Aging in Place with Habitat for Humanity
With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, this is one of the fastest-growing age groups in the U.S.
But a troubling reality is that many older adults, about 19 million, are living in homes that are in disrepair or inadequate for their needs and unable to access resources to make these places livable.
At Habitat, we understand the positive impact that growing old in your own home and community can have. That’s why we partner with families, communities and local organizations across the U.S. to help older adults improve their homes and their quality of life so they can flourish where they live.
Find your local Habitat
Find your local Habitat
Our approach
To guide our work, Habitat developed Housing Plus, a comprehensive aging in place strategy. This person-centered approach uses two different assessments to tailor the process to each homeowner’s needs:
- A home repair evaluation by a construction specialist from the local Habitat organization.
- A functional survey, completed in coordination with a local human services professional. During this conversation, the homeowner discusses their activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating, as well as how they pay bills, clean their homes, communicate with others, run errands and manage any medications they take.
These assessments, which consider everything from the resident’s lifestyle to type of home, allow Habitat to address the older adult’s needs holistically, improving the likelihood they can age in place.
Not only do we complete person-specific home repairs and modifications — from widening hallways and installing grab bars to building a ramp and updating flooring — but by working with local community organizations, we can connect older adults with social services to address age-related issues including health, isolation, hunger and lack of transportation.
Together, Habitat and our partners are fostering safe, livable homes and communities where older adults can thrive. Contact your local Habitat to find what aging in place support is available in your area.
