AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
Families Anchored In Total Harmony Inc. (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ HomeFit Modifications
└ HomeFit Modifications
Many older adults in Gary faced home hazards that increased fall risk, especially for those with chronic conditions. To address this, the organization distributed rug rippers and AARP HomeFit Guides to more than 200 households age 50-plus and hosted weekly sessions on safety and modification strategies. The effort encouraged residents to plan improvements and share tips with others, creating momentum for safer homes. One participant said they were ready to make changes after learning how simple adjustments could prevent injuries, underscoring the project's role in promoting independence and well-being.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
Rockledge, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Older adults in Rockledge faced trip hazards, poor lighting and hard-to-use fixtures, making daily life unsafe and independence difficult. Specialists assessed homes and completed modifications for 17 participants, installing grab bars, high-rise toilets, non-skid rugs and improved lighting. Outreach reached 68 residents and raised awareness of home safety. These changes helped older adults remain in their homes with confidence and spurred plans for a long-term program. One woman said her home feels "much safer" after upgrades like a deadbolt lock and task lighting, showing how small fixes can transform security and usability.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Fort Collins, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: The Institute focused on a common challenge facing older adults who want to remain in their homes: knowing which design features truly support safety, accessibility and long-term independence. Builders and homeowners often lack practical guidance to apply aging-in-place principles with confidence. The project produced and piloted a Resident Guide that explains these features in clear, usable terms, tested with a homeowner living in a certified Lifelong Home. The guide helped residents better understand their home and nearby services while also serving as a replicable tool for housing professionals. One homeowner said the guide was "super helpful so I don't have to do all the research myself." The work increased awareness of age-friendly housing design, informed future pilot projects and strengthened partnerships that can influence how homes are designed and finished in the years ahead.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Washburn, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Older adults in Washburn faced safety risks at home due to limited knowledge and resources for modifications. The library hosted an educational event that exceeded expectations, drawing 35 participants age 50-plus. Attendees received HomeFit bags with items like grab bars and motion-sensor lights and had access to an occupational therapist for personalized guidance. Participants reported feeling safer and more confident about aging in place, with one noting that the items provided were things much needed and that they "added an extra level of safety to my home!"
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Gary, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options
Description: This project will enhance accessibility by installing a bus shelter, speed bumps, solar-powered crosswalks, striped crosswalks, and a bike lane. These improvements will connect senior apartments to a local park and trail.
Gary, IN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: Residents of Genesis Towers -- an affordable housing complex for older adults -- often congregated in a vacant lot in Gary's downtown. This project set out to activate the lot into an accessible gathering space. Local students worked to gather input from residents about their hopes for the new park, and the City held design workshops. Plans for the space featured ADA-accessible walkways, seating, picnic tables and raised garden beds. Organizers also worked to provide free Wi-Fi access in the space, as well as a bike repair station. Organizers say the park is designed to host free or low-cost events -- part of the overarching goal of combatting social isolation through innovative public spaces.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Indiana State Office
One N. Capitol Avenue
Suite 1275
Indianapolis, IN 46204
United States