The Tub King Blog - Tub Talk: Assisted living

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The Hottest Demographic in Building - the 50+ Market

Soon to take over the world.......

I have the great pleasure of working as a Sales & Marketing Manager for Tub King, our showroom located in Jacksonville, FL, and through this role have met amazing and inspiring seniors. In many cases I’m also communicating with adult children of seniors who are concerned with their parent’s comfort and safety while bathing. Being an empathetic creature I oftentimes internalize their frustration of having to venture down the road of demolition and the remodel of their homes with little to no idea of how to do it, when to do it, nor what to buy.

Based on my own personal experience with this growing segment of the population, and being a person who requires data before making a decision, I went on an internet research expedition. The statistics I’m about to share with you are eye opening if you are in a business which provides products or services to the senior population.

Today one in three Americans is now 50 or older and in 2030 individuals aged over 65 will climb to about 72.1 million, or one in five Americans. (Source: Admininistration on Aging).
What will that look like in 2050? The senior population will soar to 88.5 million — or 20 percent of the population. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010

How do these facts impact home and community building contractors currently? A survey conducted by AARP of 1,616 adults ages 45 and older found that fewer than half of the respondents have an entrance without steps, a half-bath on the main level of their home, doorways that are wider than standard door, nor handles that are levers instead of knobs.

AARP shares, “The great majority of older adults have a strong desire to live in their own homes and communities. However, unsupportive community design, unaffordable and inaccessible housing, and a lack of access to needed services can thwart this desire.” Unless there are vital changes in how houses and communities are constructed and what services are offered, many older adults will find it increasingly difficult to live in their communities and may be compelled to consider institutional care.

“Nearly 90% of people over age 65 indicate they want to stay in their home as long as possible, and four of five in that age bracket believe their current home is where they will always live,” says AARP, which stressed the importance of accessible building standards to allow people to remain in their homes instead of having to spend money on relocating or retrofitting. “It might be a good idea to design houses and communities that are accessible to all people, including older Americans and those with disabilities, and some states encourage developers of affordable housing to install features that make it easier for older adults to age in place”, says AARP. Examples of this include: wider accessible entrance doors; entry-level hallways that are wide enough for mobility devices; ramped or beveled door thresholds; and accessible bathrooms focused on safety.

I implore contractors, builders, remodelers, architects, and designers nationwide to think forward and be proactive when it comes to what is 'future forward' when selecting bathtubs for seniors. Consider, not only what the client wants now, but what they will appreciate having incorporated into their home for use in the future. Sure, go ahead and put an exquisite Tub King cast iron clawfoot tub in their master bathroom but also think ahead to the time they or their 'aging in place' parent may need the comfort and independence provided by a Tub King walk-in bathtub installed in one of the guest bathrooms.

Seaspray Model 202 Walk-in Bathtub

Kudos to the National Association of Home Builders who have instituted a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) program to address these needs in the building industry. The CAPS designation offers your potential clients what they need most: reassurance that you’ll help them make the choices that will help them stay in their homes safely and securely. I am actually considering becoming certified myself!

If you are considering implementing this strategy in to your new home building or renovation project, please contact our Sales & Marketing Manager, Edie, at (800) 409-3375 for contractor pricing on walk-in bathtubs for elderly and disabled persons.

Becoming Your Parents Parents

Courtesy of wheelsandfeet.wordpress.com

by Alan Knight

Watching a loved one deteriorate, whether it is physically, mentally or both, is a very difficult process. You have wonderful memories of your parents in their prime at family dinners and outings, giving of themselves and creating memories that last a lifetime. They raised their families and worked hard to provide for their loved ones. They were war veterans, entrepreneurs, musicians, doctors, teachers, and so much more. They made major contributions to society with their work ethic and love for their family. It was difficult to imagine they would ever grow old. For that matter, you probably thought you would be young forever and always have the comfort of knowing you would always have that shoulder to lean on.

Now the roles have reversed. You are seeing changes in your parents that make you worry and even occasionally step up to take a little more control of their lives. They don’t want to feel like a burden, so it becomes a sensitive issue. It’s a fact that people are living much longer than they did in the past. However, it’s also difficult for most people to ask for help when they need it most. Admitting they need help represents a loss of independence. This can lead to denial. Denial is the unrealistic hope that a problem is not really happening and will go away by itself. “Denial plays a major role and signs get ignored,” says Paul Hogan, Founder and Chairman of Home Instead Senior Care.

