2004 Media Releases & Alerts
National Center for Seniors' Housing Research Opens LifeWise Home to
Commemorate National Aging in Place Week
November 9, 2004, Upper Marlboro, Md. - To kick-off national Aging in
Place (AIP) Week in the Washington, D.C. area, the NAHB Research Center's
National Center for Seniors' Housing Research, in collaboration with Rebuilding
Together, opened its LifeWise Home in Bowie, Md. on November 6, 2004. The
LifeWise Home is designed with features and technologies that support aging in
place, allowing residents to live more comfortably, safely, and independently
in their home regardless of age or physical ability.
Open house attendees were very impressed with the examples of universal design
and other accessibility-related features, such as the location of the main
living areas, accessible bathroom, and master suite on the first floor; an
upstairs suite for a live-in caregiver or boomerang child; a raised dishwasher;
a front-loading washer and dryer; and a zero-level entryway.Attendees included
Rebuilding Together affiliates from Washington D.C., and Anne Arundel, Howard,
Prince George's and Montgomery counties.
"Rebuilding Together was delighted to co-host a reception with the NAHB Research
Center at the LifeWise Home. Eighty-nine percent of elderly adults want to age
in place and projects like the LifeWise Home will enable the elderly to live
independently and with safety and security," said John White, vice president of
programs at Rebuilding Together.
Charlotte Wade, director of the National Center for Seniors' Housing Research,
said, "We are very pleased to have Rebuilding Together affiliates join us to
view the features of the LifeWise Home that can help residents age in place
with greater safety and independence. We invite others who are interested to
join one of our regularly scheduled tours."
During National Aging in Place Week, which is spearheaded by the National
Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA), activities will be held in 30
cities to draw attention to the desire of older people to age in place just
before families gather for the holidays. Currently, events such as the LifeWise
Home open house are scheduled in the major metropolitan areas such as Danvers,
Mass.; Seattle; Buffalo, N.Y.; and Charleston, S.C.
To obtain information on National Aging in Place Week, contact Peter Bell,
president of NRMLA, at (202) 939-1741 or pbell@dworbell.com.
11/04
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