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The conversation around aging and disability in America often focuses on expensive long-term care facilities or in-home nursing. But a more critical and often overlooked issue is far simpler: the homes people live in aren’t designed for aging bodies. Most older adults and people with disabilities want to remain in their homes for life. With a critical shortage of affordable and accessible housing alternatives, their ability to safely do so is a major public health concern.
At CICOA, we believe this challenge presents a crucial opportunity to serve our community. This is why our Safe at Home service, which provides home accessibility modifications, is a key pillar of our CICOA Reimagined strategic plan. We are scaling this service to meet an undeniable need, helping people stay safe, independent and out of costly institutional care. This is a topic that takes on even greater urgency as we observe Falls Prevention Awareness Week (Sept. 22-26).
A Proactive Approach to Fall Prevention
Falls are not an inevitable part of aging, but they are a devastating and costly one. Every year, 1 in 4 Americans aged 65 and older fall, resulting in more than 3 million emergency room visits and a significant number of hospitalizations. The public health concern goes beyond the numbers; it’s the cascading, life-altering impact that follows a fall. An injury can lead to a long, difficult recovery, a loss of confidence, and often, an irreversible decline in mobility and independence. This can make living at home unfeasible, forcing a transition to more costly institutional care.
A significant portion of these falls—as many as 40%—are preventable. The solution is often simple and low-cost. A single home modification project (e.g. grab bars, handrails and ramps) is a fraction of the cost of one emergency room visit or hospital stay. For healthcare systems and policymakers, investing in home accessibility is a highly effective preventative strategy. It’s a low-cost, high-impact intervention that can prevent or delay the need for more expensive long-term care and promote a healthier, more independent community.
CICOA’s Strategic Approach to Home Safety
CICOA has been helping people with home safety for years, but our CICOA Reimagined plan calls for us to scale this service to meet the growing need. As people age, they often discover their homes are not built to accommodate their changing physical needs. With a shortage of affordable, accessible housing on the market, modifying an existing home becomes a dignified and financially sound alternative to moving or relying on costly institutional care. This approach is not only far less expensive than building new homes with these features, but it also allows individuals to maintain their autonomy and deep community ties.
According to AARP, 75% of older adults want to remain in their homes for life, and 43% will need to make modifications to do so. Our Safe at Home program is designed to bridge this gap. We provide a full home safety assessment to identify risks, followed by simple, affordable modifications like:
- Adding grab bars and handrails
- Installing entry ramps
- Improving lighting
Our approach is designed to be accessible, helping older adults and individuals of all ages with disabilities who reside in Central Indiana. We ensure the quality of our work through assessments by trained professionals and installation by licensed contractors, so partners can be confident in the service’s long-term effectiveness.
We also help educate residents on how to correctly use their new modifications and how to identify other safety hazards, ensuring the benefits of our work last.
A Vision for Our Community
Ultimately, this work is about more than just home modifications. It’s about empowering people to live with dignity and independence, right where they want to be. Our community’s safety net is beginning to fray, and we believe that small, strategic actions can make a tremendous difference.
We envision a community where a person’s age or ability is not a barrier to living safely at home. We’re committed to building this future, brick by brick, grab bar by grab bar. I invite business leaders and policymakers who share this vision to partner with us. Let’s explore how we can work together to deliver impactful outcomes and build a brighter future for those we serve.
Related:
» A New Chapter Begins: CICOA Reimagined
» Expanding Our Reach and Sustaining Impact with Private Pay Solutions
» Community Health Workers: A Scalable, Proactive Approach to Care
» Empowering Caregivers, the Unsung Heroes
Lisa Schneekloth
As President & CEO of CICOA, Lisa Schneekloth’s vision is shaped by more than 15 years of experience within the organization, from direct client support to establishing robust compliance standards. Driven by a commitment to excellence and innovation, she collaborates with the community to expand CICOA’s impact and ensure individuals have the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest.
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