The experts are calling it a “demographic tsunami” — next year nearly 3 million Americans will turn 65. And with the annual price of a private nursing home at $80,000, that’s out of reach for many older Americans. So what are the options?
According to an article on CBSNews.com, seniors living at home face hazards in addition to their medical conditions. They may want to continue living at home, but they are at risk for falling and breaking bones.
But a new program in Baltimore, Maryland offers hope to those who might not be able to afford a nursing home. The goal of the “Capable” program is to help low-income seniors from getting injured in their home. The program provides nurses and occupational therapists. It also provides handymen who can install a second handrail on a stairway or add grab bars in a bathroom.
Sarah Szanton, the program’s leader who works at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, is quoted in the article as saying, “Older adults very much like control like the rest of us. We found that if we could treat their home as well, they would be able to get down the stairs to go to church. Or stand long enough to cook.”
We look forward to this program taking effect across the country.