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What if the difference between a peaceful transition and a family meltdown is six months of honest planning? We sit down with occupational therapist and certified hand therapist Christy Heyer, founder of Comfortable Aging Solutions, to map a clear path to aging at home with safety, dignity, and less drama. Christy’s story is gripping: at 42 she survived a spontaneous coronary artery dissection, flatlined for two and a half minutes, and saw firsthand the cracks in a complex healthcare system. That experience fuels her mission to help families plan before the fall, the stroke, or the discharge date forces rushed, costly decisions.

We get practical fast. Christy breaks down home safety with a clinician’s eye: textured grab bars placed for the actual user, sliding transfer benches that beat fancy remodels, and decluttering as the first intervention. She explains why elder law attorneys—not generalists—are essential, how to think about trusts and powers of attorney, and what Medicare and long-term care insurance really don’t cover. We talk numbers, trade-offs, and how to name roles so meds, money, meals, and transportation don’t fall through the cracks.

Technology takes center stage with smart, approachable upgrades: voice assistants for lights and reminders, non-camera sensors for fall awareness, and future-ready homes designed for access, not just aesthetics. We also face the human truths—ageism, guilt, caregiver burnout, and the reality that old family patterns often get “more so” with time. Christy offers boundary-setting tactics, micro-break ideas that actually happen, and a reminder to bake joy into every day, whether that’s a 2 pm cookie ritual or a hobby that makes you light up.

If you want a plan that respects your values and protects your relationships, this conversation is your starting point. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more families find a calmer, safer way to age at home.

Thanks for listening!

Sign up to our Homeowners Newsletter - it's a weekly newsletter filled with expert tips and advice on how to age safely and more comfortably in your own home.

If you provide services for modifying homes for disabled or seniors aging in place, sign up to our directory and expand your business.

Got a comment or idea? Send us a text.

Ever wish your home could flex with real life—injuries, illness, toddlers, workouts, flu season, or just wanting to stay put without sacrificing style? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with accessibility consultant and realtor Jackie Haddon, whose rare mix of SRES, CAPS, universal design expertise, and clinical social work reframes the whole “aging in place” debate. We dig into the words that shut people down, the stories that change minds, and the practical fixes that quietly prevent falls, cut future costs, and keep dignity front and center.

Jackie shares the deeply personal ALS story that pulled her from running a mental health agency into housing advocacy, design, and certification. We unpack what really derails independence—one-inch thresholds, tight bathrooms, misplaced outlets—and how caregiver-informed planning avoids expensive do-overs. For builders and remodelers, Jackie offers a powerful shift: it’s not upselling, it’s stewardship. If a client’s goal is staying 20 years, ethics and economics both say “design for it now.” For realtors, we talk about making accessibility discoverable in the MLS with standardized features and clear definitions so families can finally search for what they need.

We also look ahead: ADUs as elegant downsizing options, multigenerational housing as a rising norm, and policy incentives pushing Type A accessibility beyond ADA. Jackie’s standout example is a luxury multigenerational home that hides accessibility in plain sight—artful grab bars, generous wet rooms, beautiful finishes—proving safety can be stunning. Whether you’re a homeowner, contractor, designer, or part of the sandwich generation, you’ll leave with practical language, smarter checklists, and a new lens: universal design isn’t about age, it’s about being human.

If this resonated, share it with someone planning a remodel, subscribe for more human-centered housing insights, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Thanks for listening!

Sign up to our Homeowners Newsletter - it's a weekly newsletter filled with expert tips and advice on how to age safely and more comfortably in your own home.

If you provide services for modifying homes for disabled or seniors aging in place, sign up to our directory and expand your business.

Got a comment or idea? Send us a text.

A spare bedroom can change a life. We sit down with Co‑Life Seniors founder Derek Snook to explore how live‑in companions help older adults stay independent, connected, and safe at home—without the crushing costs of assisted living or round‑the‑clock agency care. The story starts with Derek’s unconventional path—from a homeless mission to day‑labor reform and a global road trip—and lands on a clear idea: simple, human relationships can solve problems that money alone cannot.

