As part of Senior Coastsiders efforts to assure that all senior homeowners have a safe, warm, and dry environment in which to live, we are beginning the application process this month for the annual Home Repair Day.
As the cost of living increases and resources become scarcer, many seniors may have difficulty keeping their houses safe and accessible, let alone afford to pay for repairs out of pocket. Senior Coastsiders would like to invite low-income seniors to apply for the annual home repair day.
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Case worker Tracey Gould said, “The home repair program helps our clients stay in their own homes and remain independent.”
Over the course of the year, people ask for help with many repairs, including installation of safety bars (known as grab bars), repairs on existing decks and handrails inside and outside the home, power washing of homes, clearing of rain gutters, gardening and painting of the interior and exterior, installation of ramps and building fences. One of the impetuses for the home repair program is to allow those 60 and over to live in a safe and secure environment at home.
There are ways to make the home safer for seniors. As physical changes occur with age, there are changes in balance and perception. Check each room for potential tripping hazards and reduce the risk of falling. Check clutter on the floor and stairs, make sure that extension cords do not stick out into the room, have clearly lit entrances and exits to the house and yard and make sure rugs have nonskid backings. For more detailed repairs, Coastsiders should consider participating in Home Rehab Day.
The application process is fairly simple, including a short form and request for documents showing ownership of the home. A committee reviews the applications after the March 15 deadline and then homeowners are notified of their status. All work is done on June 5 unless there is some preparation required (for example, when there is painting, a house will often need to be primed first).
The process is as follows after acceptance to the program. The home rehab coordinator and a project leader visit each house, assess the needs, list the materials and order them and determine how many volunteers are needed at each site. The homeowner needs to be present for this visit and also on the home repair day.
Requests for assistance can be as basic as installing smoke detectors, changing batteries, installing low-wattage light bulbs or more complex like fixing leaky faucets, adjusting cabinet locks and installing screen doors.
For more information, please call Senior Coastsiders at 726-9056. And if you would like to volunteer to help instead, give us a call too.
Vicki Cormack is coordinator of Volunteers and Home Rehab director for Senior Coastsiders.
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