Safety and Accessibility Today and TomorrowMatthew Longman, RMT, CAPS

Certified Aging In Place Specialist CAPS certification provides the skills and knowledge to

help homeowners remain in their homes safely, independently and comfortably as they age.

Registered Massage Therapist CEO of Aquassure Accessible Baths

Designing accessible bathroom fixtures for over a decade.

Provides accessible bathing solutions to enhance the quality of life for individuals who can no longer bathe independently or safely using traditional bathing equipment..

Matthew Longman, RMT, CAPS

Aging in Place Planning & Assessment Suggested modifications Suggestions for bathroom safety Accessories Types of Funding Available for

Renovations Questions

Overview

Clients don’t need to move from their homes to accommodate changing needs.

There are attractive design solutions that create a safe, comfortable environment for individuals who want to age in place.

Renovations are less expensive than Assisted Living – Average cost $3427/month. Range $900/month single subsidized-$5000/month/person.(up to $9K for LTC)

Aging In Place

21 will have some sort of arthritis 17 will have some sort of respiratory challenge 7 will have diabetes 5 will have orthopedic issues, esp. hip and

knee 3 will have residual effects from a stroke 3 will have a progressive disease like MS, ALS,

Parkinsons, or dementia. Plus some with brain and spinal cord injuries.

(as per CDC National Centre for Health Statistics in the US)

Out of 100 People…

Life expectancy is 82.7 years for women and 78 years for men.

4.4 million Canadians have a disability. 54% of men and 57.8% of women over 75 years have a disability.

Most people can expect 10 years of disability in their lifetime.

Demographics

In Canada, falls are the most common cause (85%) of injury-related hospital admissions among 65+

33% of 65+ seniors falls each year.

66% of fall victims will fall again within six months.

The risk of falling quadruples for the first two weeks after discharge from hospital.

Men are more likely than women to die from a fall. Fall death rate is 40% higher for men than for women.

Falls.

20-30% of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as lacerations, hip fractures, or head traumas. 

These injuries can make it hard to get around or live independently, and increase the risk of early death.

Each year in BC, 3,100 seniors will break their hips. 2/3 of these are women. Most are permanently disabled and will require use of a mobility aid for walking.

People 75+ who fall are four to five times more likely than those age 65 to 74 to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer

Falls Continued.

One third of falls are directly related to

environmental hazards in the

home.

Assess your home for hazards Build new homes with universal design

principals to make it more accessible, usable, flexible and adaptable for use by all, regardless of size, mobility, shape, abilities or age.

Plan renovations for both current and future use.

Don’t wait to renovate until it is too late. Make changes BEFORE you or your loved one has a catastrophic fall.

Make changes while you can enjoy them.

What can you do?

Go through the home using the checklist provided and identify areas that present problems or that may present problems in the next 10 years given currently diagnosed or likely medical or disability issues.

Home Assessment

Inability to get legs over edge of tub easily Inability to get out of a deep soak spa tub Using sliding glass doors for stability or

balance. Using unsafe bathtub or shower features

Lawn chair instead of bath seat Using unsecured bath or shower seat to

grab onto Grabbing fixtures or towel racks instead

of grab bars.(UofM Health System Researchers.)

Common Bathroom Safety Issues

Equipment: Canes and Walkers, Wheelchairs (manual or powered), lifts, scooters.

Sensory: Vision, Hearing, Touch, Smell, Balance, Coordination, Endurance.

Cognitive concerns: Alertness, Memory, Spatial Awareness

Consider current and future situation:

Budget or Time Constraints Actual activities. Anticipated length of need. Future plans for home. Existing space or structural

limitations

Other Considerations:

Barrier-free front entrance and ground floor 3-piece bathroom with wheelchair accessibility.

Higher toilets Full-block walls in bathrooms for future grab bars Wider doorways, stairs and hallways. Lower light switches and higher outlets. Better

controls like timers, dimmers and motion sensors. Adequate heating and cooling. Adaptable or barrier-free showers. Lever handle door knobs and sink fixture controls. Better lighting and reduction of glare.

Universal Design Suggestions:

Composite

Tile can be too hard and cold, but can be treated for non-slip and in-floor heating is option.

Carpet – trip hazard, but does muffle sound. Equipment can wear some types of flooring quickly. Linoleum and hardwood better for falls, but may not

wear as well as tile. Watch for bad acoustics to downstairs apartments

when replacing carpet with hard surface flooring. Ramps can be used to ease passage over thresholds.

Flooring

Grab Bars Higher Toilets Wall mount sinks and cabinets Lever-handled faucets and doors Temperature controls (Anti-scald systems) Turn down hot water tank Bidet seats Non-slip flooring Good lighting / night lights Accessible bathing equipment & fixtures

Bathroom Accessibility and Safety

Budget Bathing preference: shower vs. bath Water immersion for circulation and spasticity How long do you expect to be in the home? Aesthetics Resale Space available Mobility and future mobility Owning vs. renting.

