Hello, everyone. Thank you again for joining
us for another podcast with the Aging in Place
directory. Today, I am so honored to have as
a guest, Evangeline Bates with Evangeline Interiors.
As an occupational therapist, I have... always
given my patients, you know, all the pragmatic
tools and everything that they need to age in
place. But as someone who doesn't have an eye
for design and still doesn't, I am always so
intrigued and enamored by people who can do that,
who incorporate both. And Evangeline has successfully
done that. So thank you so much, Evangeline,
for joining me on this podcast. Well, Esther,
thank you for inviting me today. It's a pleasure
for me to be here, and I feel honored to be here
with you this morning. Thank you. Thank you so
much. If you want to see Evangeline's website,
it's at evangelineinteriors .com. And she is
in or serves the Eastern Massachusetts Southern
New Hampshire area. You know, our services are
nationwide. How do you do that? How do you. Service
nationwide, I mean, is it virtual or it's usually
a virtual consultation. I myself, I prefer to
do it more locally. I feel that it's really important
to to. get to know the client, to get to know
their surroundings. But sometimes that can't
happen and they just want something quick. They
just want a quick report because they need to
get going on things. So I will do a virtual with
them, but only if it's really a necessity at
that point that we have to get it done at that
time. Yeah, and that happens so often with older
adults because they tend to not Make changes
until they have to make the change and then at
that point, as you said, it's a, it's an immediate
need. Yes. So, do you often speak with the home
owner or with the family members of the home
owner? You know. Both actually sometimes I will
speak with the homeowner who actually is thinking
about aging in place and wants to stop planning
ahead. Which is really the key to successful
aging in place is to plan ahead, but sometimes
as you had mentioned, it's somebody that's coming
out of rehab and their family gets in touch with
me saying. They have to go home, but their house
is not ready for them to go safely back at home.
So there are different reasons why people call
me for that reason. But it's always important
again to plan ahead, but then also. in the respect
as far as having somebody come out of rehab,
that's actually where I would get an OT involved
and will collaborate putting a report together.
That's very important actually. And as an OT,
I often would work with other healthcare professionals
and definitely the families and my patient. to
gather ideas of how to best set up that environment
for that person. I think it's so important to
realize it's never just one person who's involved
in this because there's so many factors. I'm
sure sometimes you have to talk with contractors
and handymen and whomever. Electrician, whatever
is needed to do what that person needs. But then
your eye on design also involves everything from
color to how it looks and to incorporate it into
the person's existing environment so that it
doesn't look, you know, hospital -like. Yeah,
institutionalized. Right. So as far as aging
in place and thinking about the aging adult in
their environment. Yes, color consults, things
like that, are very important and they're a little
different than just doing an interior design
for a younger person because you really have
to figure in wall color. Our eyes age. When they're
aging, they turn yellow. So we have to make sure
that we pick the right colors on the wall that
can adhere to that change. We have to make sure
there's a contrast between the floor and the
wall for an aging adult so they can see their
environment better. Little things like putting
levers on the door knobs instead of the door
knobs is another little thing that you can do,
you know, where you put the microwave. is really
important. Making sure that your countertops
for your vanity or for your kitchen countertops,
they don't have a glare on them because glare
can really impact an aging adult and what they
can see and make sure there's plenty of lighting
in their environment. So there are certain things
that are part of universal design but If you
don't have those things in place already, and
you're trying to promote a safe environment for
an aging adult, these are the things to consider
for that aging adult. And of course, if there's
any health issues, again, getting in touch with
the health professionals so you know how things
are going to be for them now, but also in the
future so you can plan ahead. Exactly, exactly.
And that's a big important factor is not just
working for what is happening now, but trying
to anticipate and see what they can use for the
future. No sense in making a change for something
now if it's not going to work two months from
now. I mean, you can't do everything, but you
certainly try. How did you get involved in going
from design Well, I'm assuming you began with
design and then added this new skill. So I was
a typical traditional interior designer for almost
30 years. And then I was at a networking group
and I was talking to an architect and a contractor
and they brought up, they asked me if I knew
anything about universal design aging in place.
And honestly, I did not know. I never even heard
those terms. And they told me, you know, something,
this is something that's really going to be important
for us to have in the future. I would recommend
that you go back and do some research on it.
