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San Mateo County outlines Aging in Place home-modification help for older adults and people with disabilities
Summary
San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services described the 'Aging in Place Home Modification Program' that offers in-home environmental assessments, equipment purchases and small installations to help older homeowners and some renters reduce fall risk.
A San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services representative described a county program that provides in-home assessments and modest home modifications to reduce fall risk for older adults and people with disabilities.
The staffer, identified in the meeting as Anna from the San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services Division of San Mateo County Health, said the state-funded program — titled the Aging in Place Home Modification Program for Older Adults — aims "to reduce the number of debilitating falls experienced by older adults and people with disabilities."
Anna said the county program focuses primarily on homeowners but can assist some renters if property-owner approval is obtained. Services include in-home environmental assessments, coordination of purchases and installations of equipment such as commercial-grade grab bars, toilet safety frames, bed rails, shower chairs, hallway railings and customized step solutions. The program also provides educational materials and outreach in English, Spanish and Chinese.
Anna read participant accounts at the workshop to illustrate typical outcomes: one 100-year-old participant received customized steps allowing her to place a walker fully on a tread; another couple received a sturdy gate at the top of stairs to deter nighttime wandering associated with cognitive decline, and several couples credited the program with helping them implement practical changes that improved safety and confidence at home.
The county staffer said about 83 people and couples have used the program so far; most were homeowners and many had experienced a fall within the previous year. Anna provided a county contact email and noted a phone line listed in meeting materials as +1 844 No Falls for program inquiries.
Ending: Brochures and one-page flyers in English, Spanish and Chinese were made available at the meeting; county staff encouraged residents to contact Aging and Adult Services for an assessment if they or a loved one needs help making homes safer.
