Many people are now discovering aging in place. It is a very popular topic now. The vast majority of people over fifty are voicing a desire to remain in their homes for the rest of their lives. To that end, many of them need help to do this. Some do not, but most are going to need some type of renovation or modification assistance to make their homes workable for them.
As aging in place professionals – those devoted to helping people stay in their homes, regardless of their current age or level – we want to see people succeed at living the remainder of their lives in their current homes. Regardless of our area of specialization or concentration in the services we bring to our clients and the marketplace in general, we are committed to helping people stay in their homes. This is not an idle desire but an ardent pursuit that we have. We take the time to review the physical aspects of their homes and compare their functional abilities with what their homes allow them to do. When there are limitations placed on what people can do because their homes simply do not provide the space, comfort, or access for them to live well in that space, we want to get involved to help them fix this inequity.
The issue is one of sincerity in what we do. Can the people we are serving, as well as their families, easily tell that we like what we do without us having to wear a sign or announce that we really enjoy it? Is it obvious by our enthusiasm, attitude, and speech that we believe in aging in place and that we are dedicated to finding the appropriate solution for people to make staying in their home a reality – regardless of the value of their home, the age of it, or their budget for addressing work that needs to be done?
Can our clients, people that may want to engage our services in the future, and the people and organizations that we currently partner with to provide our services tell that we genuinely enjoy and like what we are doing and that we truly enjoy creating the solutions for our clients? They should be able to tell that we totally committed and not just mildly interested in what do – or that we are doing it to collect a paycheck because providing aging in place solutions is such a popular activity right now with plenty of demand.
We can’t just go through the motions and act like we enjoy what we are doing if this is not really true. This attitude will show also. It has to be an effortless display (not contrived or forced) of joy and enthusiasm about what we are doing. Then, that feeling can transfer to them, and they will like working with us and look forward to the solutions we create for them.
There may be some clients that have more routine needs than others and less exciting solutions, but there is nothing unimportant about what we are providing for them or any reason to approach such assignments less enthusiastically than the more challenging projects.
There is so much satisfaction to be derived from the work that we do with our clients – regardless of the size of the project or how much they are able to spend on the solutions – that we really need to be sold on the value of what we do and the way we are helping people. We are able to help people in a very significant way to remain in their homes. They want to do this, and they need someone to work with them who believes in what they want to achieve as much or more than they do.
We won’t be able to be effective long-term in providing the types of customized and personalized aging in place solutions that our clients need and require if we don’t firmly believe in the value of what we are doing. Our design, consulting, assessment, construction, equipment, or other products, solutions, or services we offer must be delivered in a way that leaves no room for doubt to anyone watching us that we believe in what we do and that this is much more important and much larger than a paycheck. Our passion and commitment should be evident – not contrived or something we have to proclaim. It should show through.
If we don’t fully b in a very significant way