And I did. And Esther. The more research that
I did on both aging in place and universal design,
it was like, oh my goodness, why aren't we doing
this already? This is crazy. It's not something
that, you know, it's just a trend. It's something
that has to be done for everyone. So from there,
I started getting my education in universal design.
I got my certification for aging in place. And
it really, it wasn't until, again, I had a family
situation that my aunt could not visit my home
anymore because it was not visitable for her
anymore. She couldn't make the stairs. She couldn't
get around my house. And I'm saying, Oh my goodness,
I know what to do now, you know, so. At that
time I said, you know what if I'm put in this
situation with my own family How many other people
are out there too? Facing these challenges and
really have no clue as to what to do on knowing
that there are things that you can actually do
so So that's how it all started and from that
point on Esther It's just been a passion of mine
to really advocate for universal design for new
builds and you know if there I have a client
that wants to start remodeling I try to introduce
universal design elements to them again it's
always a new concept but once they understand
it they're saying oh my goodness it makes so
much sense so that's how it all started. I think
that's great. And it's so true. I mean, once
it personally hits you and then you can actually
see the benefits and the end result. I mean,
here, your aunt can now live comfortably and
for longer. I mean, I always think that the whole
concept of aging in place is not... something
that should be done after an accident or illness
or event. The idea is to try to prevent that
accident from happening. Yeah, it's so important.
There was an article a few months ago in the
Wall Street Journal about boomers wanting to
stay home. They had purchased these big houses
10, 20, 30 years ago and they want to stay there,
which is perfectly understandable. But the photograph
that they showed in the newspaper was everything
was wrong in that room. I mean, everything from
square glass coffee tables to multiple tables
around and, you know, steps going up. I mean,
you can't always change those. But I mean, everything
was so crowded and rugs everywhere. And it was
just like I had a field day tearing apart that
photograph. And I always said at the end, I hope
these people who were in this photograph, you
know, are watching this and make a change in
their living room because it looks like a beautiful
house. I'd love to see them stay there longer.
Yes. But yeah, and it's difficult. I get it.
It's difficult as you get older to change and
especially the concept of letting go of things.
Yes. You know, large pieces of furniture and
small spaces. and, you know, not clutter, I don't
want to say clutter, but just so many things
that you could fall into. Yes, and, you know,
it's really, it's, so when you're working with
an aging adult, you know, it's a big psychological
thing that you're working with. So it's not just
picking out colors and things like that. You
really have to, first of all, have them get to
trust you first. And that's a real big thing
when you're working with aging adults that's
why it's so important to get to know them first
to get to know their environment to get to know
their likes and dislikes and like everybody else
to get to know their vision for their for their
environment and once they start trusting you
then they'll take on your recommendations a little
bit easier but. It's a big thing for them to
change and to think that, yes, they are getting
older. So sometimes I think they don't want to
make these changes because it's only showing
that they are starting to age and they don't
want to be in that situation. So, yes. Yeah.
But the funny thing is that if they don't make
that change, It will age them quicker because
something inevitably happens. You know, I can't
tell you as a therapist, you know, how many hundreds
if not thousands of patients I treated in all
those years who. were with me because of something
so silly, you know, carrying a basket of laundry
down the stairs or bumping into a coffee table
and falling or tripping over a rug or, you know,
just some silly little one second thing that
changed their entire life. Exactly. you know,
so my perspective is always prevent it and prevent
it. That's right. So what does the process look
like if I were to call you as a client? What
does that process look like from your, you know,
from what you offer your services? So what I
would do is, like I said, I'd go on site to the
house. I'd take The exterior is just as important
as the interior. So I would take pictures on
the outside, take some notes from that point,
go on the inside, again, take pictures of every
room, take some more notes, sit with the clients,
talk to them, as I mentioned, about their challenges
now and what it's gonna be like in the future
for them. Think about their vision as far as
how they want to live in their house And think
about their style too. It's really important
and this is where I kind of come in That it's
really important that they still feel like it's
their home and their environment. It's their
oasis So they want to be comfortable in their
home and they don't want to feel like someone's
just coming in and just redoing everything for
the safety issue And now it's going to be like
a hospital. So that's what we try to prevent
And again, it's just by knowing what finishes
to pick out, what colors to pick out, that's
going to also work for the client themselves
and what they like and what they envision the
environment to be. So once I've done that first
initial consultation, then I do write up a report.
which I present to them, they look the report
over, and then it's up to them to decide whether
they'll just keep the report. Sometimes we'll
have to prioritize what we think is the most
important things to do first, so they don't get
overwhelmed. And they'll either ask for my help.
