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HOME EQUITY CONVERSION MORTGAGE (HECM)

QUESTION: What if I told you that there was a way to pay for your future long-term care costs without touching any of your life or retirement savings? Would you want to learn more about it?  Ha! I bet you would!

The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is a terrific way to fund a life insurance policy with a long-term care accelerated benefit component. This is a brand new option, which at the time of this publishing, almost no one knows about. And mark my words, this is going to revolutionize the way we, as a country, collectively finance our long-term care needs.

PREDICTION:    The financing our country’s immediate long-term care needs for our Baby Boomer population is going to primarily come by way of Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs).

What is a HECM? A HECM is a FHA-insured mortgage for homeowners age 62 or older who have either paid off their mortgage on their current residence or have “significant” equity already established. It allows the homeowner to withdraw some of the equity in their home to fund certain financial necessities like a life insurance policy with a long-term care component, without spending a penny more than they were before they obtained the HECM.

I know what you’re thinking, “Are you kidding me?! This is too good to be true!”

The short answer is nope, this is not too good to be true. Congress has been looking for a way to help people finance their long-term care needs because they know they’re not going to be able to finance the increasing care needs of the aging "Baby Boomer" population because of an ever decreasing workforce which is creating less tax revenue moving forward with more folks retiring and going on government programs like Medicare and Social Security. In 2009, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) changed its position on HECMs (once thought of as a last resort) to use “Housing Wealth” to fund longevity needs like future long-term care. FINRA is an independent, not-for-profit organization authorized by Congress to protect America’s investors by making sure the securities industry operates fairly and honestly.

“Given pensions are going away and Social Security age going up, given health care costs are increasing, households are in a bind. The one asset almost all retirees hold is the house.”

– Dr. Tony Webb, Boston College Center for Retirement Research

HECM Basics

Ø  Your must be 62 years of age or older to qualify

Ø  The real estate used to secure the HECM must be your primary residence; This is the address on your Driver’s License and your Voter Registration;

Ø  You must own the property outright or you must have paid down a considerable amount on the mortgage; The “rule of thumb” is you will need to have at least 50% equity in your home;

Ø  No monthly payment is required – EVER!

Ø  No defined term on the loan – it won’t come due until you pass away;

Ø  You must have the financial resources to continue to pay ongoing property charges such as property taxes, insurance, and Homeowner’s Association fees;

Ø  The HECM is FHA-insured so if the mortgage ever goes under water - the government is on the hook for it, not you!

HECM Consumer Safeguards

Ø  Homeowner retains title;

Ø  Homeowner/Estate is entitled to any remaining equity;

Ø  Homeowner may stay in the home permanently;

Ø  Homeowner is NEVER required to make principal and interest (P&I) payments;

Ø  Mandatory Third Party Counseling – The FHA funds housing counseling agencies throughout the country who provide information to you for free or at a very low cost;

Ø  Growing equity line that cannot be cancelled

HECM Costs

The costs to secure a HECM are minimal and you can finance most of these costs from the proceeds of the loan. Financing the costs means you do not have to pay for them out of your pocket. These costs include the initial FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium. So let’s look at a generic case study that a local lender specializing in HECMs provided to me to use as a simple example.

Note:  This is just an example used for illustrative purposes. Everyone's case is going to be different based on their unique health and financial condition.

Let’s assume we have a female named Jane who is age 65 with the following financial scenario:

Income = $2,000/month

Investments = $144,230

Home Equity = $250,000

No LTC Insurance in place

Total Value of Estate = $394,230

Jane’s Problem

·         Exposed to LTC Risk with No Asset Protection Plan in Place

·         No Legacy Plan

What Jane Wants

·         Eliminate her LTC Risk

·         Leave a Legacy for her heirs

-   

Question: What Happens If Jane Doesn't Have a Plan In Place To Pay For Her Future Long-Term Care Needs?

Assuming Worst Case Scenario: Nursing Home Placement

Ø  Average private pay nursing home rate (private room) - $7,000 per month or $84,000 per year;

Ø  Monthly shortfall - $5,000 per month

Ø  Will deplete $144,230 nest egg in 2.5 years (or 30 months)

Ø  Heirs will receive - $0 of her life savings nest egg

Question: What Can We Do To Prevent This Spend Down of Retirement Savings?

