Senior program helps prevent fall hazards, other home safety issues

One out of every four adults age 65 and older falls every year. Those falls account for more than 850,000 hospitalizations and more than 29,000 deaths annually. These figures are from the National Council on Aging (NCA), which recognized Falls Prevention Week Sept. 20-24.

Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) reminds Sandusky County seniors that eliminating trip and fall hazards in senior homes is one of the goals of GLCAP’s Senior Helping Hands program. The program provides eligible Sandusky County seniors with health and safety related home repairs that include installing handrails and grab bars, repairing ramps, improving handicap toilet access and other services.

“Our main goal is to help seniors navigate safely in their homes. Each home is different, and we specialize in modifying these homes to fit the person's needs,” GLCAP Chore Specialist Bryan Adams said. “The Senior Helping Hands program fixes problem areas so that we can prevent a dangerous and potentially life-threatening fall from happening.”

The Senior Helping Hands program is available at no cost for eligible Sandusky County seniors age 60 or older who are at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines (e.g. $2,147 per month/household of one; $2,903 per month/household of two). For seniors over 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines, Senior Helping Homes is available on a sliding fee scale according to income.

For more information on Senior Helping Hands, visit www.glcap.org/seniorhelpinghands or call 419-332-8499.