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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Klamath Falls fugitive died of hypothermia Pot dispensaries headed for White City? Commercial users can get rid of pesticide waste for free Grants Pass grad designed giant lion in halftime show Ashland car theft, take-two Purple Parrot suspect arrested Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Ashland car theft, take-two Purple Parrot suspect arrested Medford murder trial headed for third try Emergency Services, Feb. 3 Woman sentenced for harboring Jackson County Jail escapee Downtown Grounds burglarized Politics and Elections Walden sets town halls on Friday Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Education SOU board names officers, committees SOU students targeted in Drive Less campaign Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Medford reconsiders full-day kindergarten Environment Commercial users can get rid of pesticide waste for free Jackson County looks at compensation for wolf kills Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures Mt. 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Live Music in Local Clubs Jesse Cook plays the Craterian Theater Shybo Torres plays South Stage Cellars Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Trio Valtorna plays SOU Music Hall Community Events Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label A look at the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. Ty Barnett and Ian Harris are 'Divided' Dining Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Klamath Falls fugitive died of hypothermia ... Ashland car theft, take-two Purple Parrot suspect arrested ... Medford murder trial headed for third try ... Klamath Falls fugitive died of hypothermia ... Ashland car theft, take-two Purple Parrot suspect arrested ... Medford murder trial headed for third try ... REAL ESTATE Homes for the long haul Age-friendly houses being built in Central Point part of a trend Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 1, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 1, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News CENTRAL POINT — With their children grown and no need for the backyard swimming pool, Erika Peyralans and her husband, Bernard, decided it was time to downsize. The Peyralans searched the Rogue Valley, looking for a place not only for now, but for retirement and the golden years. They wound up choosing to build in the Twin Creeks development, four blocks away. The house, built by W.L. Moore Construction, is part of a Lifelong Housing certification movement designed to create more accessible housing. "My mom uses a walker right now and it's difficult for her to go places that aren't accessible, and my father has mobility issues as well," Erika Peyralans said. "We want our family members and friends, who want to come and visit, not to worry about if they can can get upstairs and into the living room." W.L. Moore began building Lifelong-certified houses last spring, selling the first four before they were finished. When the Peyralans took a look, it didn't take much convincing. "We absolutely adore the neighborhood," she said. "It's a place to live comfortably and safely. There were no steps and a gentle grade from parking to the sidewalks. This is the house we intend to live in until we are no more." Among the simple differences are the use of inch-wide rocker light switches instead of toggle switches, making it easier for arthritic users to turn on lights and fans. Kitchen sinks and bathroom vanities are designed with modular construction to make them convertible for wheelchair use. Bret Moore said his company has built and sold five Lifelong houses with a sixth on the way. With Rogue Valley Council of Governments and AARP promoting the idea, he thinks Lifelong houses could create their own lasting niche market. "Our valley's population is aging and the need will become more prevalent," Moore said. "We saw an opportunity to do a little more and provide something else to people," Moore said. "We built a total of 13 houses last year and the first two Lifelong houses were pretty much completed when they were sold. The next two became presolds because people saw what we were doing with the first two." Dale Bohannon, a retired Jackson County building official, who consults on housing code matters with RVCOG, helped develop standards for the certification. The practices adopted for Lifelong certification are not connected with federal Americans with Disabilities Act, state or local building codes, he said. ADA codes, he said, don't apply to single- or two-family houses. "We took some of the best practices we were all aware of out of the code administration process and applied them to single-family residences," Bohannon said. One goal, already met, is to have a check-box indicating a home meets the standards when it is listed with Southern Oregon Multiple Listing Service. "We're gaining momentum, now that there is more awareness," Bohannon said. "Everyone we've sat down and talked with says it makes sense. They wonder why we didn't think of this a decade ago." He said he inspects a house after it's framed and then again when it's completed. The reviews take about half an hour. Looking over the first four houses last year in Central Point, Bohannon determined wall electrical outlets needed to be higher. "The big issue for builders is how to site the home so we have level access from the driveway, parking areas and sidewalk," he said. As accessibility becomes a larger factor in home buyers' eyes, Bohannon thinks, builders will respond. "They'll be able to advertise their homes meet these recommendations and will facilitate you living in your home longer," he said. "By the end of the decade, I think it will involve 25 percent of new construction in Southern Oregon." There are three levels of certification, the first ensuring the house is accessible to all visitors, with living rooms and hallways to bathrooms wide enough for wheelchairs. The second level rates a house fully accessible with a home’s central living area accessible for lifelong living. It ensures a mobility device can perform all personal and housekeeping functions. The highest certification provides enhanced accessibility and has customized, personalized accessibility, and may include smart technologies or features meeting the needs of visually or hearing-impaired residents. "A lot of these things don't cost more, but will be valuable to many people," Peyralans said. "We don't have grab bars in the bathrooms, but the walls are reinforced so we can easily add them later." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge .       By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 1, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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