Funding Source: Loan Proceeds from the HECM

Ø  Secure FHA-Insured HECM loan

Ø  Elects lump sum distribution option of $70,643

Ø  Elects a $500 per month loan distribution option

Ø  Funds life insurance contract with long-term care accelerated benefits with single premium payment of $70,683 and $500 per month for 10 years.

Ø  REMEMBER - these monies accessed through the HECM are considered loan proceeds and thus are TAX-FREE.

Net Gain Benefit on Day One with HECM

Jane’s Monthly Income                                           $2,000

Accelerated Monthly LTC Benefit (if needed)       9,463

Total Monthly Income Available                       11,463

Less Nursing Home Costs                               (7,000)

Net Cash Flow (if care needed)                        $4,463

Death Benefit on Day 1                                  $473,173

So did we accomplish Jane’s goals with the HECM? I’ll say so! We eliminated her exposure to LTC risk immediately by eliminating the monthly shortfall which would have depleted her assets in 30 months AND we improved her Legacy value by immediately adding a death benefit to her heirs of $473,173. We did all this AND WE DID NOT SPEND AN ADDITIONAL DIME OUT OF POCKET outside of maybe a $450 or $500 appraisal fee. So on day one, her kids would receive a TAX-FREE death benefit of $473,173 as opposed to a home worth $250,000 which, if her kids decided to sell it, the proceeds would be considered taxable income to them. And remember, on day one, she still has $179,371 of equity left in the home ($250,000 appraised value less the initial HECM loan of $70,643).

What about the loan? What effect does the loan have on all this? Let’s look at this scenario 10 years from now when Jane is 75 years old. The lender used an assumed fixed interest rate on the HECM of 5.120%. Financing and closing costs of $7,766 were also assumed which were automatically financed by the HECM. We also assumed that increases in her income, the cost of a nursing home, and her property value to increase at an average of 4% per year. Based on these assumptions, this is how it would look in Year 10.

Jane’s Financial Position

With the HECM In Year 10 at Age 75

Jane’s Monthly Income                                          $2,960

Accelerated Monthly LTC Benefit (if needed)     9,463

Total Monthly Income Available                     12,423

Less Nursing Home Costs                             (10,362)

Net Cash Flow (if care needed)                      $2,061

Death Benefit                                                       $473,173

HECM Loan Balance - Year 10                     $221,131

Jane’s Property Value - Year 10                    370,061

Equity in the Home -    Year 10                    $148,230

So let’s look at how Jane made out with and without this HECM 10 years from now. First we’ll compare it assuming she did not need any care during that time. And secondly, we’ll compare it assuming she did need care in the final 30 months.

How Did Jane Fare 10 Years Later WITHOUT NEEDING CARE?

WITHOUT PLANNING

Jane – Age 75

Income = $2,960/month

Investments = $213,496

Home Equity = $372,708

No LTC Insurance in Place

Total Estate Value = $586,204

WITH PLANNING

Jane – Age 75

Income if sick = $12,423/month

Investments = $213,496

Home Equity = $148,230

LTC Plan in Place = Peace of Mind

Tax Free Death Benefit = $473,173

Total Estate Value = $834,899

Again, Jane fared pretty well by adding the HECM. Even though she did not need nor use the benefit of the accelerated long-term care benefits, she still increased the value of her estate by $248,695 ($834,899 with HECM compared to $586,204 without HECM). And this doesn’t even consider the fact that the death benefit will be passed on to her heirs TAX-FREE. AGAIN, NO REQUIRED MONTHLY PAYMENTS AND SHE JUST INCREASED THE VALUE OF HER ESTATE BY NEARLY $250,000!

-

How Did Jane Fare 10 Years Later NEEDING CARE?

