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Aging in Place, CAPS Expertise Featured on CNN
Key aging-in-place features and the expertise of NAHB’s Certified-Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) were featured on CNN last week.
"CNN American Morning" recently highlighted the remodeling work of Jeff Glass, of Construction Concepts of Stamford., Conn. and the knowledge and know-how of CAPS instructor Alan Hanbury, CGR, CAPS, of the House of Hanbury Builders, Inc. of Newington, Conn. as part of its series, "Dream Retirement: Living It," which aired last week. Glass specializes in aging-in-place remodeling.
The episode featuring NAHB remodelers ― "Your old new home" ― originally aired on Wednesday, Oct. 26 and showcased the home of Shelley Lounsbury, who had her home remodeled so her aging parents could live with her.
"You can't put a price tag on being in a home versus being in a facility. And that is what we ultimately wanted," Lounsbury said on the show.
During the segment, Hanbury described and demonstrated many of the aging-in-place features that Glass had installed in Lounsbury’s home ― including a chair lift, widened hallways and an accessible bathroom and shower.
In addition, Hanbury had CNN’s Gerri Willis, personal finance editor and episode host, demonstrate how difficult turning an oven knob could be with simulated arthritic hands — part of regular CAPS training that involves grasping a tennis ball while wearing an athletic sock and then attempting simple tasks.
Willis promoted both NAHB and CAPS expertise during the show. "The good news here is that the National Association of Home Builders has a program, aging-in-place specialists. They certify them," Willis said.
"You can go to their Web site at NAHB and find out details about how to hook up with somebody who knows how to do this in your area," she added.
To view the episode about aging in place on CNN, click here.
CNN is the latest of many media outlets that have featured the CAPS designation and aging in place this year. CAPS stories involving NAHB members and staff have appeared in Time magazine, BusinessWeek, Wall Street Journal Online, the Chicago Tribune and other major metropolitan daily newspapers. On average, one story about CAPS a week has appeared across the country.
The CAPS program and professional designation were created by NAHB’s Remodelors™ Council in partnership with AARP, NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council and the NAHB Research Center. The CAPS program is administered by The NAHB University of Housing.
More than 800 home building and remodeling professionals have earned their CAPS designation since May of 2002. To learn more about CAPS, click here.
To read elsewhere in this issue about NAHB's online Directory of Professional Remodelers that CNN viewers were directed to, as well as other benefits of Remodelers™ Council membership, click here.
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