Builder News Demand for Home Health Technology on the Rise NAHB | Builders and remodelers should expect a rise in demand for home health technology as more and more boomers retire. According to AARP, the majority of adult children (88%) and older adults (75%) spend time thinking about [parental] aging, and what that may mean for the family. However, 75% of adult children and 69% of aging parents are specifically concerned about the their ability to live independently as they get older. Home health technology — digital and electronic systems that allow individuals access to monitor various aspects of their health at home — give older Americans the freedom to live at home on their own longer than they’d be able to otherwise. Often one of the biggest client concerns are those of older children interested in health technology that will keep their parents safe in the home. The possibility of a life-threatening physical injury occurring when no one is around is a big motivator for the installation of home health technology integration systems. Many adult children, especially those who live remotely, want to be able to actively monitor their parents to make sure that they are okay. Home design that incorporates health tech features that allow them to do so is likely to become a significant ongoing trend in the housing industry. Among older adults for whom health ailments aren’t yet a great concern, there is often a desire to stay fit, which also opens up new opportunities in home technology. State-of-the-art exercise rooms, yoga studios and saunas complete with sophisticated sound systems and large touch-screen monitors that offer ample space and natural light for an afternoon or morning workout are attractive features for older buyers. Another fast-growing tech area for the 55+ crowd: gaming. Motion-sensitive gaming systems, like the Wii and Playstation Move, allow older individuals to stay active with fun, low-impact exercises year-round, like bowling and golf. And according to NAHB’s most recent What Home Buyers Really Want report, one-third of home buyers age 55+ desire a dedicated game room in their home. Many home owners are increasingly seeking out aging-in-place specialists to help them come up with design ideas that will accommodate special needs—whether for now or in the future. NAHB offers a Certified-Aging-in-Place designation, which can help builders and remodelers hone their expertise in this fast-growing segment of the industry. 12 | HBRA of Fairfield County | January 2016
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