Aging in Place – Your Place

By Habitat for Humanity | May 31, 2019

Everyone deserves to age with dignity in their home and community.

As Americans live longer and healthier lives our primary mission is to help older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes for as long as possible.

The Older Americans Act of 1965 is to promote the dignity of older adults by providing services and support that enable them to remain independent and engaged in their community.  Although this was a month-long national campaign in May, it is actually a year-round awareness for us at Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity, where we provide assistance to our older generation in Carteret and Onslow Counties.  We, along with partners, provide products and services that foster safe, livable homes and communities to improve the quality of life for older adults. Our primary mission is to help older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes for as long as possible.

Aging in Place is defined as “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level”. Bottom line – modified access made this easy through Habitat. One of our initiatives and mission in 2019 is to make Aging in Place (AIP) recognized support in our communities. To date, we have been able to build wheelchair ramps, and other needs such as larger doorways, window replacement,  grab bars, and other simple needs all in order to allow our older generation remain in their homes and share with their community, and participate.

A few facts:

  • 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 Every Day
  • Among Adults 65 and Over  81% own their own homes
  • 87% prefer to age in their own homes and communities  
  • 90% believe that they will remain in their homes and communities for a lifetime

Aging in Place Initiatives Utilize Existing HFH Programs in New Ways Build on Critical Home Repair.  Here is how:

Critical Home Repair Critical Home Repair is defined as extensive interior or exterior work performed to alleviate critical health, life and safety issues or code violations for homeowners in need

  • Extensive Interior or Exterior Work to Help Alleviate:
  • Critical Health Issues • Life and Safety Issues • Code Violations • Preserve Affordability of housing stock
  • Working with older adults-preferably defined as 65+
  • Develop a more life-safety focus • Conduct home assessment  for environmental/health analysis
  • Consider key design modifications for Aging In Place – door widening, zero-step entrance, bathroom grab bars, lever door handles

Home Preservation Home Preservation is a nationwide effort to serve low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes.

Build on Home Preservation Working with older adults-preferably defined as 65+

  • Ramp building (volunteer friendly) • Railing repair/installation (semi-skilled) • Safe paths to frequently accessed areas of the exterior including smooth, flat, stable paths from doors to the car, mailbox, trash bins, etc. Remove plants that drop slippery fruit or leaves on walking path • Adequate exterior lighting and home sufficiently visible from the street for safety and security. • Long term–develop a long-term maintenance plan including routine mechanical, yard, gutter, and “fixer-up” work.

You can find our Critical Home Repair application on this website under forms.  Simply complete the form and email or send in the information to us. Your application will be addressed by the order to the needs, costs and our volunteers available.

How can you help?  Donate your time, your goods and services, and shop at our ReStores.

Any donation offers Crystal Coast Habitat to not only build new homes, but keep our families in their homes, keeping them safe, healthy, and engaged through shelter.

We build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.

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