Image courtesy of caregiveraction.org

The process of becoming the caregiver can become overwhelming, both financially and emotionally. Whether you are prepared for this task or not, you will be faced with making some major decisions associated with their care. Most of us would prefer to allow our loved ones to stay in the comfort of their homes and studies show that 80 to 90 percent of elderly people prefer to stay at home as long as possible. You can be an integral part of giving your parents the independence they need while having some input to ensure they are safe and secure.

MAKING FOOD PREP EASY AND SAFE

As our loved ones age, preparing food can be a potentially dangerous task. Gas burners and ovens can be left on, shaky hands can lead to cuts and burns, water can be left running and so on. Under normal circumstances, accidents do happen in the kitchen. Did you know that home fires started by cooking equipment kill about 480 people a year? Much of that is preventable since it’s often due to leaving cooking equipment unattended. As our loved ones age, they become more forgetful and the likelihood of these accidents increases, which is exactly what we are trying to help them avoid.

Eating healthy is an essential part of keeping our bodies and minds in top form and to guard against illness. As people age, they often tend to choose easier methods to cook meals and that may often mean eating more canned food and frozen dinners that have little nutritional value. As I already mentioned, accidents can occur if they are trying to do too much food preparation.

A great option is home food delivery. There are a number of delivery services that can deliver healthy home cooked meals to your loved one’s door. They can also cater to the special dietary needs of their clients. This is definitely a more expensive option, but it can also be used as a safe supplement rather than the primary source of food for your loved ones.

Cook in bulk for your family and prepare portions for your parents. Thank goodness for the microwave oven. A great way to be efficient and economical is to cook in bulk. Don’t make a pot of chili that feeds four; make it so it feeds eight people and put it into individual containers to bring to your parent’s home where they can eat or freeze it. Seniors know how to use a microwave and it provides a much safer option than using the stove or oven. More importantly, they will be eating healthy, nutritional meals that you cooked, while at the same time reducing the chances of causing an accident in the kitchen.

PREP THE HOME FOR SAFETY- DON’T LET THE BATHROOM BE THE CULPRIT

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year about 285,000 people visit emergency rooms because of injuries suffered in the bathroom. More than a third of these injuries occur when bathing or showering. There are many ways to make a bathroom safer for your loved ones in order to decrease the chances of falls which can be debilitating and potentially deadly for seniors.

1. Install grab bars near the toilet and other places where one must stand for a period of time. Tile floors are slippery when wet and bathroom spaces often do not have good footing. Seniors can have issues with balance, making them particularly susceptible to falls in the bathroom.

2. Climbing in and out of a bathtub can be an ordeal as a person ages. A bathtub in the home can be altered with safety features or even replaced with a more modern and safe version such as walk-in bathtubs and safety showers. This is an expense that is well worthy of consideration since it can contribute to the independence of older adults and give them the privacy they desire when taking care of their bathing needs.

Safety shower image courtesy of TubKing.com

These showers and tubs are literally made so you can walk into them without a climb. They have built-in seats and removable shower heads so one can sit comfortably and safely without fear of slipping. Can you imagine how independent your loved ones might feel knowing they are safer in the bathroom and are able to take of their own needs? Even better, these showers and tubs are made so anyone can walk into them without a climb. Can you imagine how independent your loved ones would feel knowing they are safer in the bathroom and are able to take of their own needs?

PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS

Don’t rely on your parents to remember to take their medications if they need them. Set up a system to ensure they are taking their prescribed medications. Did you know there are “smart” pill bottles on the market? They have 3G capabilities and sensors that can track humidity levels within the bottle to “sense” how many pills or fluid ounces are left inside. Amazing! That data is then sent into the cloud and can remind people via a telephone call or text.

Focus on maintenance for healthy seniors and encourage them to be active. People are living longer than ever and can live long, healthy lives and stay physically fit. Be the motivator and inspiration. Encourage them to take a walk after dinner or enroll them in your local YMCA. They often have classes geared towards seniors and they can make friends while they’re working out.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE LOVE

Everyone desires to age gracefully and independently. Today’s seniors have many resources that allow them the freedom to live healthy, happy and independent lives while giving their caregivers peace of mind.

I hope you found the information in this article useful. Until the next time….

Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article and my brother, Alan, who heads up Tub King, will personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you.

Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. His companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. To contact Tub King directly, call (800)843-4231 or email alan@tubking.com.

