Right at Home has joined the HomesRenewed Coalition, a group of companies pushing Washington to pass policies that help seniors age in place through home modifications.
“Historically, housing design did not take into account the aging process and the physical constraints it imposes on seniors and adults living with disabilities who want to age in their home environment,” Brian Petranick, president and CEO of Right at Home, said in a statement.
The HomesRenewed Coalition is calling on Congress to allow individuals to use pre-tax retirement accounts to make aging-in-place modifications tax-free and create tax credits or deductions for homeowners who actively prepare their homes for aging in place.
Other members of the coalition include Lowe’s, Lifeway Mobility, LifewiseCHM, Axxess, Seniors Homes Services, VGM Live at Home, National Seating & Mobility, TruBlue Total House Care, Right at Home, Age Safe America, HandyPRo and Home Safety Services.
The home increasingly is seen as part of the continuum of care as many of the nation’s 72 million baby boomers intend to age in place. Reducing fall risks are especially important. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among seniors.
For that reason, a growing number of home care agencies are partnering with handyman services to provide home modifications for seniors. Prior to joining the HomesRenewed Coalition, Omaha-based Right at Home teamed with Cincinnati-based TruBlue House Care to install grab bars, raise toilets and modify lighting for its clients. And Colorado Visiting Nurses Association has a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to do home modifications through Johns Hopkins University’s Community Aging in Place Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) program.