Bathroom equipment considerations

Bath Seats Bath Lifts Tub Cuts Grab Bars

Barrier-free or convertible showers

Walk in bathtubs Slide in bathtubs.

Accessible Bathroom Equipment

Bath Lifts, Transfer Seats and Tubcuts

Water stopper and Semi-permanent threshold

Quick conversion to respond quickly to health and lifestyle changes

Can support a shower door Reversible Maintains resale value

Lifetime Shower System

Walk-in Tubs

Walk-in Tubs –

Designer Feel

Active Living Spa (ADL)

Slide-in Tubs – Designer Feel

Grab Bars are available in a wide range of colours, finishes, sizes and styles.

Accessories: Grab Bars

GLOW IN THE DARK!

Fold Down Padded, Phenolic or Wood Wall mount with Adjustable Feet Can be powder coated

Accessories: Seats

Accessories: Ramps

Ramps can be used for door thresholds and entrances up to 5”

Accessories: Step Cote

Do-it-yourself anti-slip kit for ALL tubs and showers.

Permanent non-slip coating that can be applied to your shower or bathtub to make it non-slip.

Dries clear, no order, non-toxic, easy to apply, no fumes.

Dual Purpose Accessories

Self: Savings, Credit Card, Personal Loan

Seniors Home Renovation Tax Credit

Medical Tax Credit Reverse Mortgage BC Housing Home Adaptions for

Independence Grant.

Funding Renovations

Refundable tax 65+, or shared home with someone 65+ Assists with the costs of permanent home

renovations for seniors so that they can remain in the home longer.

10% of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $1000 ($10,000 worth of renovations).

If you spend $12,000 renovating your home to make it more accessible, then you could claim a $1000 Tax Credit12,000 x 10% = $1200.00, but the maximum you can claim is $1000.00.

Seniors Home Renovation Tax Credit

Prescription needed that says you need equipment to help to get in or out of a bathtub or shower or to get on or off the toilet.

Claim part of the expense not claimed on the Senior Home Renovation Tax Credit.

Reduces taxes owed (in most cases)

Medical Tax Credit

Must be 55+ Access equity in the home to finance

renovations. Up to 50% of market value No payments until both you and your

spouse leave the home. Amount repaid is not more than fair

market value. Does not count as income. You still own your home and remaining

equity is yours Ask your mortgage broker for details.

Reverse Mortgage

The Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) program provides financial assistance to help eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities in BC to continue to live in the comfort of their home.

Up to $20,000 in home renovations in a non-repayable grant

Must meet requirements to qualify

BC Housing HAFI Grant

Qualifications vary by Geographic Location Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country -

$399,999 Max home value as per last BC Assessment

Income based on household composition: Single or couple – Max income $31,500

Household assets must be less than $100,000 (not including home, RRSPs, RESPs, RDSPs, vehicle) and you are unable to finance the requested adaptions.

HAFI - Qualifications

Ramps, lifts and elevators Grab bars, handrails, lever controls, handles Switches, controls and plugs to accessible locations. Lighting, reflective strips, contrasting colours. Floor coverings, non-slip, non-trip. Cupboards, sinks, counters and controls in kitchen and

bathroom. Layout changes , including extensions, doorway

widening and moving fixtures. Accessible bathtub or shower, higher toilets, bidet seat,

wall mount sinks and cabinets. Anti-scald devices. Alarms and multi-sensory warning systems.

Eligible Adaptions

Replacement of windows Repairs to or maintenance of heating

system Portable air conditioner, air purifier,

dehumidifier. Extensions or conversions for

recreational or office space. Upgrading existing plumbing systems. Emergency repairs. Non-permanent adaptions or portable

aids

Not Eligible for HAFI

Review your eligibility. Review list of eligible adaptions. Get 1-3 quotes depending on estimated dollar value

of renovation. Quotes from companies for different parts of job ok, but make sure apples to apples.

Gather supporting documents. (bank statements, BC Assessment, investment summaries, last year’s tax returns, proof of residency)

Complete the homeowner or landlord application. Submit paperwork to BC Housing Follow up in 2 weeks with BC Housing.

How to Apply

HAFI Questions

Landlords can also apply on behalf of renters. Is the assistance repayable?

No, if you live in your home for 1-3 years after renovation or if landlords limit rent increases for 5 years.

HAFI not available on reserve lands for anyone, however Status Indians can apply for similar funding through CMHC

http://www.bchousing.org/Options/Home_Renovations

1-800-257-7756 They will not tell you if you are eligible

over the phone, but will answer specific questions about eligibility.

They have the final decision, but you can appeal within 30 days.

BC Housing.

Thank you! Matthew Longman

250-878-0409 (cell) or 1-866-404-8827 mlongman@aquassure.com

Aquassure Staff: Shari – smcdowell@aquassure.com Brook – marketing@aquassure.com Corina – sales@aquassure.com

Questions?