The Home Safe Home program has helped more than 1,600 individuals since its founding in 1997, and now with a $25,000 grant from Columbia Gas, safety-related modifications can be made to even more homes in the area, said Kathy Finch, marketing and sales manager of Valley Care Association of Sewickley, which runs the program.
On average, the program serves about 200 people each year, 20 of whom are located in the Sewickley area. An average project cost is between $500 and $750.
Last month, a one-day home modification blitz occurred at the Union Aid Society apartment buildings on Centennial Avenue.
The event, a collaboration between Home Safe Home, Union Aid Society and the Secoro Foundation of Sewickley Savings Bank, featured the installation of 44 grab bars and six elevated toilets in 22 apartments.
“It was great for me because I just had two knee replacements, and it was hard for me to get up from a low toilet, and with the grab bars, you don't have to worry about falling,” said Jean Harvey, 84, who lives in the building.
“They deserve a lot of praise. They do a lot of good for a lot of people,” she said.
Finch said most older adults want to live in their traditional home for as long as possible, while the home and its condition might become increasingly unsafe for them to do so. The program's goals are to increase home safety, make accessibility easier, and to prevent falls, one of the most common reasons why older adults lose their independence.
“The home modifications we make can be the difference between remaining independent at home and a catastrophic fall that puts a person in a long-term care facility,” said Heather Sedlacko, Valley Care Association executive director.
While many clients receive subsidized service, some utilize the program on a fee-for-service basis.
Home Safe Home staff and professional contractors can do small projects such as installing grab bars or a hand-held shower in the bathroom and also help with major projects such as building wheelchair ramps, outdoor stairs and railings. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify.
Funding comes from a variety of sources, including the Beaver County Office on Aging, The Secoro Foundation of Sewickley Savings Bank, Columbia Gas Foundation, the Pennsylvania Office of Long Term Living/Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and other various partners.
Over the years, the program has gone through several changes. It began in 1997 as a volunteer-conducted home inspection initiative through Sewickley Valley Hospital and the Eldercare Coalition, a local networking group of gerontology professionals. It then was adopted by United Way of Allegheny County and offered throughout the county. It later was run and expanded by Adult Resources Inc. in Coraopolis with a three-year grant from Valley Care when new services were added.
In 2003, the Beaver County Office on Aging awarded Home Safe Home a five-year contract to provide the full range of program services throughout Beaver County. The program coordinator became a full-time position. By October 2004, the Home Safe Home program had moved from Adult Resources to Valley Care Association, a Sewickley area nonprofit organization.
In addition to the Beaver County Office on Aging annual contract, beginning in 2004, Home Safe Home has been awarded an annual grant from the Secoro Foundation of Sewickley Savings Bank. The grant focuses upon the western Allegheny County region, including the Sewickley area.
For more information about Home Safe Home contact John Seitz, Home Safe Home program coordinator, at jseitz@valleycareassociation.org or 724-266-0408, or visit www.valleycareassociation.org, where more information about other services is available.
Joanne Barron is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-324-1406 or jbarron@tribweb.com.
