Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) Meet Our Experts

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce our certified aging in place specialist experts. First let me thank them all for taking time to help us to achieve our goals of independent living and aging in place.

Our experts:

David Foley, LEED AP, CGR,CGP,CAPS President Home Solutions Specialists, Rockledge, Florida

Dave is a State Certified General Contractor (cgc 150-4884) and has been in the residential and commercial construction industry for 25 years. With experience in all phases of construction, from residential to multi-story.

Before starting David Foley Inc. in 1998, he acquired extensive experience in national disaster service as a licensed insurance professional, Catastrophic Assessment Team (CAT) member and as a consultant for loss mitigation and structural drying. With expert technical vision and experience gained through years of daily application Dave can “see” a project through to its completion usually before the first board is even nailed.

Scott Anderson, CAPS Trivest Construction Inc. Tucker, Georgia

I have been a licensed architect for nearly 35 years; and I earned my CAPS designation in 2004.

Jonathan Greaves, CAPS President Greaves Construction Inc, Temple Terrace, Florida

State certified building contractorState certified Home Energy RaterCertified Remodeler-CR and Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler-CKBR through NARICertified Green Professional-CGP through NAHBMember of the Florida Green Building Coalition-FGBC

I am the current Chairman of the Remodelers Council on the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

Mike Shina, CAPS, LEED AP, Windsong Properties, Somerset, GA

My Company, Windsong Properties is an award winning builder, serving the 55+ market in the Metro-Atlanta area. All of our homes in our Somerset Subdivision are Easy Living Certified (Accessible)., as well as EarthCraft Certified (Green). We have won numerous design, execution, and Customer Service awards.

Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS is an NKBA-certified, independent kitchen and bath designer in Tampa, Florida.

Jamie designs for clients of all ages, but specializes in those wanting to remain in their homes beyond retirement. In addition to being a designer, she writes on design trends, aging in place and remodeling tips for a wide range of publications. Her credits include Kitchens.com, BobVila.com, KitchenBathIdeas.com, Signature Kitchens & Baths and many others.

Now lets talk
Diane's first question to our panel:

Can you tell me how a Certified Aging in Place Specialist is different from a contractor or the average home remodeler?

David Foley, President Home Solutions Specialists, Rockledge, Florida

Certified aging in place specialist and the training, teaches us to listen carefully to our clients and their caregivers as well as home health aides, to observe the physical conditions of a home and to pick up on visual cues, such as handprints on walls which could indicate an area requiring assistance bar. We believe incorporates a number of universal design features not necessary limited to aging in place. Regardless of the age some of these best practices can be utilized in the event of injury by otherwise healthy individuals, pregnancy, injury and other situations may find us appreciating these features.

Average home remodelers, maybe more apt to miss some of these cues and may be unaware of the benefits of universal design.

Scott Anderson , Trivest Construction, Inc:

CAPS professionals have been taught the strategies and techniques for designing and building barrier-free living environments. They have the knowledge and experience to provide practical aging-in-place solutions. They have specific skills to interact with seniors and their team (spouse, adult children, professional care givers, etc.) to understand the architectural needs and spot existing house characteristics that could threaten a safe, comfortable, and convenient environment.

CAPS graduates pledge to uphold a code of ethics and are required to maintain their designation by attending continuing education programs and participating in community service.

Jonathan Greaves, CAPS Greaves Construction:

The specialist has been trained and has gained national certification through the NAHB in Universal, Accessible and Adaptable Design. This trained specialist has more compassion and has taken this training for all the right reasons. They are members of national and local associations, participate in community service projects and they also adhere to the NAHB Code of Ethics

Mike Shina, CAPS, LEED AP, Windsong Properties, Somerset, GA

My Company, Windsong Properties is an award winning builder, serving the 55+ market in the Metro-Atlanta area. All of our homes in our Somerset Subdivision are Easy Living Certified (Accessible)., as well as EarthCraft Certified (Green). We have won numerous design, execution, and Customer Service awards.

Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS is an NKBA-certified, independent kitchen and bath designer in Tampa, Florida.

A Certified Aging in Place Specialist could be a contractor, or another professional trained and certified in helping people remain in their homes beyond retirement. There isn't a specific industry or discipline required to be CAPS, so some are from the medical side, some from the building trades, others can be from any field where they would be assisting home owners in this regard. Homeowners wanting to find a Certified Aging in Place Specialist can search the CAPS directory by discipline and location:

My thanks to our Certified Aging In Place Specialists for helping to give a better understanding to my readers of what kind of professional help they can expect to receive.

Although an illness or accident often prompts one to consult a certified aging in place specialist: the young family might consider this kind of service or advice in the same way they do automobile insurance. We buy auto insurance today (In Case) we have an accident. We certainly don't plan on having a car accident but we see the value of being prepared if we do.