The Baby Boomers are moving through the culture like the snake that swallowed the elephant. We've passed through the hippie, yippie, and yuppie stages, bringing with us the lion's share of the nation's economic activity. Now we are looking at our soon-to-be empty nests and getting ready to downsize. Our homes are our castles, but our castles are too big and unwieldy for the next phase of our lives. We want to replace the "big white elephant" with a small gem of comfort that is accessible, safe, and easily maintained.

Adelaide Altman has created a practical and timely guide to help prevent accidents, ensure comfort, and maintain an independent, sustainable lifestyle in your own home as you age. This could be the most exciting home renovation of your life! ElderHouse explains basic interior design elements to maximize living pleasure in a smaller living space. These are homes that emphasize abilities, not disabilities. 256pp.

Four maxims govern the design for the retrofit of your smaller, independent home:

• Begin with a dream
• Discover the fun
• Stay cool
• Be yourself

ElderHouse offers the basics for making the very most of the best house of all: your own.