Spring Valley, WI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: HomeFit Modifications

Description: This project will train volunteers to identify and correct fall risks in the homes of older adults and people with disabilities. Participants have requested help installing handrails on indoor and outdoor stairs, adding grab bars in bathrooms and securing or replacing rugs.

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

Shawnee, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: HomeFit Modifications

Description: Many older adults in Authority housing faced preventable bathroom hazards that made daily routines risky and aging in place harder. Staff conducted in-home assessments, then supplied practical fixes such as grab bars, shower chairs, non-slip mats and adjustable shower heads. Using HomeFit guidance, they addressed immediate needs and explained the Reasonable Accommodation process for longer-term changes. The effort sharpened staff focus on older adult needs during rehab and construction. In one home, a tenant had used a kitchen chair to get in and out of the tub. Staff installed safer equipment, then helped pursue an accommodation that led to a walk-in shower. The project reduced risks and embedded age-friendly practices in ongoing operations.

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

South Fulton, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: HomeFit Modifications

Description: Many older adults with mobility limitations were living with hidden fall risks at home, often adapting with unsafe workarounds because they lacked information or support. Facts to Thrive addressed this gap by hosting hands-on workshops that demonstrated practical home modifications and encouraged open conversations about safety. Participants received raised toilet seats and slip-and-fall prevention items. Staff used these visits to identify additional repair needs inside the home. These assessments revealed broader challenges, leading to follow-on support for grab bars, steps and other fixes. The workshops also helped reduce stigma, making it easier for participants to admit concerns and take action earlier. One participant recovering from surgery had been using a portable setup over her toilet; after a raised seat with handles was installed, she cried with relief. Her reaction reflected how small, targeted changes helped older adults remain independent and safer at home.

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