AARP Indiana’s mission of redefining and improving life for Hoosiers 50-plus includes striving to make our communities more livable.
A livable community is one that is safe and secure for people of all ages. It offers choices in where to live, how to get around, and it equitably serves residents of all ages, ability levels, incomes, races, ethnicities, and other backgrounds. This is of growing importance across the nation, but even more so here in the State of Indiana.
According a recent AARP Indiana survey, the vast majority (87%) of Indiana residents age 45+ find it extremely or very important to stay in their own home as they get older. Yet barely 1% of the U.S. housing supply contains any “universal design” elements (e.g., single story living or a sink that can be reached from a wheelchair).

AARP Indiana works closely with nonprofit groups, like Home Repairs for Good, to raise awareness about the importance of older Hoosiers staying in their homes. Through this partnership, AARP Indiana joined the Home Repairs for Good team for its 2024 Fall Repair Fest. During this event volunteers made a resident’s home more accessible by constructing a wheelchair accessible ramp.

In February of 2024, volunteers in Evansville completed a Habitat for Humanity build that was sponsored by AARP Indiana. During this event they contributed to the construction of a home that incorporated elements from the AARP HomeFit guide, which provides over 100 home modification and safety tips that can facilitate older Hoosiers staying in their home. A few examples include installing nonskid or nonslip strips in the bathtub or shower, arranging furniture to allow for clear, wide passageways, and plugging in automatic night-lights into hallway/bathroom outlets and near stairs. The full AARP HomeFit guide can be found at aarp.org/yourhome.

The Evansville Habitat house includes supportive features such as a grab bar in the shower, a wide doorless, no step entry into the shower, and a shower seat.
During the Habitat for Humanity new construction project, a concrete wheelchair accessible ramp was installed to provide a zero-threshold entrance into the home. AARP Indiana also partnered with Community One in Evansville to build an accessibility ramp (similar to the one built as part of the Home Repairs for Good 2024 Repair Fest) onto a home. Access ramps can be permanently or temporarily added to a home or building that doesn’t have a zero-step entry.

Whether it’s the HomeFit Guide or various presentations and resources, AARP Indiana is helping individuals and families make their current or future residence (or that of a loved one) their “lifelong home.”
Ensuring Hoosiers have housing that is accessible and safe is a critical component to making our communities across the state more livable. Whether it is the development of a newly constructed home or preserving the livability of an existing home, we must continue to invest in housing stock that reflects the needs and desires of Hoosiers as they age.

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