To to move on to these projects where I can bring
in the people that I know as contractors and
things like that, or they'll just take the report
and then work on it themselves. So they have
their choice. Sometimes they decide to do it
on their own. They find that it's overwhelming
and they call me back in again. So. So that's
usually the way I work. And again, it's really,
however the client really wants to work with
me, I'm always there for them. And as you know,
too, Esther, it's not just the infrastructure
of the home that's important, but it's all the
puzzle pieces that are put together, all the
support. that these people are going to need,
the clients are going to need in order to stay
in their homes. Our homes, even if they're universally
designed or aging in place as far as safety,
it doesn't mean that that's all you're going
to need to be able to stay in your home. It's
all the other support systems that are really
important. And this is where it's important,
like for myself, to get to know trusted people
that I can recommend in the industry to help
whatever needs that they have at the time. Exactly.
That is so true. And that's even more important,
I think, or at least I've seen that. that glaring
need in more rural areas. They've been living
in this home that's miles from the next neighbor,
and yeah, you can universal design the heck out
of that house, but if they are so far from services
that they may eventually need, it's... It's almost
a futile event, but it's difficult to... It's
difficult to change. I get that. I get that.
But you're right. Support is so, so necessary.
That's why I always encourage people, you know,
join as many things as you can feel comfortable
with, you know, whatever, church, volunteer group,
you know, anything, whatever it is that people
get to know you and you can build that community
because you're not the only one. There's so many
others out there that are in need of that. Have
you found it difficult to find contractors, handymen,
electrician, whatever that work with you that
have that knowledge base or does it matter that
they have that knowledge base? I feel like it
doesn't matter as far as the work that they can
accomplish, but it matters to me that When I'm
talking to contractors or handyman or anybody
else that I need to bring in to help me make
this this home safer. We should be on the same
page. They should know the language that I'm
speaking. They should know that if we're going
to put a no entry way, no step shower that. They
know that the plumbers that need to know the
type of drainage system that we need. So there
aren't any problems in the future, you know,
and just to get to know the terminology and for
them really to be on the same page as I am as
far as my knowledge. When I'm talking to contractors
and handymen, I'm always telling them, you know,
it's not that difficult to go get your CAP certification
just so you know what people are talking about.
And some of them have, and some of them just
say, well, I've always done this the way I've
always done it. But it's really important as
far as I'm concerned. for them to know you know
about aging in place and what can be done so
we can actually really collaborate together on
a project. Exactly because the language is so
important and I was happy you know when I took
the when I took my CAPS course it was so nice
to see contractors in there because then you
know number one They're not only building their
skill set, but they're also recognizing the trend
of how things are going. I mean, with 10 ,000
plus people a day turning 65 for many years to
come, it just makes sense to add that skill set
to your background of information, to what you're
doing. especially nowadays. I mean, the days
of having one skill and having that your entire
life and retiring with the Golden Watch, those
days are gone. Yeah. You know, we all need multiple
skills in order to continue growing. Yes. And
I always loved the idea of continuing working.
You know, retiring is not, I mean, it's an option,
but it To me, retiring is working because you
have to keep active. You have to keep learning
and you have to keep involved, I think. Engaged,
right? Yes. Yeah, I think. I mean, when I speak
to my friends who are retired and literally retired,
you know, and you go out to dinner with them.
So what have you been up to? Nothing. You want
to... constantly engage yourself, I think, which
really helps to keep you young. And universal
design, aging in place concepts, you know, design
itself is forever evolving and changing. And
I mean, now I think I saw the other day some
kind of paint that's anti... bacterial or yes
something like that exactly yeah i mean it's
just amazing the things that they're coming out
with i i saw also a light overhead light i think
it's called numi i'm not 100 sure but not only
is it a ceiling light but it's also a fall detection
device you know which can identify if you fall
i mean i love that integration of design and
pragmatics Yes, and that's what's getting so
exciting about this whole sector is people are
starting to realize that this is important and
they're getting so creative with their products
now, you know, and it's so exciting to see. And
it's great just to look up everything new that's
coming up and see how you can apply it to maybe
your next project. And to me, that's really exciting
what's going on now in this industry. And that
people are starting to realize that you know
it is a real thing aging in place and we really
stop me to start focusing on it and people have
started so it's yeah it's a lot of fun to i really
get very passionate on this. This topic and you
talk about me retiring and you know i'm the age
that i can reach and i'm saying every time i
think about slowing down i said. But no, I can't.
