Every Generation Needs A Safe, Stable Home

Every generation deserves a safe, stable home to live. That's why Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is started Age Well at Home. 

With the explosion of the Baby Boomers turning 65, the need for helping homeowners adapt their home for successful aging will grow rapidly.

According to research there are 5 characteristics that most beneficial for helping people age in place:

• Meaningful connections
• Purpose in life
• Safe & healthy living environment
• Access to services & transportation
• Navigational support to maintain stability

As we look to prepare for future needs we have divided our program options into five categories of a continuum of services: 

• Homeowner partners (volunteer visitor to check on home situation)
• Seasonal maintenance/chore services
• Minor accessibility projects: ramps/railings, level walkways, lighting, grab bars, lever handles (doors & sinks)
• Major accessibility projects: Create or retrofit bathroom, laundry and bedroom, flooring or widen doorways
• Create: Attached or detached apartment, homes with Universal Design                      

           As we continue to research and develop our program we have found that the above categories are all significant needs in our community. However, we will need to understand how our expertise in volunteer management, construction skills and working with vulnerable seniors match community needs and resources.

As we continue to understand the aging population we are also finding that Baby Boomers (those 55-70) view aging much differently than previous generations. They will demand a multi-generational and community centered approach to services rather than be isolated in "senior residences." So we will need to learn a different approach in how we serve them in our communities. Home Repair Aging in Place

Aging in Place

Aging in Place - Person Centered Priorities

According to a recent article, the top 5 things that assist aging adults remain living in their homes:

     1. Having meaningful connections
     2. A purpose that motivates action                  
     3. Access to transportation and services
     4. Safe and healthy living environment
     5. Support to achieve the above

When folks lose their purpose they lose their motivation for existence.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is looking for ways to not only help aging homeowners live in a safe and healthy environment but also investigate other ways we can help homeowners age in place.

We are looking at strategic partnerships with other agencies to assist homeowners with their non-housing but essential needs to help them successfully age in place. We are also looking at how we might use our volunteers in more creative ways to help aging homeowners. Age in Place Home Maintenance

Please share your idea's to help homeowners age in place.

Aging in Place

There are 10,000 individuals turning 65 each day. 90% of those adults want to continue to live in their current home as long as possible. 36% of homeowners over the age of 52 added at least one assistive feature to their home in 2012.

Given that over 50% of those we serve through ABWK are aging adults (over 60) and that we are seeing an ever growing need to perform deeper accessibility work in these homes, we are looking to expand our services to these aging homeowners. tchabitat.org

We currently install ramps, railings, grab bars and perform other basic accessibility work in some of these homes. This is in addition to our regular health and safety projects we do in partnership with aging adults.

However, as baby boomers continue to reach 60 in droves and more homeowners desire to age in place we see an incredible opportunity to expand our accessibility services to include: zero entry showers, home entrances without steps, widen doorways, install lever door handles etc.

We also see a need for adapting multi-story homes and adapt them to one level living. Either by closing off the upstairs or creating another housing unit to rent so the homeowner has another source of income and another community connection. We also may expand our home building to include senior housing. One possibility might be to exchange a homeowners 2 story home for one that is more "senior friendly."

We have much more research to do to understand where our niche might be in helping aging adults live independently in their homes and communities as long as possible. Home Maintenance Home Repair and Accessibility