Senior Modification Program aims to help seniors be more comfortable in home

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., (KRDO)- A new program will help seniors in the Pikes Peak area with home and accessibility improvements.

With the lack of affordable housing for seniors in the centennial state, this senior home modification program comes just in time.

"Housing costs are very high, whether that is rental, purchase, or maintaining what you have," said Derek Wilson of Silver Key.

The Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity and Silver Key Services are partnering up for the senior home modification program after receiving a grant of $150,000 from the Myron Stratton Foundation to improve home safety and accessibility for seniors in their homes.

"We want to keep them out of the highest level of care, things like assisted living, things like the ER, when they go into those very quickly their resources deplete," said Wilson.

Derek Wilson of the half-century-old non-profit Silver Key says he believes this could help seniors in our community not only live a longer life but a higher quality of life as well.

"When you do not want to be there and you've been plucked from your home because it is no longer safe or it now has because a health risk that decreases their quality of life," added Wilson.

The home improvements will range from interior grab bars, chairlifts, ADA-approved door handles, and thresholds, to exterior ramps, railings, and roof repairs.

"In terms of how many seniors we will be able to help as a result of those dollars depends on are more people needing more grab bars and a ramp or are people needing new windows and a roof? "

Silver Key helps about 2,000 seniors a month and 11,000 a year.

Currently, they are working on finalizing the details of the program, it will become fully available in March 2022.

For more about the program click here.