Habitat is Celebrating Older American’s Month

WAPPINGERS FALLS – Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time for us to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older Americans, highlight important trends, and strengthen our commitment to honoring our older citizens. This year’s theme, Aging Unbound, offers an opportunity to explore a wide range of aging experiences and to promote the importance of enjoying independence and fulfillment by paving our own paths as we age.

Habitat Dutchess is strengthening our commitment to serving our older citizens through our innovative Housing Plus model. Habitat Dutchess will help tailor a holistic approach for each homeowner, starting with their needs then building out a solution that incorporates not only home repairs and modifications, but community resources as well.

The first component of the Housing Plus model is a human services assessment conducted by a health professional who visits the home and learns about the homeowner’s activities of daily living, such as how they pay bills, clean, communicate with others, run errands and shop. At that time, the health professional can help determine if the homeowner would benefit from additional community resources, like connection to the Office for the Aging. The second component is a complete home-repair evaluation, which our Construction Director completes alongside the homeowner. Together, they determine what home modifications can and should be made.

“We are now looking at the bigger picture of how to best serve our aging population by coming at it with a Housing Plus Approach. Habitat is connecting people to services that help them have the quality of life they deserve. We need to make our senior’s homes fit their lives instead of making their lives fit their house.” Says Maureen Brennan Lashlee, CEO.

Information about Aging in Place program and applications forms are available on the organization’s Website at habitatdutchess.org or by contacting our Family Services Department at 845-297-0806 option 4.

About Habitat for Humanity of Dutchess County
Habitat for Humanity of Dutchess County (HFHDC) is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization dedicated to building homes, communities, and hope. Habitat for Humanity of Dutchess County is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes; advocacy for fair and just housing policies; and providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman, and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. For more information visit www.habitatdutchess.org.