Condos feature ‘aging in place” living

Nov. 06--Mike Hoffman, innovator of the Warren Lift, is bringing a new condo concept to southeast Iowa called "aging in place."

Orchard Gardens, Hoffman's project, is under construction at 2635 Mount Pleasant St. in Burlington. The three condos are designed so individuals can live at home longer -- safely, independently and comfortably.

To be considered an "aging in place" condo, each unit has to be designed by guidelines established by the National Association of Home Builders. Hoffman attended a four-day accreditation program called CAPS (certified aging in place specialist) in Oklahoma City.

"My certificate is the only one in southeast Iowa," Hoffman said.

The condos are designed for those who have a handicap or are elderly, and want to maintain an independent lifestyle.

"We make it so seniors can age in place, and save them thousands of dollars in nursing home costs," Hoffman said. "It keeps them in their home many more months."

According to genworth.com, a long-term care and life insurance solutions company, the average nursing home cost per year is $91,250, which breaks down to $7,600 per month. Aging in place condos can save an individual or a family a bundle of money, while keeping them at home longer.

What makes the condos conducive for the elderly or the handicapped is; no-step entries, no stairs, wide doorways, a 5-foot-by-6-foot roll-in shower, lever-doors and faucets, ADA height electrical outlets and switches, slip resistant flooring, wheelchair friendly carpet and front-located controls on the dishwashers and ranges.

According to CAPS and ADA guidelines, the electrical outlets have to be 18 inches or higher from the floor in order for an individual in a wheelchair to comfortably be able to plug something into the outlet. Light switches must be 48 inches or lower for use, and Orchard Gardens locates the switches at 46 inches.

Also available are Wi-Fi cameras so family members or friends, who live elsewhere, can check on the resident.

Of course, what makes Orchard Gardens even more unique is the Warren Lifts installed into the large bathrooms.

"All this translates from my father, Warren," Hoffman said of the reason he invented the Warren Life.

Hoffman's father's struggled to get off the toilet in a nursing home, which required CNAs to help him in the bathroom.

"The Warren Lift is priceless, your dignity is priceless," Hoffman said.

A Mount Pleasant customer installed one in their house, and since then the wife has not had to help her husband in the bathroom.

Since the first Warren Lift was installed in Oquawka, Ill., in April 2013, the product has undergone changes.

The first units required a hydraulic system to raise and lower the toilet bowl, so individuals could get on and off easier.

The newer model operates with a linear actuator, which creates a unit that is smaller, lighter, cleaner (no hydraulic fluid), and is more cost effective. The linear actuator model has a new safety breakaway halo under the toilet, arthritis-friendly touch up/down buttons and finger touch flushing controls.

A newer Warren Lift was installed in the Hopefully Yours store in downtown Burlington.

The Warren Lifts are installed in the main bathroom of each Orchard Gardens condo, which features a 5-foot turning diameter for individuals in a wheelchair.

The condos include 26 recessed LED lights, and remote-controlled heat producing fireplaces.

The 1,386-square-foot living space includes a family room with a cathedral ceiling, a kitchen, a master bedroom, a smaller second bedroom, a second bathroom, a two-car garage and a patio off the back of the condo.

The condos start at $225,000, but individuals can lease a condo at $1,800 per month.

If someone buys a condo, they can pick their kitchen cabinets and flooring from Keystone Products. The Hoffman family has owned Keystone Products for decades.

A resident also can have in-home health care or food delivered to remain independent.

Hoffman is serving as general contractor on the project and he has hired sub-contractors for most of the work. Hoffman built his first housing complex, an 8-plex known as And Mer Apartments in Burlington in 1991. He's built four-plexes and a duplex since.

He is giving tours of the condos regularly, and the first unit should be completed by the end of the year. Hoffman can be reached at (319) 750-0520.

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