And then I find something else that I find interest
in. So now my new passion too, along with aging
and places, what's the housing going to be like?
the situation for solo agers and, you know, we
have to come up with other types of housing and
things like that. So I've kind of drifted off
a little bit now, and I'm getting involved with
all these organizations to find solutions for
different types of housing, you know. So I'm
obviously being stimulated, you know, again,
for the same reason, but just... you know, widening
my, my, my goals and expectations. And it's,
it's really, I said, why, why would I retire?
I know, I know exactly. I mean, that word isn't
even here. I mean, I'm at that age, I'm past
the age of retiring into the official, whatever
retiring. But it's just, it's, it's amazing to,
cause you're right. You get that stimulation,
you get that excitement. And also on top of that,
you're helping others. You know, you're helping
them. to continue their life and live independently.
That's what the majority of older adults want,
in my experience, is to be independent. And with
so many, as you said, living solo, solo agers,
my husband passed away years ago, so I get that.
Now what? Now what do you do? How do you... change
your environment, how do you accommodate that,
what do you do? So that's why I love that whole
concept of the village movement. Do you know
about that? I do, I do. Yeah, I love that idea
because here now you've got a group of people
in a community and I think it started up in Boston.
It did, in the Back Bay area. It did, yes. Yeah,
so I love that idea. Isn't it? That is wonderful.
You know, expanding and here they are. That is
a great group of people, I think, to educate
them on that whole concept because they are actually
aging in place, but assisting each other. Exactly.
In that community. I love that idea. So you're
right. There's always so many new things. I'm
waiting for a new design for the Alexa devices.
They all kind of look the same, so I'm waiting
for them to get a little more integrated into
actual design. How can you make them look like
part of the room, part of the area? Because I
think those devices are so important for safety
and so many things. You know, my mom -in -law
was, I think, 95 before we introduced it to her
and when we first introduced her, and she had
a hard time using it. You know, she kept yelling
at it. It just wasn't working. So I get that.
It's just a foreign thing. I understand that.
But I think, you know, in baby boomers, you know,
we've been with it for a while now. So I think
for us integrating that, It'll be a lot easier
for us to continue using that. But yeah, I'd
love to see a new design of that so that it's
integrated into the room. It doesn't look like
an Alexa device. So that goes all under the smart
home environment. Yes. Which, you know, as you
mentioned, you know, Since we've been around
some of this technology for a while, we're getting
used to it. But the real older adults, this is
all new to them. As years, you know, as time
goes on, we're gonna be more familiar, we're
gonna be more used to having, you know, again,
when you talked about the smart home, it used
to be just for the luxury homes, but now it's
almost a necessity now when you really think
about the safety of your home and what you can
do to integrate the safety and not have it show,
you know, around the house that you don't even
know that it's there. So now it is becoming more
popular. It's been a lot of times put in the
budget, which at one time it was never put in
the budget. So I think we're going to see more
and more of that acceptance now too. So like
everything else, as time goes on, more things
will be accepted and easier to use too. I think
so. I think so. I mean, it would be great to
see Alexa devices look like a painting. Yes,
you know something that is hung on the wall and
then when you need it you can activate it tap
it and it turns into a screen and You know, I've
even seen years ago where kitchen countertops
will be integrated with screens and videos. And
I mean, there's just so much Jetson kind of thing.
You know, we're all waiting for Rosie the robot,
right? Yes, all of them, please. That's right.
That's right. Want to drive you want to clean
the house? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. I get
it. I'm still waiting. I hope I live long enough
to see that. That's my dream, that's true. So
are there any tools or gadgets that you love
to recommend to people that they don't normally
think about adding to their home to make the
home more age in place friendly or senior friendly?
Well, I guess what I can offer is that there
are things that you can do today in your home
that isn't very expensive to do. And anyone can
actually do it is so things that I do suggest
right off the bat is actually picking up all
the scatter rugs in the house. If you do have
an area, then make sure that it's taped down
around the edges. So there is not a tripping
fall. Yes, as I mentioned, as far as the door
knobs change all the door knobs. to the lever
handles, it just makes it easier for everyone
just to open up the door. I mean, you can always,
even if you have things in your hands, you can
always use your elbow. Where you place the microwave,
it always upsets me when I go into a 55 plus
unit and they have the microwave over the stove.