Together we dig into the nuts and bolts of intergenerational home sharing. How do you define tasks and boundaries? Who’s the right match for a senior who wants light help versus someone who needs cooking, cleaning, and rides? Derek explains the screening process, background checks, and family interviews that shape each placement, plus how owner‑occupied rules let seniors choose preferences that fit their comfort and culture. We also talk contracts, notice periods, and why flexibility beats rigid lock‑ins when real life changes.

Beyond logistics, this conversation tackles the bigger picture of aging in place. With care costs soaring, families need practical options that honor dignity and daily rhythms. A good companion becomes eyes and ears in the home—someone who notices a missed morning routine, offers a ride, or simply shares a meal. We also touch on partnerships with aging‑in‑place consultants, financial planners, and healthcare professionals to build a support network that grows with changing needs. If you’re weighing ways to keep a parent—or yourself—rooted at home, this is a grounded, hopeful blueprint for making it work.

If this conversation helped you think differently about aging, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe for more practical strategies and real stories.

Thanks for listening!

Sign up to our Homeowners Newsletter - it's a weekly newsletter filled with expert tips and advice on how to age safely and more comfortably in your own home.

If you provide services for modifying homes for disabled or seniors aging in place, sign up to our directory and expand your business.

Got a comment or idea? Send us a text.

We share a practical roadmap to choose an aging in place contractor who puts safety, independence, and dignity first. From defining goals to reading reviews and writing airtight contracts, we give a clear plan to hire with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.

• why traditional contractors miss accessibility needs
• defining a clear safety goal before design
• what CAPS and other credentials actually mean
• interview questions that reveal real expertise
• comparing bids for approach, not just price
• how to read reviews for patterns and respect
• red flags like upfront payment and vague contracts
• what to include in scope, schedule, and warranties
• why OTs and designers strengthen outcomes
• how our directory helps you start fast

Please share this episode with someone you care about who may benefit from the information I just shared
If you haven't already, please check out our website at Aging in PlaceDirectory.com, which is full of helpful tools and trusted professionals who support Aging in Place
Also check out our sister website at seniorsafetyadvice.com where you'll find more resources for seniors and caregivers

Thanks for listening!

Sign up to our Homeowners Newsletter - it's a weekly newsletter filled with expert tips and advice on how to age safely and more comfortably in your own home.

If you provide services for modifying homes for disabled or seniors aging in place, sign up to our directory and expand your business.

Got a comment or idea? Send us a text.

We make the case that falls often start with the floor and show how better surfaces cut risk without making a home feel clinical. From carpet and LVP to cork, rubber, and safer hardwood finishes, we share the best picks and the simple fixes that matter now.

• why flooring choices drive fall risk
• low pile carpet and carpet tiles for traction
• LVP with matte, textured finishes to reduce glare and slips
• cork’s cushioning benefits and sealing requirements
• rubber flooring for high-risk utility areas
• making hardwood safer with matte finishes and no wax
• surfaces to avoid such as glossy laminate, loose rugs, and tile in living areas
• quick wins including non-slip pads, taped edges, better lighting, decluttering, and color contrast

Please share this episode with someone you care about who might benefit from the information I just shared
Please check out our website at AgingInPlace Directory.com
Additionally, you'll find more resources for seniors and caregivers on our sister website at seniorsafetyadvice.com
Come back tomorrow for another daily moments of guidance and encouragement right here on the Aging in Place Directory podcast

Thanks for listening!

Sign up to our Homeowners Newsletter - it's a weekly newsletter filled with expert tips and advice on how to age safely and more comfortably in your own home.

If you provide services for modifying homes for disabled or seniors aging in place, sign up to our directory and expand your business.

Got a comment or idea? Send us a text.

