What Is National Aging In Place Week?

Organized by the National Aging In Place Council, National Aging In Place Week, has two objectives:

• Build lasting coalitions of allied business professionals in communities across the U.S. to assist homeowners with pursuing their long-term care needs, and
• Organize educational activities to highlight home and community-based services and products—including healthcare, transportation and housing—that enable seniors to successfully age in place. 

An overwhelming majority of us want to remain in our homes for as long as possible, but lack awareness of services that make prolonged independent living possible. We scheduled National Aging In Place Week in the fall (although members host events throughout the year) to encourage thinking about this topic while families get together for the holidays. As families gather, it's a perfect time to discuss livability issues for parents and other older relatives.

Local coalitions include geriatric care managers, occupational therapists, architects, interior designers, remodeling contractors (including those who have obtained the Certified Aging in Place Specialist designation), home health care companies, insurance companies and brokerages, reverse mortgage lenders, elder law attorneys, and public and non-profit organizations.

Through various media (i.e., radio, print, television), Coalition organizers encourage seniors, recent retirees, and Baby Boomers to be proactive in thinking about their future long-term housing and care needs, and provide them with ideas and information on how to do so.

Homeowners benefit if professionals from the various disciplines are knowledgeable about one another, and better professional referral networks are established.

Our members typically organize three types of events:

• B2B (business-to-business). Area professionals meet to learn about each another's businesses, to discuss local aging issues and trends, and to network. Over time, a referral network is developed whereby members of the local Council refer potential clients each other.
• B2C (business-to-consumer). Area professionals organize educational events for local seniors and their families to learn about different topics (including home safety, financial planning, elder abuse prevention, etc.), programs and services that can help them age in place.
• B2P (Business-to-press). Area professionals invite members of the news media to tour a home that has been modified by design or outfitted with new technology that helps promote aging in place.

If you would like to learn more, please contact Erin Gulick, at egulick@dworbell.com.