Interview with Jackie Haddon, SRES, CAPS

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Most people don’t resist safer homes; they resist the words that make them feel old. We sit down with Portland-based realtor and accessibility consultant Jackie Haddon to rewrite the script: future-ready design that looks beautiful, lives easy, and quietly prevents the one-second fall that can rewrite a family’s story. From “accessible living” to “ethical craftsmanship,” we share the language and the checklists that help families, builders, and realtors act before crisis hits.

Jackie walks us through her personal ALS caregiving experience, the costly bathroom remodels that arrived too late, and the lesson that changed her career. We unpack universal design features that serve everyone—curbless showers, no-step entries, reachable controls, smart lighting—and the tiny choices that become major barriers, like a one-inch threshold or an outlet set too low. We also dive into the Livable Home Certification, how it ties real accessibility to MLS search fields, and why educating sales teams and designers is as vital as selecting the right fixtures. The result is a roadmap that respects dignity, protects resale value, and expands market reach.

Zooming out, we explore where the niche is headed: policy shifts that reward Type A accessibility, the rise of ADUs, and the return of multigenerational living. You’ll hear a luxury case study that hides “sexy grab bars” in plain sight and proves that good design doesn’t announce itself. We close with practical ways to start: host a “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” workshop through trusted community hubs, build a vetted contractor network with real caregiving insight, and use smart-home tech to support daily independence.

If you care about safer homes that don’t look clinical—and a housing market that finally reflects how people actually live—press play. Then share this with a builder, a realtor, or someone in the sandwich generation who’s one decision away from a better plan. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what’s the one feature you think every future-ready home needs?

For more information about aging in place and caregiving for older adults, visit our website at SeniorSafetyAdvice.com