Aging in Community

Aging in Community (also known as Aging in Place) is a movement to not only enable people to age safely in their homes but also to create an environment where the older adults can continue to learn and contribute, develop relationships with people of all ages, maintain a healthy lifestyle, live independently and receive healthcare and support services that are community-based.

What we’re doing

We currently support aging residents locally through updating their homes with modifications such as ramps, lifts and grab bars.  We are looking at ways to further support homeowners as they age in place, particularly in making modifications to our Homeownership and Home Repair Programs. 

Part of our community outreach activities (to help spread the word about our Repair Program) included partnering with the Harford and Cecil counties’ libraries. We gave a series of presentations to the public on “Aging in the Community.” During those sessions, we distributed HomeFit Guides provided to us from the AARP.  We also formed a partnership with Maryland Relay, Getting There Ride Share, and Christmas In April so they could present information about their programs and distribute their materials at our sessions.

In June 2016, we invited representatives from health care organizations, faith-based entities, Office on Aging, volunteer repair groups, etc., to meet with us to see if there were things we could do better together, and to strengthen our relationships with these important contacts.  

In July 2018, Habitat for Humanity International announced it received grant funding from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to implement a two-year pilot program designed by the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing that combined services in nursing and occupational therapy with Habitat’s expertise in home repairs. The Community Aging in Place — Advancing Better Living for Elders, or CAPABLE, program was implemented at five Habitat affiliates, including Habitat Susquehanna. (The goal was to empower seniors to maintain independence in their homes. The homeowners had to meet the eligibility requirements and be willing to participate in meetings with a nurse and occupational therapist as part of the CAPABLE process.) 

In 2019 we gave a presentation at the Cecil County Providers Roundtable meeting and the Harford County’s “Multi-D” (Multi-Disciplinary) team meeting to give an update about our Repair Program and the CAPABLE grant to county organizations involved with helping seniors. We also gave a presentation that year at Habitat International’s Affiliate Conference to brief other Habitat offices across the country on our role in the CAPABLE pilot program.