WITHOUT PLANNING

Jane – Age 75

Income = $2,960/month

Investments = $0

Home Equity = $372,708

No LTC Insurance in Place

Total Estate Value = $372,708

WITH PLANNING

Jane – Age 75

Income if sick = $12,423/month

Investments = $213,496

Home Equity = $148,230

LTC Plan in Place = Peace of Mind

Tax Free Death Benefit = $189,283

Total Estate Value = $551,009

So the worst possible situation has happened and Jane needs skilled nursing care for two and a half years or 30 months. How does she fare when all the worst possible things happen? Even after requiring 30 months of care in the an expensive private pay nursing home, the HECM with life and accelerated long-term care benefits STILL INCREASED THE VALUE OF HER ESTATE BY $178,301! 

The other benefit that we have not even talked about here is that through the HECM, you will have access to cash through a line of credit established at closing whereby this line of credit will grow as the value of your house increases over time. 

     I think now you can clearly see and understand the tremendous value and suitability of a HECM to fund your future long-term care needs and how it can protect your family from not only bearing the responsibility of being your caregiver, but also, how it effectively protects the value of the estate you leave behind to your loved ones. And once again, it bears repeating: THERE ARE NO REQUIRED MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR THIS COVERAGE...EVER! What more could you ask for? 

QUESTION: 

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER A HECM?

IF YOU ARE 62 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER....

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!

WHY?

Because you must be “insurable” to take full advantage of the Life Insurance with Long-Term Care Rider Protection!


ARE YOU INTERESTED?

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

LET'S WORK TO KEEP YOUR SPOUSE AND YOUR KIDS ---- YOUR SPOUSE AND YOUR KIDS ---- AND NOT YOUR CAREGIVER!

I CAN HELP YOU SET THIS UP AND STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

For a personal and confidential consultation contact:

Mike Campbell, CLTC
Licensed Agent
Certified HECM Specialist

(440) 487-6715

mike_campbell@roadrunner.com

Book Review: WHEN MOM AND DAD NEED HELP

Book Review: WHEN MOM AND DAD NEED HELP:

I honestly wish I could have read this book before my father’s health began to seriously decline. Had that been the case, it’s likely my mother and I would not have felt so overwhelmed and as if scrambling all the time to find the best options for his care.

In WHEN MOM AND DAD NEED HELP, by author Mike Campbell, the adult children of aging parents are fortunate to have a most valuable resource at hand. Thorough and complete, this book clearly covers the wealth of options available to you when your parents need help. Mr. Campbell reveals the pros and cons of everything from having your parents move in with you, to adult day and home care services, to independent and assisted living, as well as dementia care, nursing facilities, and hospice care. He also details relative costs of each option you could possibly choose with your aging parents, besides where support opportunities may be found.

As any who have experienced this stage of life will attest, this is not an easy time for all involved. Routinely, it seems, things go until the 13th hour before a necessary adjustment in living or care arrangements transpire, and often only after a traumatic event precipitates the transition. Whether it is a fall, growing cognitive problems, a stroke, or whatever else that usually forces the living adjustment, Mr. Campbell recognizes that such desperate situations need not be the case. Accordingly, in the early chapters of the book, the author details many of the telltale signs and indicators that point to the necessity of an aging parent possibly needing some form of assistance or care. And, no doubt, if adult children of aging parents paid more attention to these warning signs, much of the stress and anxiety surrounding these difficult times might be alleviated. Wisely then, the author stresses the importance of proactively discussing long-term care needs with aging parents and planning for the inevitable before it becomes absolutely necessary. He also brings up multiple approaches for engaging in this difficult but necessary discourse, all in an effort to make the inevitable life changes as comfortable as possible for all involved. As adult children and aging parents eventually come to agree that some form of additional help is necessary with aging parents, the author outlines a five-step process to selecting the best senior housing and care option for one’s aging mom or dad. This includes assessing parents’ current and future care and assistance needs, identifying all senior housing and care options available in their area, conducting telephone surveys of senior housing/care options, conducting in-person interviews of the same, and making your final evaluation and decision.

