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Friday, July 14, 2023 • B3
THE GARDEN ISLAND
Getting older? Make your home work for you grab bar are all ADA-compliant to help you create an ac“Aging in place” (aka indecessible space without compromising design or pendent living) is the phefunctionality. You can also nomena of older adults pair this trim kit with the remaining in their homes as brand-new accessories they age, rather than relowithin the Precept Bath Colcating or moving into an institutional setting. In fact, lection for a coordinated, about 75 percent of 50-plus unified look. year olds would like to stay Other easy home aging-inin their current homes or place modifications could communities for as long as be eliminating hard-to-reach possible, compared with areas like high or low cabiabout half of 18- to 49-yearnets. Instead, opt for darker olds, according to AARP. hued drawers right under With age, lifestyle needs your countertop; this way change and if staying in they’re more accessible and your home is important to can easily match almost any you, you may have conkitchen décor. Need additional aging-incerns about getting around ADA-compliant and place thoughtful kitchen inyour home or getting simple stylish installations tasks done, including perspiration? Introduce a Aging-in-place updates mobile, adjustable kitchen sonal care. Whether you’re don’t always have to look island with lots of storage to a future caregiver or a care BRANDPOINT and feel dull. You can make avoid excess meal prepping recipient, find suggestions simple tweaks to make any and standing time. below that can help with Remodel your bath space the easy, affordable way and fit it with the all-new Prespace look presentable and If aging in place is the some of these worries along cept ADA Tub & Shower with Hand Shower by Peerless. elegant. path forward, it’s important with easy ideas to ensure An easy place to start im- to realize there’s more to it you have a functional home. If you’re a caregiver, it can door levers over doorknobs, to the hefty price tag, but than just staying put. Like prove helpful to be proaclight switches with a rocker what many don’t realize is plementing these tweaks is Plan ahead every stage in life, it’s impanel versus a toggle that some at-home elecin the bathroom! Remodel tive. While these may be As you prepare to make your bath space the easy, af- portant to ensure that plans daunting conversations, it’s switch, or even awning-style tronic aids are covered by this big life step, take the windows to make them eas- Medicare. Other available important to have them are thought through, even fordable way and fit it with time to sit down and think with a doctor and discuss resources you can contact if the all-new Precept ADA for the future. When thinkier to open and close. Makabout the types of help you, best practices for living in in need of home modificaTub & Shower with Hand ing subtle changes like ing through ways to create a a partner or a care recipient your home long-term. Shower by Peerless. Dethese can have long-term safer and age-friendly home tions or low-cost assistive may need. Everyone’s situaAnother way to plan impacts on your comdevices include Administra- signed for all, this sleek and environment, take advanahead is to create an atmodern shower trim kit as- tage of resources available tion is different, so it’s imfortability and ability to stay tion for Community Living, home checklist of simple de- put. The National Rehabilitation sures everyone has a safe, to you and prioritize updatportant to take the Information Center and necessary steps now to comfortable showering exsign updates that’ll allow a ing rooms you utilize the AARP. avoid future issues. safe, independent living ex- Tap resources most. Focus on the basics perience. It also comes in available to you If you wish to revamp One way to plan ahead is perience. and create a well-coordithree different finishes your space with stylish to talk to a doctor. Often(Chrome, Matte Black and If one is already having The easiest way to idennated and accessible space home furnishings that allow Brushed Nickel) to fit altrouble moving around the with fixtures that don’t comtimes, there may be medical tify what to change is to conditions that could affect walk around the house and house, it may be time to out- for aging in place, having a most any bath space and promise on aesthetics or consultation with an experi- design. Its 5-inch tub spout, functionality. or complicate the way one take note of anything that source assistance. ages in place or even hinder could pose a challenge in ••• Some people avoid elecenced local home designer, handle operations, hand mobility around the house. the near future. Consider shower, hose and 24-inch Courtesy of Peerless Faucet or Certified Aging in Place tric scooters or chairs due Specialist (CAPS), is your best bet! These professionals are trained in meeting the needs of older adults by assisting with aging-in-place home renovations. Whether you need pocket doors to help with mobility between rooms, wider hallways for wheelchairs, or even a single-story house plan with a complete second suite, these designers can help update a home to adapt to a family — instead of a family adapting to a new home. Resources you can contact for this include Accessible Living, Paul Schumacher Homes and even Care.com.
BRANDPOINT
Average long-term mortgage rate surged to nearly 7 percent ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to just under 7 percent, the highest level since November 2022 and the latest setback for homebuyers already grappling with a tough housing market constrained by a dearth of homes for sale. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan rose to 6.96 percent from 6.81 percent last week. A year ago, the rate averaged 5.51 percent. It’s the third consecutive week of higher rates, lifting the average rate to its highest level since it surged to 7.08 percent in early November. High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already unaffordable to many Americans. The latest increase in rates follows a recent sharp upward move in the 10-year Treasury yield, which climbed above 4 percent last week for the first time since early March. The yield, which lenders used to price rates on mortgages and other loans, was down to 3.80 percent in midday trading Thursday following new data pointing to cooler inflation, which led bond traders to trim bets for more rate hikes by the Federal Reserve later this year. On Wednesday, the U.S. government reported that inflation at the consumer level rose 3 percent in June from a year earlier, marking its lowest point since early 2021, though it remains above the Fed’s 2 percent target.
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