More Than Handrails: How Home Modifications Changed One Family's Life
For the Wilkins family, peace of mind came in the form of a handrail.
For nearly 30 years, Dick and Barbara Wilkins called the same house home. But as mobility challenges increased and falls became more frequent, their son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Sara, began to worry whether they could continue living there safely.
“We worried every time the phone rang that it was Mom telling us that Dad had fallen again,” Ken, Dick and Barbara’s son, said.
Those incidents are exactly what Bluegrass Care Navigators’ Home Modification Program, delivered in partnership with Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, aims to prevent. After working through the enrollment and eligibility requirements, an occupational therapist evaluated the Wilkins home and recommended changes to improve safety and accessibility. The program provides qualifying older adults with modifications such as grab bars, improved lighting, ramps, and other safety features that help them remain independent at home.
The home modification team works closely with each resident or family to identify specific challenges and develop modifications tailored to their needs.
"We just went around and showed them places around the house where I had fallen, especially in the bathroom," Dick said.
Today, strategically placed handrails provide support throughout the home, including in the shower and even in the closet. The changes may seem simple, but the impact has been profound.
"Since we've done the modifications, he has not had one fall. Not one," Tony Smith, Bluegrass Care Navigators’ Home Modification Program Occupational Therapist, shared.
Beyond the physical safety improvements, the modifications have eased a tremendous emotional burden for the entire family.
"The fear of falling and being hurt is gone because there are things to hold on to," Dick said.
“I would encourage anybody that that feels like they need help or think they're going to need help with their parents to check it out because it's a fantastic program,” Ken said. “It's been a godsend for sure.”
To learn more about the Home Modification Program and eligibility requirements, visit bgcarenav.org/home-modification-program or call 877.439.0262.
The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government.
