New program will assist senior homeowners

Last year, the Cleveland Heights Senior Activity Center collaborated with three other senior service agencies—the Community Partnership on Aging, the Maple Heights Senior Center and Solon Senior Services—to develop a program that will better assist older homeowners with the upkeep and maintenance necessary to remain independent and safe within their homes.

The initiative, funded in part by a senior center innovation grant from the Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services, is in response to a call for innovation in senior centers as the aging population changes due to the large number of baby boomers now entering older adulthood.

The result of this collaboration, the CARE Program, is set to launch in April and will be open to seniors in the communities served by the participating senior service agencies, which include Cleveland Heights, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, Solon and South Euclid.

CARE will assist older homeowners, some of whom may not qualify for existing home repair programs, with service tasks and minor home repairs.

For many people, their home is one of their greatest assets—an asset that requires a large amount of work to maintain.

CARE hopes to ease some of the stress that comes with taking care of a home by coordinating and completing service tasks. The program emphasizes person-centered care, which means that all homeowners will receive assistance tailored to their specific needs.

The new program will also strengthen the relationships between the four participating senior service providers and improve their ability to serve the seniors in their respective communities.

Homeowners 60 years of age or older, living in Cleveland Heights or one of the six other participating communities, are eligible. Those interested in learning more about the program or volunteering should send a message to CARE4eight@gmail.com.