Aging in Place + Modular Housing

As a speaker, one of the most fulfilling moments is to look at your audience and see it all come together on their faces - when the AHA moment comes into focus and you know you’ve helped someone see the big picture. As a professional in the healthcare and housing industry for over 30 years, I use my passion for helping people stay in their homes independently and safely for as long as possible - or better known as Aging in Place (AIP) to create that moment. 

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of presenting at the Midwest Boot Camp in Indiana for Gary Fleisher. Gary warned me ahead of time that AIP isn’t a hot topic in Indiana or with the modular community as a whole. My reply to Gary was pretty direct. I said “either the room will have people throwing paper clips at each other to pass the time OR I will see to it that a few will have an AHA moment when listening to my talk. And Gary, I’m rooting for the latter”

I believe I accomplished the latter. To recap that AHA moment, age-friendly homes are the next big thing for your business and here’s why:

Universal Design - What everyone is and isn’t talking about

We have an entire nation talking about HOW to keep people living at home for as long as possible, but not talking about the actual home itself and HOME DESIGN. 

AIP has three main components:

? Home Design

? In-Home Services

? Products and Technology

The modular industry has an opportunity to capitalize on the home design aspect of AIP. Everyone is talking about what is happening INSIDE the house for AIP, but not talking about the actual house itself. To me, the house is the starting point and that point starts with Universal Design (UD). 

Age-Friendly Homes Have Real Value Across the Board

If I told you that I have a house that will sell to a 30-year-old, a 50-year-old and a 75-year-old couple all having the same interest in this one house, would you build it? Would you see it as a solution across the board for multiple generations? Would it be marketable to you? The answer is YES! Creating a bigger target market for one house by implementing AIP and UD is what will give your business the edge it needs over the competition. More often than not, people will move into an age-friendly home than into a commercial community.

People Want Information 

We have an entire nation looking for education and support on how to move into another stage in their life with certainty and that all starts with where they are living. Moving into a house that is ‘age-friendly’ from the start is key and will only become more marketable with the recent start of the ‘Silver Tsunami’. Your company has the potential to be that source of information for buyers ranging from 30 years old to 70 years old. 

What Now? 

I went to the Midwest Bootcamp only knowing Gary and Ken Semler, but left knowing more great people and having the satisfaction that I gave more than a few people an AHA moment. You’ve been introduced to Aging in Place and now you are ready to take the next steps, but how? Aging in Place is my wheelhouse and I can help take your AHA moment to launching your business into becoming the leading resource for age-friendly housing and developments.

So, I have one question for you: Are YOU, Modular Home Industry, ready to take the lead as the nation’s solution provider? If your answer is YES, then contact me today to get started. 

Valerie Jurik-Henry is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), professional speaker, consultant, author and entrepreneur specializing in providing aging in place solutions for home manufacturers, builders, design/build companies, senior living communities/residential housing developments, design companies and in-home care providers. 

*Phone (919) 599-6940  *[email protected]