And I'm sitting. What is this? How can you call
yourselves 55 plus and have still not have it?
for anyone to age in this area. It just doesn't
make sense. So things like that, the faucets.
So one of the newer gadgets, I mean, they're
about 10 years old and each year now they get
better and better for functionality. But the
wand faucets in the kitchen, which makes it really
easy when you're working around the kitchen that
you don't have to turn the knobs on. You can
just wave your hand and and have the water come
out. Right. And that's so important if you have
severe arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis
to just be able to do that and have it activated
and then turn it off as well. Yeah. And cleanliness
too. You're not getting the faucet all dirty
and things like that if you've been working with
chicken and things like that. And then in the
kitchen too. So a lot of times if I'm working
for a remodel in a kitchen, I always recommend
taking all the knobs off and having pulls put
on that you can really put your hands under and
just pull without having to clutch the knob.
And again, because of dexterity issues, whether
you have them now, but just now again, thinking
in the future, why should you wait until something
happens or you come... down with arthritis that
you can't open up your cabinets anymore. Why
don't we make these changes now? And you know
something, it looks really nice and updated now.
It has a nice updated look. So you're hitting
two things with one change, an updated look,
but functionality for the future too. So just
think about that. It's true. It's true. I just
had, I had a designer who wanted me to put down
rugs. And I said, oh no, as an OT, I am anti
rug, but I love the look of them. So I found,
I don't know if you can see behind me, I found
these vinyl rugs, which is just, I mean, they're
extremely, extremely thin. They're anti slip.
And because they're vinyl, they're so easy to
clean. And especially with pets, you know, I
have, I have, so it's just extremely. So I tell
everyone if you absolutely have to have a rug,
which I get it aesthetically, it does look great.
Um, at least go with something like that. Something
with a very, very low pile. Right. And getting
back to your question too, as far as new products
out there. So when we're talking about aging
in place too, we're thinking about maintenance
too, easy maintenance. Yes. Which is a big thing.
So now a lot of products for bathroom surrounds
are just these sheets of material that look like
marble. They look like a tile, but all you need
to do is just wipe them down. There's no grout,
even though it looks like grout. but they're
not real grout lines. So again, easy maintenance,
but again, a nice updated, fresh look. So this
is why I get so excited because new things are
always, always coming out now and people are
really becoming very innovative with their. They
are what is that material that those surround
shower and bathtub. So there are there are different
ones. I just spoke to somebody who their business
is actually the surround is a click mechanism.
So that, but you don't see the lines. But again,
it looks like a tile, but there's a lot of this
good insulation in the back, and it doesn't promote
mold and things like that. And they're a little
thicker. Then there was somebody else that I
was talking to, and their surround is actually
like a quartz material, but it's very, very thin.
And those are slabs that they can put on too.
So there's a lot of different things out there.
So it's not just one product. And yeah, so it's,
again, it's just knowing what's out there and
what to offer your client. You know, so. Yeah,
and I would think that that's a constant learning.
Yes, always, always. Right. Because as you said,
there's so many new innovative products coming
out now all the time. And I love your I mean,
you know, you're right on the money when it comes
to maintenance. Because as you get older, I mean,
one, you're involved in a lot of activities,
hopefully, you're doing a lot of things. So who
has time to sit and scrub the shower and all
of that? And two, Excuse me. And two, you know,
you may not have the physical stamina or capabilities
anymore to maintain that as an OT, you know,
going into assessing someone's home to see if
they could go back home. You know, a lot of.
places that I went to were in such disarray only
because of lack of maintenance. They simply couldn't
get down to clean the bathtub or the shower or
the kitchen or the refrigerator or whatever.
So yeah, that's why pullout shelves are easier
to maintain. As you said, the surround showers
are easier. Anything that you can do. Low maintenance
is definitely a part, I think, of the concept
of aging in place. So you're absolutely right.
I think your clients are very lucky to get you.
Oh, thank you, Esther. Sure, because your knowledge
base is so expansive. I mean, absolutely. Do
you have any... Oh, I wanted to ask you, what
do you think about bidets? What do you think
about incorporating those more into houses a
bidet? Yeah. I think it's very important. Again,
you know, we're in the U .S. too, we're kind
of behind with the times a little bit too. You
know, in Europe, everyone has bidets, you know,
and they've always had them. Yeah. And just like
wet rooms in the bathroom, you know, I mean.
