Most people don't think about hiring a specialist to make their home safer from fires. It seems like overkill, like hiring a bodyguard to protect you from paper cuts. But when it comes to aging in place, a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) can be the difference between a home that's a fire trap and one that's as fire-safe as reasonably possible.
The interesting thing about CAPS professionals is that they're seeing fire risks most of us are blind to. It's a classic example of expertise changing perception. Where you see a normal living room, they see a minefield of potential fire hazards.
So what exactly are they looking at? It's not as simple as you might think.
The obvious stuff is, well, obvious. They check for working smoke detectors, clear escape routes, and proper storage of flammable materials. But the real value of a CAPS assessment is in spotting the non-obvious hazards.
For instance, they pay a lot of attention to the layout of the home. As people age, their mobility often decreases. A second-floor bedroom that was perfectly safe for years can become a dangerous trap if the occupant can't quickly navigate stairs in an emergency. A CAPS professional might recommend relocating the bedroom to the ground floor or installing a stair lift.
They also look at things like door and window hardware. Arthritis can make it difficult to operate traditional knobs and latches. In a fire, seconds count. A CAPS specialist might recommend lever-style handles or easy-open windows to ensure quick escape.
Lighting is another focus. Good lighting isn't just about preventing falls; it's crucial for safely navigating a home during a fire emergency. A CAPS professional might suggest improved lighting along escape routes, including low-level lighting that's visible through smoke.
But perhaps the most valuable thing CAPS professionals do is assess how people actually use their space. They don't just look at the home; they watch how people move through it. Where do they typically walk? Where do they tend to spend most of their time? This helps identify potential problem areas that might not be obvious from just looking at the floor plan.
For example, they might notice that someone always keeps their walker near their favorite chair. In a fire, that walker becomes crucial for escape. But is it positioned where it won't block the exit path? A small adjustment in furniture layout could make a big difference in an emergency.
CAPS professionals also think about future needs. A house that's safe for someone today might not be safe for them in five years. Good CAPS professionals plan for decline, even if it's not pleasant to think about.
This forward-thinking approach is crucial. It's much easier (and cheaper) to make a home fire-safe before an emergency happens than to try to modify it after a close call.
One of the challenges CAPS professionals face is that their recommendations often go against what people think they want. Nobody wants their home to look like a fire station. But sometimes, the safest option isn't the most aesthetically pleasing.
This is where the art of CAPS comes in. The best professionals find ways to make safety features blend into the home's design. They're not just preventing fires; they're preserving dignity and independence.
There's a broader lesson here about expert knowledge. Often, the value of expertise isn't in knowing more facts, but in having a different way of seeing. CAPS professionals don't necessarily know more about houses than homeowners do. They just see them differently.
This kind of perceptual expertise is hard to replicate with AI or other technologies. You can't just feed a computer a list of fire hazards and expect it to do a CAPS assessment. The nuanced, context-dependent judgment of a human expert is still crucial.
That said, there's probably room for technology to augment these assessments. Could AR overlays help visualize potential hazards? Could sensor data help track how people actually move through their homes over time?
For now, though, the human touch is irreplaceable. If you're planning to age in place, or if you have aging parents who want to stay in their home, it might be worth getting a CAPS assessment. It's a lot cheaper than recovering from a house fire.
And even if you're young and spry, pay attention to how CAPS professionals think. Their approach - looking for non-obvious hazards, thinking about future needs, considering how spaces are actually used - is valuable in many fields.
After all, we're all aging in place. Some of us are just doing it more safely than others.
The ultimate goal of a CAPS professional isn't just to make a home safer from fires. It's to create an environment where people can live independently and confidently for as long as possible. Because in the end, the best fire safety strategy is one that allows you to live your life without constant fear.
Remember, when it comes to fire safety and aging-in-place, an ounce of prevention isn't just worth a pound of cure. It might be worth your whole house.
To find a CAPS professional in your area, contact me. To become a CAPS professional, click here.
Fritzi Gros-Daillon MS, CSA, CAPS, UDCP, SHSS
Household Guardians, Owner
2019 NAHB Instructor of the Year
Published author of "Grace and Grit: Insights to Real Life Challenges of Aging"
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