Why do New Products Appear? Necessity!

By Kerry Knight

The new year is here and they are coming! You know what I’m talking about, the new and improved must-have's, can’t-live-without items seen on every TV, heard on all the radio stations, and plastered all over your internet search results. The new, must-have

Superbowl Ad on LG widescreen TV, Black Eyed Peas, (Photo credit: Wonderlane)

things!

Every day some hot new product appears in the market place. It's marketed as something you simply must have. How could we have lived without it for so long? We wonder where this product came from. However, a better question than "where" might be "why?"

Another combination of chocolate and nuts can't be that important. Putting out some new fragrance can't make that much difference in attracting your soul mate, can it? Most ads are just over-the-top. Just look at the Super Bowl ads. Pure entertainment! They may not sell, but they can sure make you watch.

Someone once said, "Necessity is the mother of invention." When the public needs something, someone will find a way to satisfy that need.

A few years ago, some marketers started paying attention to aging trends In 1900 in this country, there were three million men and women over the age of 65.

Baby Boomers Haven (Photo credit: thinkpanama)

By the year 1950, that number had quadrupled to 12 million. In 1980, it had doubled again to 25 million.

Today, as our senior population has grown to over 40 million, (that's one in eight Americans). That number is expected increase even more and will reach close to double that by the year 2030. At a total of over 72 million men and women over 65, that will represent twenty percent of the US population.

After looking at aging trends, someone decided to look for marketing trends. What do seniors need most of all? What are their concerns? How can we market to them?

A recent article I read stated that today’s seniors want something very different than their parents had. They want to feel and look younger. More importantly, they want to enjoy life more, stay active, be independent, and take better advantage of their retirement years than their parents did.

One of the greatest needs of seniors was how to remain mobile. This led to better walkers, wheelchairs and electric scooters.

Another was how to receive help with transportation, meals, housekeeping, and companionship. That led to the creation of in home health care and assisted living facilities.

Great strides have been made in medicine, nutrition and supplementation allow seniors to feel younger and be more active. This desire to be more active and independent also has a down side. Senior can still get hurt, and once hurt senior take longer to heal. This has lead to all manner of health and healing aids including aids for independent living.

Along the lines of independence living was the need for being able to bath independently in a safe and therapeutic way. How can I bathe myself without the fear of falling? Is there a way I can sit and bathe without having to get down into a conventional bathtub, with the awful strain on the back and legs?

In addition, there are a ways to add joy to the bathing process. By adding hydro (water) therapy, just like in a hot tub or Jacuzzi, you get therapeutic results without having to step down into a sunken tub and running the risk of serious injury?

Check out our Walk In Tub Buyers Guide, It's FREE!

When these questions came to the light of day, someone found an answer. The answer was the Walk In Tub. Remember, necessity is the mother of invention. When enough people need something and want something, it will eventually appear.

Today thousands are enjoying safe, independent bathing, with all the advantages of huge therapeutic tubs, but without the size constraints or huge expense. They come in sizes to fit exactly in the space where your bathtub is now. Moreover, they are affordable and provide a multitude of health benefits to sooth many ailments. You should be able to get a Walk In Tub with faucet, controls, drain, overflow, hand held shower, grab bar, air-jetted hydrotherapy, water jet whirlpool massage, inline heater, and free shipping for under $3000. Take the time to check it out for yourself. It might be the best thing that has appeared on the market for seniors in a long time.

In this article, I have discussed how the advertising industry hypes and exaggerates new products every year. It further goes on to explain why new products appear. They appear as necessities, items fulfilling people’s desires based on their needs. This article discusses the many needs of our aging baby boomer generation. The 40 million Americans looking to act feel and look younger than their parents did. It further goes on to tell how the Walk in Tub was born out of necessity to fill one of those baby boomer needs.

Walk-in Tub Buyers' Guide

If you found this article to be useful, please pass it on to your friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, please leave it in the comment section below. If you would like to receive a FREE Walk In Tub Buyers Guide, click here. If you have a question, feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of this article. It’s been my pleasure sharing these tips with you. Thanks again for visiting with us.

Until next time.

Alan and Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products, they are also award winners, receiving the best of Jacksonville Chamber Award three years running. If you would like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231 or email them at alan@tubking.com.

The Hottest Demographic in Building - the 50+ Market

Soon to take over the world.......

Becoming Your Parents Parents

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Why do New Products Appear? Necessity!

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