An admirable counterpart and complement to WHEN MOM AND DAD NEED HELP can be found on author Mike Campbell’s website at http://www.iffenwen.com/. Here the adult child of aging parents can find free checklists to conduct telephone surveys, tours, and interviews of various senior housing and care options. These checklists are very powerful tools whether you are interested in home care, adult day services, assisted living, nursing care, or Alzheimer’s/dementia and hospice for your parents. As the website notes regarding these eighteen free checklists: “It’s like having your own personal long-term care expert assisting you through each step!” Mr. Campbell concludes his book with chapters about helping parents cope with their new environment and more regarding how essential planning ahead for aging parents can be. An informative section about long-term health care insurance can be found as well – with a subtitle, “Is it worth it?” Sooner or later, nearly everyone will find himself or herself in the situation of being either an aging parent, or an adult child of an aging parent. What Mr. Campbell has done with WHEN MOM AND DAD NEED HELP is to give us all a viable and exhaustive roadmap for successfully traversing these difficult and stressful times. My expectation is that this book will prove itself a valuable resource to more and more people in the years to come.

Thank you, Mr. Campbell, for the time and effort you expended in writing this book!

Posted by Mike Penney, author of "The Coming Tsunami" on 04/01/2012 at 8:25 AM at http://www.mikepenney.com/.

Note from Author Mike Campbell:

To help find the book, here are various links to purchase WHEN MOM AND DAD NEED HELP online in both print and Ebook format:

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/When-Mom-Dad-Need-Help/dp/0974298409/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274817836&sr=8-1

BarnesandNoble.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-mom-and-dad-need-help-michael-c-campbell/1100199574?ean=9780974298405&itm=1&USRI=when+mom+and+dad+need+help&

Kobo:  http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/When-Mom-Dad-Need-Help/book-TjavAs0ed0mhegpP3bdrig/page1.html

Author Mike Campbell to Appear on The Balancing Act on Lifetime TV

How to care for your aging parents is probably one of the most difficult and emotionally trying situations you'll face. And let’s face it. The responsibility typically falls on the woman’s shoulders. Would you like to learn how to make this process less stressful? Tune-in to The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television on Valentine's Day, February 14th at 7am ET/PT to find out MORE!!!! Senior care care expert Mike Campbell will give you tips on how to get yourself prepared and become the best care advocate for your parents.

Check out the Tune-in link to Mike's appearance on The Balancing Act here:
http://www.thebalancingact.com/video/?v=N96KESEVR03657

Mike Campbell is the author of the award winning book titled When Mom and Dad Need Help. The book is designed to help families cope with these difficult decisions by educating them about the process and providing them with a step-by-step plan. It provides the reader with an easy-to-navigate five-step process to help them find the long-term care option that best meets their aging parent’s needs by maximizing their independence, dignity and overall quality of life.

The book also contains a Free CD with a total of 18 different printable checklists to conduct telephone surveys, tours and interviews of all the various senior housing and care options. These checklists are valuable tools that help the reader gather all the vital information necessary to make their decision. You simply print out all the files for the type of option you’re interested in, whether it be independent living, home care, adult day services, assisted living, Alzheimer's/dementia care, nursing care, Continuing Care Retirement Communities, or hospice care. Everything is all laid out for you. Just use them as you would a grocery list. It lists the types of questions you need to ask during a telephone survey or interview, the things you need to look for during a tour…it's like having your own long-term care expert as your personal assistant. And best of all, the reasons why each of the answers to these questions are so important to your decision are explained in extraordinary detail within the book. It's an incredibly powerful tool!

The Balancing Act airs nationally on Lifetime Television Monday – Friday at 7a.m. ET/PT. For more information about the author and the book, go to www.iffenwen.com or contact Mike directly at mike@iffenwen.com.

"When Mom and Dad Need Help" wins 2010 ForeWord Reviews' Book of the Year Award

Traverse City, Michigan - June 25, 2011 - ForeWord Reviews is pleased to announce the winners of its 2010 Book of the Year Awards. http://www.bookoftheyearawards.com/winners/2010/

At a ceremony during the American Library Association Conference in New Orleans, the 215 Book of the Year winners in 60 categories were honored. These books, representing the best independently published books from 2010, were selected by a panel of librarian and bookseller judges.

