Several Saturdays ago, I attended a workshop titled, "Home Improvement, Alzheimer Style," presented by the local Alzheimer 's Association. An architect specializing in adapting homes for older adults made the presentation; his emphasis was on security, accessibility and affordability. It was a great presentation, and looking around the room at the other 40 attendees, it was obvious that Baby Boomers and spouses/caregivers were very interested in the subject matter. If your patient load includes Baby Boomers, it's likely many of them are dealing with these issues, too.

I decided to attend the presentation not because my parents are victims of Alzheimer's, but because they are considering some renovations to their 80plus-year-old home, in lieu of moving to a retirement facility. Their home has a rental unit that has provided additional monthly income for many years. After carefully checking out all of the options available to them, they have opted to stay in their centrally located, safe, stable neighborhood, near shopping, health care professionals and their beloved beach, which they both use on a daily basis.

Both of my folks are in their mid-80s, and although they've experienced knee replacements and hip fractures, they continue to navigate many steps on a daily basis, several times a day. Each time they want to pick up the newspaper, mail, laundry or groceries, they must use the steps, a safety concern with potential for further injury.

Most urgently, the house needs a new roof and a new solar panel to keep their electricity charges at bay; an age-friendly bathroom; laundry facilities located on the same level; and an elevator to take them from the garage directly to their thirdfloor living quarters.

Here's what our research has told us so far: It will probably cost them anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000 to do what they want to do. This seems a staggering amount, until you consider that it would cost them from $3,000 to $5,000 per month if they were to rent a unit in a retirement facility in a location where they might not be as happy. Looking at it from that point of view, in four years or less, they would have spent the money anyway, and at least making home improvements allows them to continue to live in the same location and keep their asset.

The biggest challenge many older adults face when renovating their homes is how to pay for them. Many are on fixed incomes with few resources. Their property may have increased in value, but they are cash-poor.