Lexington partners with nonprofit to provide home improvements for seniors
Lexington is partnering with a nonprofit to provide funding for improvements at the homes of aging residents in the city, officials announced Thursday.
As people age into their twilight years, the homes they have lived in for decades may become less and less accessible as they get older. Rather than having to think about moving away, this new program, called the Home Modification Program, will finance improvements for low-income seniors who want to age in place.
Lexington is partnering with Bluegrass Care Navigators for the initiative.
Improvements can include handrails, ramps, changes to window and door access and the addition of no-slip flooring.
“Helping older adults age in place is one of the smartest investments we can make because it allows residents to remain independent, connected to their communities, and in the homes they love,” Charlie Lanter, the city’s commissioner of housing advocacy and community development, said at a Wednesday press conference.
To qualify for the program, residents must be 62 or older, live in Fayette County, make 80% or less of the area median income and need safety improvements to their home. Both renters and homeowners are eligible for assistance.
If a senior’s application is approved, an occupational therapist from Bluegrass Care Navigators will visit the home and decide with the resident what improvements are needed to the house. A contractor will then come in and make the improvements.
“We are proud to be a part of the City’s commitment to seniors,” Bluegrass Care Navigators President Jamie Moen said. “By combining the City’s resources with our clinical expertise, we can meet people where they are and respond to real needs in their homes.”
Residents can learn more about the program at Bluegrass Care Navigators’ website.
