program has also drawn the attention of architects and occupational therapists.
Grabbing Attention
Bawden said he is trying to make custom homebuilders aware of the program because he regularly hears from older homeowners who have spent a lot of money to build their dream homes only to move in and find out that some of the home’s design features create safety and accessibility challenges.
“I’m trying to make custom builders aware that these changes are applicable to the homes they build, as well,” said Bawden.
As part of the program, Bawden and instructors battle the misconception that certain modifications – including the installation of grab bars – will make a home look institutional. Bawden explained that the hardware that is now produced – including grab bars and lever handles for doors and faucets – is much more attractive. Different metals and colors are used to make such modifications more esthetically pleasing, he said.
“That’s something we have to teach clients and custom builders – that they don’t have to shy away from this because it’s going to look dorky or institutional,” he said.
Participants must attend three days of classes. At the end of each class, participants are given a test. The first day is devoted to discussing the unique aspects of working with and marketing to older Americans. The class also provides information on the physical traits and health issues that affect older people and how homes can be modified to better accommodate people as they age.
During the second day, the technical aspects of home modifications are discussed in detail. For example, the instructor discusses the different ways to install grab bars, widen doorways, install elevators and make other modifications. That part of the program also allows the participants to share their own remodeling methods.
“There’s a myriad of things in a variety of rooms that can be changed to make rooms safer and more barrier-free,” said Bawden. “It’s [the class] designed to allow a fair amount of exchange between attendees so we can call learn from each other.”
The third day of the program gives students an introduction to business management, explaining contract writing and bookkeeping. Students who have earned other designations and may have received that type of training can skip the third day, according to Bawden.
Aglaia Pikounis may be reached at apikounis@thewarrengroup.com.
