University Hospitals, Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity and Lifeline Collaborate to Care for Seniors in Lake and Geauga Counties

Program supports seniors aging in place with occupational therapy, home repairs and lifestyle assessments

LAKE and GEAUGA COUNTY, Ohio – University Hospitals (UH) Geauga and TriPoint medical centers, Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity, and Lifeline are working together to support seniors aging in place through a program that goes beyond home repairs. The pilot program was made possible by a $75 thousand gift from the Cleveland Foundation and support from the UH Lake Health Foundation and UH Geauga Medical Center.

Current Census data demonstrates that seniors represent more than 20 percent of the population in Lake and Geauga Counties, and more than 75 percent of them own homes.

Habitat’s Aging in Place/Housing Plus program gives older adults (aged 60 and older) the ability to improve their quality of life in their own homes within their communities. The program is three-fold. First, an occupational therapist from UH visits the home for a safety check and evaluates any changes that may be needed to increase independence and safety. The results are shared with Habitat and the senior. Habitat then follows up with an additional assessment by their construction staff and prepares a budget for the repairs. Next, a health or human services professional from Lifeline talks with the homeowner(s) about their daily activities, such as paying bills, cleaning, communicating with others and running errands. These assessments allow the team to provide modifications specific to each homeowner’s lifestyle.

“The Aging in Place/Housing Plus program is a holistic, person-centered approach to understanding the unique needs of the senior population in Lake and Geauga Counties,” explained Michael Barb, Executive Director, Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity. “The program includes a partnership with University Hospitals as our healthcare provider and Lifeline, who provides services to seniors in their homes. This collaborative approach has been successfully implemented by other Habitat affiliates across the country, and we look forward to bringing it to our communities here in Northeast Ohio.”

UH Occupational Therapists will help assess what repairs may be needed and teach seniors how to use their newly-installed equipment to enhance their quality of life. Some examples of installations include: ramps, grab bars, lever-style doorknobs, smoke/CO2 detectors, safety gates, handrails, interior/exterior lighting, nonslip flooring, ADA compliant toilets, and tub cuts. Other physical and structural repairs, such as roof repairs, painting and siding will be considered by Habitat, depending on the need for safety and other health concerns.

“Once a senior homeowner is identified, a licensed Occupational Therapist from UH will meet with them to complete a comprehensive functional assessment designed to evaluate and make medical, lifestyle and physical recommendations,” said Dotti A. Thompson, MOT, OTR/L, CLT, Director of UH OP Rehab Services and UH@Home. “We are excited to bring these resources to our Lake and Geauga communities, and provide a program that goes well beyond the traditional Habitat model of building new homes.”

Combining repairs and modifications along with an understanding of community resources allows homeowners to remain safely and securely in their homes as they age.

“We look forward to collaborating with University Hospitals and Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity,” said Carrie Dotson, Executive Director of Lifeline. “As a Community Action Agency, Lifeline is uniquely poised to rapidly respond to critical needs. We aim to help those living in poverty move towards self-sufficiency. Our success stories involve people who have received prescriptions and other medical care after they’ve lost insurance; people who were able to participate in job training programs and explore new career opportunities when they otherwise would’ve remained unemployed; and those who were provided emergency utility assistance to maintain safe and affordable housing during the winter. This partnership is a perfect complement to our Helping Hands for Seniors program, which works to help keep our local seniors housed independently by providing assistance with small household tasks and errands. Since our launch in early 2023, we’ve already helped over 50 seniors and we’re excited to grow the services available to them through this partnership.”

Eligibility requirements for the program are income-based (as well as an age requirement of 60 years old or older). Further requirements include: must own a home, must be a single-family dwelling, and must have homeowners’ insurance. Eligible seniors can learn more by visiting lake-geaugahabitat.org.

To learn more about supporting the program, visit UHgiving.org.

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Occupational Therapists from UH Geauga and TriPoint medical centers will support the program.

Contact(s):
Ansley Gogol
Email: ansley.gogol@uhhospitals.org