"When Mom and Dad Need Help" won the "Silver Award" in the Family and Relationships category. http://www.bookoftheyearawards.com/winners/2010/category/family-and-relationships/

"I would like to thank ForeWord Reviews for this award. I am very humbled and honored to accept this prestigious award. I really believe in this book. I put a lot of time and effort into it and I believe it shows. It helps educate people about the long-term care process so they can not only find quality senior housing and care options for their parents but also help them plan for their own long-term care needs as well! All the critical acclaim I have received is great but the most important thing I want to happen is for people to get out there and educate themselves about the process now before their parents and loved ones need help! " - Mike Campbell

For more information on the book and where to buy it, go to http://www.iffenwen.com/

"When Mom and Dad Need Help" wins an IPPY Award!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Traverse City, Michigan – May 5, 2011 - Announcing the 15th annual Independent Publisher Book Awards, honoring the year’s best independently published titles, Iffenwen Publishing Company is pleased to announce that When Mom and Dad Need Help has won the Silver Medal in the Aging Category.

Click on the link below to see the official results of this year's awards, starting with the gold, silver and bronze medalists in 69 National categories, followed by the Regional categories and Outstanding Books of the Year. These 346 medal-winning books came from 45 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia, 7 Canadian provinces, and 7 countries overseas. The medalists were chosen from 3,907 total entries: 3,059 in the national categories and 848 in the regional categories. Judges found excellence in every category, and proclaim the quality, creativity, and originality of independent publishing to be better than ever. http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1442.

“I am very humbled and honored to have won the Silver Medal in the Aging category. I look forward to accepting my IPPY at the Independent Publisher Book Awards Ceremony on Monday, May 23rd in New York City, kicking off this year's BookExpo America convention. Congratulations to all the winners! I look forward to seeing you all in the Big Apple.” – Mike Campbell

ACCLAIM FOR WHEN MOM AND DAD NEED HELP

“Anyone and everyone close to an older family member should read this book. Reading through this book and discussing it together provides a simple, loving, and gentle way to begin planning the very best solution to senior care. The book presents information in an easy-to-understand way that always feels caring, encouraging, and hopeful. And for a book mainly intended to pass along straight facts and advice, it is an enjoyable read as well.” — Diane Gardner, ForeWord Reviews

“This is a much needed book that is well-written for the consumer. The telephone surveys, as well as the tour and interview checklists are excellent guidelines and tools.”
— Sister Roseann E. Kasayka Ph.D., MT-BC, DA

“For those caring for aging parents and loved ones, this book is a must read. With the multiple choices and complexities associated with senior care health care options, it is imperative that caregivers become educated consumers. This book is a comprehensive resource that will give you the education and information you need to become the best advocate for your loved one.”
— Lisa Fluhart, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator

“This is an excellent “how to” reference book on options for caring for a parent. I especially appreciated the suggested language on how to have those difficult conversations.”
— Elizabeth Ford Pitorak, MSN, CNS, FPCN

“This book provides excellent step-by-step instructions that can be followed down multiple pathways, which is exactly what is needed.”
— Carol Faytol, RN

WHERE CAN YOU BUY THE BOOK?

When Mom and Dad Need Help is available at a number of online websites including Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and the publishers website at http://www.iffenwen.com/buybook.html.
It can also be ordered directly from the publisher's distributor, Pathway Book Service: 4 White Brook Road, P.O. Box 89, Gilsum, NH 03448, Phone: 800-345-6665; or from your favorite Wholesaler or Distributor.

The Independent Publisher Book Awards were conceived in 1996 as a broad-based, unaffiliated awards program open to all members of the independent publishing industry. The awards are intended to bring increased recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent, university, and self-published titles produced each year, and reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing.

