Autumn is here, but falls are preventable. September is Fall Prevention Month and we at Rebuilding Together Baltimore want to provide resources to reduce the number of falls in senior households. The National Council on Aging promotes critical information to prevent falls and prepare your home for aging in place safely through their National Falls Prevention Resource Center. Equipping seniors with tools and resources, at any income level, will help them continue their lives in dignity.
According to the United States Census Bureau by 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older. Only 10% of the nation's 115 million housing units are able to accommodate them. Because of Covid, seniors are staying at home more, and are more isolated, which makes home and safety interventions even more important.
The majority of the critical work performed by Rebuilding Together Baltimore serves seniors over 60. The average time lived in their home is over 30 years. Occasionally, as people age their level of mobility and chronic health issues require the need for modifications to make their homes livable for longer. Safety additions such as:
Grab bars for showers and baths
Reinforcement of handrails
Better Lighting
Exterior ramps
Removing rugs and replacing with slip free and easily cleanable flooring
These are just some of the ways we help our neighbors. Low income seniors encounter additional financial barriers to receiving the modifications they need. We coordinate with agencies in Baltimore City and Baltimore County such as Housing Upgrades to Benefit Seniors (HUBS) and the Baltimore County Department of Aging. Our partnership helps us complete the work we do at no cost to the homeowner and make a lasting impact in seniors' ability to stay in the communities they love.