The Arc Jacksonville (2025) Print

star-24px 2025 AARP Community Challenge Grantee

Project Category

Housing
└ HomeFit Modifications
The Arc Jacksonville focused on reducing fall risk and safety hazards that can quickly undermine independence for older adults with intellectual and developmental differences. As vision changes and mobility challenges made familiar homes feel unpredictable, caregivers and staff needed practical ways to adapt living spaces. The project delivered five hands-on trainings for direct support professionals, family caregivers, managers and residents, combining walk-through home assessments with guidance from the HomeFit guide and a low-vision session led by an occupational therapist. Equipment was added to improve lighting, visibility and stability in several homes. One resident with significant vision loss regained confidence moving through his home and returned to daily routines. Staff now carry repeatable assessment skills into ongoing training, strengthening the long-term capacity of community homes to support older adults safely and with dignity.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

See More Projects Like This One

Town of Johnsburg Seniors Committee (2025)

Johnsburg, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: HomeFit Modifications

Description: In Johnsburg, many older adults with limited mobility faced unsafe bathrooms and hard-to-navigate entrances, putting daily routines and independence at risk. With limited means to pay for fixes, hazards went unaddressed. The committee launched a pilot HomeFit Modification Program and completed improvements in seven homes using volunteers and town staff. Work included entrance and bathroom upgrades and a critical wiring repair that removed a fire risk discovered during a visit. The pilot also prompted public and private commitments to continue the program in 2026 and expand the scope so more households can receive larger safety upgrades.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County (2025)

Rocky Mount, VA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: HomeFit Modifications

Description: Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County addressed safety hazards that made daily tasks hard for older adults and put independence at risk. The team integrated HomeFit and safety assessments into every repair visit, adding practical upgrades like low-entry showers with grab bars and flooring fixes for three families that included five people age 50-plus. A construction manager now conducts an accessibility review on each project, and outreach boosted applications, revealing wider need. The new process is standard practice and strengthens evidence for funders. One resident said showering is "very easy" now and praised the crew for a "wonderful job."

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

UUH Outreach Program (2024)

Philadelphia, PA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: HomeFit Modifications

Description: Older adults in Philadelphia faced home safety hazards that threatened independence and increased fall risk. To address this, the program hosted three workshops led by health professionals, teaching practical strategies for aging in place. Participants received tailored products like shower chairs and collapsible tubs, installed to improve safety. Eighteen older adults now live more confidently at home, and many reported immediate habit changes. One client said that these improvements made her routine safer and more comfortable, and the project fostered increased safety and independence.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (2018)

Jacksonville, FL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Bikeability

Description: To incentivize business development along Jacksonville's Main Street, the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council worked to improve the appearance of area. They installed trash receptacles, bike racks and bike maintenance stations. The improvements keep the streets clear of litter, give visitors with a safe place to lock their bikes and provide a convenient place to repair bike and wheelchair tires. Organizers say they hope the improvements set the stage for this historic community's continued popularity.

Cathedral District-Jax on Cathedral Hill (2024)

Jacksonville, FL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: This project will install lit gateway markers throughout the Cathedral Hill neighborhood to enhance safety and wayfinding. The markers will also support gathering spaces within the community.

ABOUT THE AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

Launched in 2017, the annual AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to local governments and nonprofits in order to fund quick-action, ready-to-implement projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages.

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