Maricopa County Human Services' Mobility Assistance Program provided a mobility scooter and home modifications this year to Dawn Rayfeld, a county resident whose severe neuropathy made walking, standing and routine tasks difficult.

The program, funded by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, supplies assistive devices and small home repairs to help seniors and people with mobility impairments remain safe and independent. The county program staff said services include scooters, ramp installations, door widenings, bathroom-safety improvements and minor repairs.

Rayfeld described how the scooter, which she calls "Gladys," changed her mobility. "I have severe neuropathy, which has gone to extreme neuropathy. My right leg is hard to move, so it makes it hard to to walk, to stand, to sit," Rayfeld said. She added that with the scooter she has taken trips outside the county and state: "I went to New Mexico, and I went to Colorado with her, with Gladys." Rayfeld also demonstrated using the scooter, saying, "I go on this little sidewalk right here" and, "This is how I do it."

Laurie Lyon, a senior and adult services case worker with Maricopa County Human Services, assessed Rayfeld and arranged mobility support through the Mobility Assistance Program. Lyon said the county staff identify needs through client assessments and can secure equipment and fund small-scale home modifications to reduce fall risk and improve access.

The program's services aim to address fall-related risks among older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 32,000 adults 65 and older die each year from fall-related injuries; program staff in the recording emphasized the role of mobility devices and home modifications in preventing falls.

No formal votes or policy changes were recorded in the meeting transcript excerpt. The Mobility Assistance Program is funded in part by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health; the transcript did not specify program budget totals, eligibility criteria, or application steps.

Officials and program staff did not announce new changes to eligibility or funding during the recorded remarks. Residents seeking details about the Mobility Assistance Program were not quoted requesting application information in the excerpt.