What if the most meaningful years aren’t behind you—but waiting for you to design them? We sit down with nationally recognized therapist and author Faust Ruggiero to reframe retirement from a vague “end” into a focused, energizing next chapter. Instead of chasing a perfect plan, we explore how tiny, consistent actions—moving daily, learning a skill, joining a group—unlock purpose, community, and confidence.

Faust shares a clear framework: pair one steady long-term goal with a few short-term goals, each backed by concrete action steps. That grid keeps you moving without overwhelm and aligns with how the brain actually changes: repetition over time. We dig into “I over E”—intellect over emotion—to help you pause, think, and respond rather than react. You’ll hear how teaching what you know accelerates your own growth, why comparison is a trap, and how giving back restores a powerful sense of being needed.

We get practical about the pillars that make everything else possible: exercise you’ll stick to, consistent sleep, simple nutrition, and a daily schedule that respects your energy. We also talk about tech and AI from a senior vantage point—why you don’t need to “keep up” to be valuable, and how your lived experience creates a niche younger generations can’t fill. From turning a yoga habit into a class to building a second career around your hard-won skills, this conversation offers concrete steps to make the next decade the most intentional one yet.

If this resonates, subscribe for more grounded strategies on purpose, health, and aging well. Share the episode with someone planning retirement, and leave a review to tell us the one small step you’ll take this week.

Thanks for listening!

Sign up to our Homeowners Newsletter - it's a weekly newsletter filled with expert tips and advice on how to age safely and more comfortably in your own home.

If you provide services for modifying homes for disabled or seniors aging in place, sign up to our directory and expand your business.

Got a comment or idea? Send us a text.

Emergencies rarely announce themselves, and when you live alone, those first few minutes can set the tone for everything that follows. We walk through a practical, step-by-step approach to staying safe at home—without sacrificing independence. From a simple one-page plan to realistic gear and smart routines, you’ll learn how to feel calm, prepared, and in control when the unexpected hits.

Thanks for listening!

Sign up to our Homeowners Newsletter - it's a weekly newsletter filled with expert tips and advice on how to age safely and more comfortably in your own home.

If you provide services for modifying homes for disabled or seniors aging in place, sign up to our directory and expand your business.

Got a comment or idea? Send us a text.

A safer home shouldn’t look clinical, and it shouldn’t wait until after a fall. We invited Rick Thaxton and Dennis Lippy of Accessible Living Atlanta to share how they build beautiful, practical spaces that protect independence at any age, and why designing for caregivers is just as critical as designing for the person receiving care. From modern grab bars that blend into your bathroom to ceiling lifts that prevent back injuries, we walk through the upgrades that matter most and the small, low-cost steps that deliver outsized safety: better lighting, continuous handrails, decluttering, and zero-entry showers placed and sized for real bodies and real routines.

We also dig into the logistics families face. Zoning and ADUs for multigenerational homes, vertical platform lifts when ramps won’t fit, stacked closets that future-proof townhomes for elevators, and the funding landscape that too often surprises people, because Medicare doesn’t pay for home modifications. Rick and Dennis share how to tap VA benefits, state Medicaid waivers, and condition-specific grants, plus why it pays to involve an occupational therapist to align body mechanics with the built environment. The takeaway is clear: plan early, personalize to the home and the person, and build with aesthetics in mind so accessibility boosts resale instead of harming it.

Technology helps but isn’t a silver bullet, especially for bathroom falls, so layering solutions is key: non-slip surfaces, reachable controls, motion lighting, and thoughtful layouts that minimize transfers. Whether you’re supporting a parent, living with a progressive condition, or simply want a future-ready space, this conversation offers a practical roadmap to safer, smarter living. If this episode sparks ideas, share it with a friend, subscribe for more expert conversations, and leave a review to tell us which home upgrade you’ll tackle first.

Thanks for listening!

Sign up to our Homeowners Newsletter - it's a weekly newsletter filled with expert tips and advice on how to age safely and more comfortably in your own home.

If you provide services for modifying homes for disabled or seniors aging in place, sign up to our directory and expand your business.