I know. We have no clue. And then it comes this
way. It's like, I've never seen this before.
I know. How about Barrick? But bidets to me,
especially I think we realized too how important
they were after the pandemic when we couldn't
get the toilet paper and things like that. And
you talk about sustainability. Instead of using
all of this toilet paper and things like that,
I mean, bidets, There's so many positive reasons
why to have a bidet. I know too, as you get older,
it makes it a little harder to clean properly
and things like that. So a bidet is there and
helps you keep fresh and clean and you don't
have to worry because if you do let yourself
go, then there are other issues that can cause
health problems. To me, bidets are a big thing
that should be incorporated in at least one bathroom
that's used regularly. Yeah, I think so. And
you're right. In America, it's such a foreign
idea. You're like, what? Why would I have that?
But when you really think about the pragmatic
of it. And I mean, you're right, when you're
building a 55 plus or a senior living community
or whatever, why not incorporate? I mean, from
the get go, incorporate a bid day, you know,
especially nowadays, because it's not as if you
need two separate units. You know, it's just
one unit. It just it makes so much sense. It
does. So yeah, I like to talk about. the days
you know because it's i think it's important
and i think just like anything the more you talk
about it the more normal it seems yes you know
so then people will get used to the idea and
they'll start asking for things like that and
i think that's the key too as far as contractors
and and developers that uh it's really important
that we just keep educating people about universal
design as it relates to aging in place. And once
people get a handle of it and accept it and say
to themselves, yes, this is what we need, they'll
start asking for these elements. And then the
contractors and the developers say, yes, we are
gonna start doing this. That's right, that's
right. And oftentimes I think it hits them like
it hits you and like it hits most people when
it's personal. Yes. When it happens to mom, dad,
aunt, uncle, cousin, brother, sister, whatever,
yeah, then it's like, oh, I get it now. Yeah,
you're right. Do you have a client story of someone
who you feel has done so well with aging in place
as far as? altering their environment? Yeah,
actually. So one of the clients that I'm really
proud that I was able to help her. We have Habitat
for Humanity here and there's a critical repair
program that's part of it. And people are able
to put in an application for some home repairs
that either they can't afford or that are needed
for them to live safely in their homes, like
putting up grab bars and things like that. So
this particular woman got put in her application
for the critical repair program. And her problem
was that doctors weren't listening to her as
far as her falling in the house all the time
and just different things that. that she was
coming up with, in a way they weren't even believing
her. So she said, you know, I just need to do
something in my house just so I don't keep falling
and things like that. So they actually got in
touch with me, the Habitat got in touch with
me so I could do a consult, an in -home consult
for this woman. And I came up with a nice...
two -page report for her as far as putting handrails
in as far as her entryway from the outside. She
had a lot of rugs everywhere. Just things like
that that I just noted and I told her how, you
know, we could fix the problem and she was just
so grateful. She did everything to the point
now that she's actually volunteering for Habitat.
trying to help others. So that is a great story.
That was a really a real special client for me
that really kind of belittled what I do and why
I do it. Agism is definitely an issue in healthcare.
You get to a certain age, and especially women,
I don't know why, but I know a lot of women in
that stage where the doctors or healthcare professionals
just aren't listening to them. My poor mom -in
-law, she went through that too. In her 90s,
she would complain about this or that. And the
doctors were like, well, yeah, you know, you're
92. So, I mean, to a certain extent, OK, but
I'd rather them say, I wish I could help you.
I don't know what to do. I mean, that would be
the better answer instead of just dismissing
it. You know, it is what it is. So this was great.
Do you have any advice for upcoming designers
who may not even realize about this whole concept
and, you know, what would you say to them or
how, if you were to speak to a class of designers,
what would you say? So I'm actually giving We
have a lot of community colleges and colleges
around this area, and some of them do provide
a certificate or a degree in interior design.
So I'm actually, I came up with a program just
for universal design. I'm not the interior design
instructor, but I've been brought in to teach
universal design as it relates to aging in place.
So they can get. a hand on what this is all about
and maybe they can start focusing on something
like this. I actually have a lot of OTs that
come to me and say, this is something that I
really want to start doing for my clients. How
would you recommend me going about it? Should
I go for my interior design degree, too? I say,
no, no, no, no, no. You don't need to do that.
