Living Safely in Your Santa Cruz Home

In my last column Should You Stay or Should You Go?, I discussed what options are available for seniors who choose to continue living in their homes as they age. I want to follow up on that before moving on to the “Should You Go” portion of the topic, which will be discussed in next week’s column.

First though, I have a couple of announcements. You can now find my Senior Centered column on all four Santa Cruz County Patch sites: Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Capitola and Watsonville.

Also, I will occasionally be featuring a “Senior in the Spotlight.” If you know of a senior citizen who is doing something remarkable, if you have any news tips regarding seniors in Santa Cruz County or if there is a topic you would like me to cover in this column, please tell me in the Comments or email me.

Helping Hands

Hannah, an 80-year-old woman in Santa Cruz County, recently had a fall. Consequently, she found it difficult to climb stairs, get in and out of the shower, other things many people take for granted.

Who did her doctor recommend she go to for help? The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County’s “Helping Hands Senior Home Repair Program,” which provides free safety related repairs for low-income senior homeowners who are 60 and older.

For 14 years, volunteers in the program have been helping seniors maintain their homes by installing hand-rails and grab bars, repairing broken steps and other projects. And with the downturn in the economy, the Center is getting more calls than ever before from seniors who can’t afford to make these repairs.

“In the last 3 weeks alone we have responded to 50 new client requests,” said Carol McGuire, Helping Hands Program Coordinator. “Seniors have been hit particularly hard by our current economy.”

Safety Second?

According to the Volunteer Center, senior homeowners living in Santa Cruz County need an annual income of $38,000 for basic expenses. However, the median retirement income is around $20,000. Because of this gap, many seniors forgo safety repairs in order to pay basic living expenses.

That’s where Helping Hands comes in, and they’re proud of their track record of helping 100% of senior requests. But with the increased calls for help, the program itself is now struggling to finance the work, and the all-volunteer program relies on community organizations and individual donations.

“Our program simply could not exist without sustained community support,” McGuire said. “We are so grateful to those who have been willing to donate their time and money…As the need rises we hope to maintain our track record through increased fundraising and financial support.    

“Our ultimate goal is to help [seniors] maintain safety and the sense of independence they desire,” McGuire said. 

If you need safety related repairs, or if you would like to volunteer or donate, contact Carol McGuire at 831-427-5070. Besides the Volunteer Center office in Santa Cruz, there is also an office in .

Other Help for Seniors Living at Home

Besides the resources mentioned in my last column for seniors who wish to stay in their homes, in Capitola can help you with such daily activities as meal preparation, light housekeeping, shopping and assistance with bill paying and bathing. Call Safe at Home to discuss their fees.

If you live in Scotts Valley, contact the or Kristin Ard, who is the City of Scotts Valley’s Senior Recreation Specialist, by email or at 831-438-3251.