Price Certified Aging In Place Specialist

Willie A. Price

Congratulations to Willie A. Price, who recently became a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (C.A.P.S.) and Universal Design Essential Professional with the National Association of Home Builders (N.A.H.B.).

Mr. Price is the ONLY: C.A.P.S. and Universal Design Essential Rehabilitation Specialist in the country. He has 20+ years experience and has trained, consulted and been licensed and certified in various Property Evaluation and Inspections services from Home Inspections, LEAD, Asbestos, BPI Weatherization Inspections, Rehabilitation Specialist, Construction Management and now C.A.P.S. and Universal Design Essentials. Price has provided trainings, and consulting services to individual home owners, property investors and various housing organizations in the U.S.A. and Canada.

While consulting with a local housing agency as a Rehabilitation Specialist, he noticed that the majority of the homes being modified were occupied by senior residents 50-80+ years-old. He mentioned this to a friend during lunch who referred him to the C.A.P.S. certification program and training. He located the 3-course training being offered through the National Association of Home Builders (N.A.H.B.) and immediately registered.

The CAPS Designation was developed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in partnership with American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and is administered by N.A.H.B. Professionals who have earned the CAPS designation are experts in designing and building aesthetically-enriching, barrier free living environments. They have been trained in the unique needs of the older adult population and apply strategies and techniques to provide comprehensive and practical home modification solutions. CAPS graduates also pledge to uphold a professional code of ethics and are required to take continuing education to maintain their designation.

Aging-in-place means being able to remain in one’s home safely, independently and comfortably regardless of age, income or ability level. It means the pleasure of living in a familiar environment throughout one’s maturing years and the ability to enjoy the daily rituals and the special events that enrich all our lives. It means being able to call your house a “home” for a lifetime.

By the year 2030, more than 73 million senior adults will be faced with being able to remain in their home with the right modifications or having to reside in a nursing home or senior residential facility.

After months of research and conversations with various organizations, Price discovered that very few housing and senior agencies were aware of the CAPS or Universal Design Essential programs, which explains why few (if any) of the agencies in the area applied for the $1 million dollar CAPS grant offered in December by the H.U.D. (Dept. of Housing & Urban Development).

Instead of offering home modification and project monitoring services, Price felt it was more important to bring awareness through workshops and presentations of CAPS & UDE services to individuals, various organizations and area employers and unions for their aging employees. For CAPS & UDE presentations and information, Mr. Price can be contacted at: MajadiEnterprises89@gmail.com or 716- 316-7776