But start with getting knowledge of universal
design and getting your CAP certificate. And
once you have that under your belt, then you'll
have a good education. focus behind you to know
what to look for and what to recommend. You don't
need your whole interior design. And as far as
products coming up, that's something that, you
know, if you start belonging to different organizations
and networking, you'll be getting all of that
that you're going to need in order to help your
clients. So that's what I recommend is just You
know, educating, whether I'm going to, you know,
a facility or online, just educating yourself
about aging in place, universal design, and getting
some type of certificate to give you some credibility.
You know, when you talk to people and you say,
yeah, this is what I do, but okay, so what's
your background in it? So what organizations
do you recommend that people join, or what are
you involved in? So one of the organizations,
so of course for Aging in Place, I am now a member
of your and Janet's Aging in Place directory,
which is wonderful. You know, that's one of the
things that when I started working in the sector,
I knew I needed vetted people that I could work
with, that I could trust to refer to my clients.
And I didn't know where to begin. And that's
when I started doing some research. And I came
across the Aging in Place National Aging in Place
Council. And I noticed that we didn't have a
mass chapter here. So I was originally one of
the founding members of the National Aging in
Place Council in Massachusetts. Wow. They had
one and then it went defunct a little bit and
we kind of resurrected. So that's how I started
and then just getting involved with things around
this area. And then again, when I came up, when
I started aging in place directory, I said, oh,
this is another great resource that I need to
get involved in because it's just so important.
The education that you give to people in general,
and then getting people of the profession together
so we can get to know one another. So we can
talk about, you know, things that we go through
in our industry that we can help one another
with. So I think it's great that what you and
Esther, that you and Janet had done. And of course,
your Senior Safety Advice website, which I've
been on a few times too. Things like this is
just so important, not just people in general,
but people in the industry too. So I thank you
for all that you're doing. Oh, thank you. Thank
you. Yeah, I was very surprised at the lack of
communities that do that, because you're right.
I mean, all the aging in place, and then you
know that there are so many people involved in
this process. You know, why aren't they, why
can't you find them all in one place? And then
we were getting emails and phone calls from people.
I mean, here we are promoting to do it. And they
were like, okay, great. You know, I agree. I
want to do it, but who do I call to do it? I'm
thinking, well, you just go online. I mean, they're
everywhere. And I couldn't find them. They were
so hard. One on Facebook, one on LinkedIn. They
were scattered everywhere. I said, look, we're
going to have to bite the bullet and make this
thing. But it's been a great project. And I'm
so. proud actually to be part of it and honored
to be part of it. And Janet is such a dynamo.
She is. You know, with it as well. So I'm ungrateful
that she let me in and help her. So she does
all the great OT design stuff and I'm, you know,
the engineer in the back with all the... SEO
internet stuff. But collaboration together is
just making this work and be being successful,
you know, so. Exactly. That's what it's all about.
But it's really, you know, as you said, it's
so grateful and so not grateful, but it's just
it just fills your heart when you can do something
for somebody and you're just I mean, it's everything.
And, you know, as an OT, I mean, it's one of
the reasons I went into OT, you know, I worked
in head injury and it was just such an amazing,
I still think of all my patients every day, you
know, how are they doing, you know, what happened.
It's just... And you really made a difference
in their life, you know, and, you know, and that's
what it's all about. That's what it's all about.
At the end of the day, you know, when you're...
When you're done with your days, you want to
make sure that what you did impacted someone
somewhere somehow. That's important. Oh, Evangeline,
I want to thank you so much for being with me
and sharing your sage advice. I think, again,
I'm going to repeat, I think your clients are
very, very lucky to... to have you. So if you're
listening to this podcast, watching it on YouTube,
check her out at Evangelineinteriors .com. She
really does do design for ageless living. And
I think that is so important, not only for seniors,
but for family members with older adults, you
know, in their lives. And I think it's so great
that you're doing this for design students because
I think later generations, people had children
later. So a lot of these design students have
older parents. And if not, at least grandparents.
So they have a perfect demographic to work on.
Yes, absolutely right there too, yes. Yeah, it
would be interesting to see some of their case
studies. Yes, but who knows maybe I can share
you some in a year or two who knows All right,
Vangeline, I hope you have a beautiful day and
Again, thank you and we will see you again Thank
you so much. It was a pleasure really speaking
with you today. Thank you so much. But thanks
Vangeline. Thanks. Take care