Abstract:

Aging in place strategies such as home modification have potential to enable older persons to remain in their own homes. Home modifications may also prevent home accidents and reduce the need for nursing homes. The South East Senior Housing Initiative (SESHI) in Baltimore, a coalition of housing, health care, social service, and community organizations, developed Our Idea House as a marketing tool to demonstrate how modest rowhomes could be made safer and more livable by small and large design changes. SESHI also conducted a small demonstration of how appropriate technical assistance could empower older people to make better decisions about their home environments. Reflections on the impacts of SESHI's efforts underscore the challenges facing aging in place strategies and how we need to have a better understanding of the incidence and incentives for home modification.