Livable Lifestyles Home
“Meeting Your Needs of Tomorrow, Today”
Roger L. Myers
President & CEO
Presbyterian Villages
of
Did you know that approximately 70% of seniors will spend the rest
of their lives in the place where they celebrate their 65th
birthday? Like most people, seniors want to
remain in their own homes and communities. With this statistic in mind, AARP of
Michigan,
The Livable Lifestyles Home features an environment that addresses the accessibility, safety and comfort of its residents by integrating the adaptable and accessible elements of a universal design with enabling technologies. Features that have been built into this home are: no-step entrances, lever-style door knobs, adjustable closet rods, stairway and floor contrast lighting, rocker light switches, non-skid flooring, handrails on both sides of the stairs, handheld shower heads and mixed height counter tops. In additions to these features, the bathroom walls have been reinforced to support the possible additions of grab bars; the stairway walls have been reinforced and additional power is in place to support the possible future addition of a stair-chair, and the entire home has been pre-wired with low voltage cable in anticipation of future technologies. The home also features U.S. EPA Energy Star Certification and a Closed Circuit TV system which allows the owner to see who is at the front door through the television.
It is the mission of AARP of Michigan, POM and PVM to anticipate the needs of the growing older adult population and to help people remain healthy, safe and content in their own home and community. According to a survey conducted by AARP of Michigan, “a majority of participants feel their homes are comfortable and safe; many believe they will need to make modifications for their homes to be suitable in ten to twenty years,” otherwise, the participants believed they would have to move due to old age, limited mobility, the need for assistance and difficulty with using stairs. Upon entering the home, visitors will find a home that is attractive, marketable, achievable, person oriented and affordable.
PVM’s collaboration with AARP and POM to build the Livable Lifestyles Home is consistent with the direction we are pursuing as an organization. Though we generally serve older adults through our 19 senior living communities, expanding our role into the greater community is strongly consistent with our mission, ‘to create new possibilities for quality senior living…’”
The Livable Lifestyles Home is part of the Signature Ridge development, which is located directly on the 15th or “signature” fairway designed by Jack Nicklaus on the Bear Golf Course at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.
If you would like to visit the Livable Lifestyles Home, please contact Sally Erickson at 231-947-0701, or for more information about PVM, log on at www.pvm.org.
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