Aging at Home, Living with Dignity

As we grow older, our homes become even more important. They’re not just places to live — they’re places filled with family memories, personal history, and comfort. But for many seniors in our community, staying in those homes safely is becoming harder.

At Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity, we believe that everyone deserves to age with dignity, in the place they know and love. That’s the heart of our Aging in Place Initiative — which incorporates programs designed to make critical home repairs and accessibility modifications that help older adults remain in their homes and communities, safely and affordably.

The Challenge Seniors Face

The need is growing. In Mecklenburg County, nearly 1 in 5 residents is over age 60 — a proportion that will continue to grow as the population ages. Many are living in homes that are aging faster than they are. Older adults with limited incomes are especially vulnerable to unsafe housing conditions, like deteriorating roofs, broken HVAC systems, or inaccessible bathrooms. Many are choosing between making critical repairs or affording food, medications, or utilities.

According to the CDC, safe and stable housing is one of the most impactful social determinants of health. Yet Black and Hispanic/Latino seniors are more than twice as likely to live in substandard housing than white seniors. These homes often lack insulation, have unsafe flooring or mold, and are more likely to contribute to falls or respiratory issues.

Our Solution: Home Modifications That Matter

Through our Critical Home Repair program, we deliver targeted, high-impact repairs that help older adults live more safely and independently. Examples of these modifications include:

•  Installing grab bars and handrails

• Replacing unsafe flooring

• Repairing roofs and HVAC systems

• Improving bathroom accessibility

• Addressing plumbing or electrical hazards

We also extend our Aging in Place work through our Rock the Block program, which brings volunteers, sponsors, and neighbors together for neighborhood-wide preservation events. These efforts focus on minor exterior repairs, landscaping, and community beautification — helping to improve safety, accessibility, and curb appeal for seniors and their neighbors alike.

Both of these programs help reduce the risk of injury, improve comfort, and give homeowners peace of mind — all while preserving the affordable housing stock in our community.

 The Impact Is Real

The benefits of helping seniors age in place ripple across the entire community:

• Seniors maintain independence and avoid costly institutional care.

• Families save on health expenses: studies show up to $580 per year in reduced Medicaid spending per household when seniors live in safe, affordable homes.

•  Falls — a leading cause of injury among older adults — decrease by as much as 30% when hazards are removed from the home.

• Emergency room visits go down, and overall well-being improves.

Additionally, homeownership has a strong correlation with improved physical and mental health, financial stability, and civic participation — especially for low-income and older adults.

We’re Building More Than Homes

Our Aging in Place Initiative does more than fix houses. It helps people live fuller, safer lives in the places they’ve built their lives. It keeps families rooted in the communities they’ve helped shape —

and prevents displacement that often comes with gentrification and rising costs of living. This work also supports our broader mission: to build a community where everyone, regardless of age or

income, has a safe and affordable place to live.