Mike Campbell has been an advisor to the senior housing and care industry for over 18 years. Campbell now wants to share the knowledge he’s gained over the years and become a dedicated consumer advocate for those families looking to find quality long-term care options for their loved ones by educating them and giving them a plan. For more on the author and how to order the book, go to http://www.iffenwen.com/. You can order the book toll-free at 1.800.345.6665. The book is also available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

"When Mom and Dad Need Help" is a Finalist in the ForeWord Reviews 2010 Book of the Year Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Traverse City, Michigan – March 14, 2011 - When Mom and Dad Need Help has been selected as a Finalist for the ForeWord Reviews' 2010 Book of the Year Awards in the Family and Relationships category. This is posted on the ForeWord Reviews' website at http://www.bookoftheyearawards.com/finalists/2010/category/family-and-relationships.

As an advisor and consultant to the senior housing and care industry for more than 18 years, Mike Campbell has witnessed both the best and worst of senior housing and care. With the release of his new book, When Mom and Dad Need Help, he shares and advises on what he’s learned in nearly two decades of research and experience. A consumer advocate for families looking for long-term care options for loved ones, Campbell gives the adult child the education and information necessary to become the best advocate for their loved ones. Campbell guides readers to uncover the senior housing and care option that best meets their parents’ needs; one that maximizes their independence and enhances the quality of everyone’s lives in the process. The book stands out from any other on the subject because it can be followed down multiple pathways depending on each person’s unique physical, mental and financial situation.

“We, as a nation, need to transition ourselves from a ‘Caregiver 911’ approach to a ‘Caregiver 101’ approach. It seems ‘the formula’ these days is to wait until we, or our parents, suffer some traumatic event, or ‘wake-up call’, that leaves us very little time to make some very important and gut-wrenching decisions. We all need to talk and educate ourselves about the process NOW before Mom and Dad need help! This is why I wrote this book. I want to help everyone prepare for what lies ahead” – Mike Campbell

WHERE CAN YOU ORDER THE BOOK?

When Mom and Dad Need Help is available at a number of online websites including Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and the publishers website at http://www.iffenwen.com/buybook.html.

It can also be ordered directly from the publisher's distributor, Pathway Book Service: 4 White Brook Road, P.O. Box 89, Gilsum, NH 03448, Phone: 800-345-6665; or from your favorite Wholesaler or Distributor.

ForeWord Reviews' Book of the Year Awards program was established to help publishers shine an additional spotlight on their best titles and bring increased attention to librarians and booksellers of the literary and graphic achievements of independent publishers and their authors. Award winners are chosen from real librarians and booksellers, who are on the front lines everyday working with patrons and customers. ForeWord is the only review trade journal devoted exclusively to books from independent houses.

Mike Campbell has been an advisor to the senior housing and care industry for over 18 years. Campbell now wants to share the knowledge he’s gained over the years and become a dedicated consumer advocate for those families looking to find quality long-term care options for their loved ones by educating them and giving them a plan. For more on the author and how to order the book, go to http://www.iffenwen.com/. You can order the book toll-free at 1.800.345.6665. The book is also available on Amazon.com.

28 Home Remodeling Tips to Make Your Home More Senior Friendly!

Even as a young girl who had just awakened from a crazy dream, Dorothy of The Wizard of Oz knew - “There’s no place like home.” Our homes are where we find warmth, security and the comfort of familiar surroundings. While today’s seniors are fortunate to have so many housing and care options available to them, for some, nothing will ever equal living in the home they've been living in for many years. While senior communities and assisted living facilities are perfect choices for some seniors, other prefer to remain in their own homes when facing the challenges of aging and illness. The problem with the latter being a viable option is that, in many cases, people are not able to stay in their homes because they are physically unsupportive environments that lack the necessary design features to ensure safety and accessibility.

It is for this reason, that many baby boomers and beyond are beginning to plan and incorporate various home modifications into their homes. Many are making modifications to their homes so that as they grow older, it will allow them to function independently and safely in their homes for a longer period of time. How well and long you live in your current home will really depend on how well you adapt and remodel it now.

"The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings." ~ K. Okakaura

When you start to consider a home modification plan, there are three main areas of improvement you should consider to make your home a safer environment: (i) Safety, (ii) Lighting, and (iii) Accessibility.

