A dedicated aging in place (AIP) program offered by the Oswego County Habitat for Humanity (OCHFH) in New York says it is seeing success by incorporating family, community and local resources to ensure older homeowners can remain where they prefer.
“It’s been projected that, over the next 20 years, households led by individuals in their 80s will become the fastest growing age group, which provides stability within their communities,” said Samuel Raponi, OCHFH executive director.
Through the organization’s AIP program, Habitat collaborates with families, local organizations and other community members in an effort to provide homes that prioritize living for older adults, he said.
“This ultimately enhances their quality of life. We employ two different assessments in each case to ensure that the homeowners’ needs are clearly understood,” he added.
An initial assessment of the client’s living situation aims to assess each person’s daily living activities, which are scrutinized by a “health or human services professional,” the organization said. This includes how they manage regular tasks like cleaning, shopping, paying bills or interacting with their community. A second evaluation specifically assesses home repair needs, and how to make a dwelling more livable for the needs of an older person.
“These assessments enable OCHFH to provide modifications to their homes tailored to each homeowner’s specific lifestyle,” Raponi added. “Among the kinds of modifications we make are installing lever door handles, ramps, railings, grab bars, walk-in showers with a low threshold, and raised toilets to make homes more accessible for older adults.”
Other resources, including Meals on Wheels, may be seen as necessary to deploy depending on a person’s circumstances, and all combine into a living situation that is aimed at being more generally beneficial for someone seeking to age in their own home.
AIP is actively seeking more collaborative partners in the health care sector, owing to unique challenges visited upon older people who may not be able to adequately address their health needs.
“Low-income older adults face a higher risk of chronic diseases and disabilities due to limited access to primary care and a greater likelihood of living in substandard, deteriorating housing,” Raponi added.
A recent study from Carewell suggested that many older adults see aging in place as a financial necessity considering the costs of other kinds of living arrangements older people may choose. Nearly half of respondents (47%) characterized aging in place as both a preference and a financial necessity in tandem.
