Despite an overwhelming desire to live independently, some older adults may need assistance maintaining their homes as they “age in place.” To address these previously unmet needs, Centralina Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is now offering Housing & Home Improvement and Chore Enhanced programs, developed through federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and delivered through statewide AAA’s. These programs are designed to help older adults keep up with essential repairs and maintenance inside and outside their homes, allowing them to stay safely and securely in their homes for longer.
Housing and Home Improvement funds cover a variety of updates within the home including security enhancements, minor home repairs and mobility and accessibility improvements. Improvements can include the repair, replacement or purchase of appliances and heating and cooling units. The service limit has recently been raised from $1,500 to $7,000 per household, allowing for more impactful projects to be completed. The Chore Enhanced Program covers more intensive services outside the home, such as tree removal, pest control, sidewalk repair, light yardwork and more. The service limit is $2,500 per household.
The services provided through Chore Enhanced have not been offered in any counties in our region until now, while the Housing and Home Improvement Program has only been offered in one county. Both programs are now available to individuals 60 and older who live within Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly or Union County. As both programs expand their reach throughout the state, more older adults across North Carolina will be able to utilize the services they both provide.
“Centralina Area Agency on Aging is excited to offer these non-traditional services,” says Linda Miller, Centralina AAA Director. “Although the programs are still new, we are already seeing the benefit of helping to create home environments that offer increased safety, security and peace of mind for older adults in our region.”
Both programs will only be offered within the region until September 30, 2024, or when ARPA funds are depleted. The Administration on Community Living and North Carolina stakeholders are exploring ways to continue funding these essential service programs. Centralina AAA will collect data on these programs to evaluate, improve and identify additional services needed for older adults in our region.
If you know an adult aged 60 and older living in the region who could benefit from these services, contact the Centralina AAA toll-free hotline at 800-508-5777 to see if they qualify. You can also send an email with your name, phone number, the county you live in and what the need/requested service is to Kelly Mach at Kmach@centralina.org