Safety Modifications

By far, the biggest concern for seniors is falling down. Nine out of ten broken hips are the result of falls; therefore, implementing safety and prevention measures are a must. After all, a broken hip usually buys you a first-class ticket to the nursing home which results in the immediate loss of your independence. Modifications made to prevent falls are easy and probably the most important ones you can make. Some of these are listed below.

1. Replace all bathroom tubs with shower stalls complete with molded or pull-down seats because nothing is more dangerous than trying to get in and out of a slippery tub. The shower stall floor should incorporate non-skid strips or slip-resistant tiles for fall prevention;
2. Install grab bars in the shower stalls; you may even consider a floor-to-ceiling safety pole in the shower stall for additional safety and ease of use;
3. Install hand-held showerhead;
4. Install grab bars around all toilet areas;
5. Install raised toilet seats making it easier for an aging adult to get on and off the toilet;
6. Install handrails on both sides of the stairs for better support;
7. Consider installing floor-to-ceiling support poles near beds, favorite chairs and toilets to help ease transfer on and off;
8. Replace carpeting and tile flooring with non-slip/skid type flooring. They should be tight and firm to walk on, helping to prevent falls and providing ing an easy walking environment;
9. Install non-skid rubber strips on the edge of stairs to help prevent falls, Carpet-free stairs are typically safer;
10. If possible, eliminate all stairs from your home’s design;
11. Install anti-scald devices on faucets and showerheads;
12. Review accessibility of electrical outlets to reduce the need for dangerous extension cords.

Lighting Modifications

As we get older, we need two to three times more light than we needed when we were younger. Proper lighting and visibility is also an important safety measure as well to help prevent falls. Here are some ideas to help improve lighting and visibility in your home:

1. Review your home’s lighting to make sure you have sufficient, even lighting throughout and add additional lighting, if needed;
2. Review and assess the placement of all of your light switches. Make sure light switches are located close to room entrances and at the top and bottom of stairways;
3. Install lighted switch plates so you’ll always be able to easily locate the switch at night;
4. Install lights inside closets and cabinets;
5. Install under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen;
6. Install motion-sensor exterior lighting;
7. Make sure you use high watt light bulbs in stairways and other hazardous areas;
8. Consider installing design features that increase the amount of natural light in your home. Research has proven that daily exposure to natural light can support and nurture a person’s health and well-being. This can be accomplished by adding a skylight, more windows, or maybe converting one of your first floor rooms into a sun room?

Accessibility Modifications

These are design considerations that will help improve accessibility and make your home easier to live in as you age in place.

1. Locate countertops, cabinets and shelving to lower heights for easier access. As we grow older, these lower levels willth make things easier to reach as our mobility, balance, reach and range of motion declines;
2. Convert kitchen cabinets into drawers to hold pots and pans for easier access;
3. Replace door knobs with lever handles. As we age, it is much easier to operate a lever than a door knob;
4. Install lever-handle faucets in kitchen and bathrooms;
5. Locate windows at lower levels so you can see the ground from a couch, chair or bed. Why not enjoy the view of the outdoors while seated?
6. Consider increasing door opening sizes from the basic 29 to 30 inches to as much as 36 to 42 inches to allow a wheelchair to freely navigate the home. The installation of pocket doors to replace regular doors may give you the width you desire;
7. Install a permanent or portable wheelchair ramp;
8. Install a stair chair lift.

While the following are just a few ideas and modifications that can help you remain independent and in your home for a longer period of time, there are so many others that will be specific to your home and needs. Once you have begun your plan you should contact a home modification specialist who can give you many more aesthetic and functional ideas to accommodate your person needs.

Mike Campbell is the author of a new book called "When Mom and Dad Need Help" (May 2010) which helps the adult child work together with the aging parent to begin planning the very best solution to senior care. Mike has been an advisor to the senior housing and care industry for over 18 years. Campbell now wants to share the knowledge he’s gained over the years and become a dedicated consumer advocate for those families looking to find quality long-term care options for their loved ones by educating them and giving them a plan. For more on the author and how to order the book, go to http://www.iffenwen.com/. You can order the book toll-free at 1.800.345.6665. The book is also available on Amazon.com.