All Kinds of Ways to Age Safely at Home
By Kathryn Arbour
The Village concept, a national grassroots movement, provides aging homeowners with resources to continue living in their homes and neighborhoods safely. Organizations like A Little Help, which began in 2008 as Washington Park Cares and founded by an older couple living in the Washington Park neighborhood of Denver, CO, enlists volunteers to provide some basic services for older homeowners who the organization as members. Transportation ranks as the top need for individuals who no longer drive, but want to live independently. Home repairs and cleaning services are also big on the list of requests. The Village to Village Network has its root in Boston, when in 2001, a group of neighbors in the Beacon Hill section of town, decided to band together to ensure that everyone who wanted to could age in their homes with the help of everyone else. See the recent Denver Post article featuring this organization for more information.
The Area Agencies on Aging in communities across the country offer information and guidance on organizations that specialize in services for older adults. The Denver Regional Council of Governments oversees the metro Area Agencies on Aging.
Our supporter and partner, Handyman Matters, with locations around the country, provides skilled craftspeople who make safety modifications and upgrades to homes at hourly or packaged rates.
BrightNest, one of our newest partners and supporters, is offering a free service that provides home maintenance tips that can be customized to the user’s location, home and preferences. To learn more and sign up for a free newsletter.
At RTMD we provide crucial homes repairs for those who live on low incomes, own their homes, and typically are older adults, veterans or people with disabilities. Our work helps folks age safely in their homes, as we focus primarily on repairs that will make the home more healthy and safe. Please visit us at www.rebuildingdenver.org to learn more, volunteer or donate.
Independently living is something we all cherish. Take advantage of the many resources available in your community to make your home safe and healthy.
