I'm proud to announce that $60,000 in state funding is coming to launch The Home Safety Program through Stay at Home in Wilton, a nonprofit dedicated to helping seniors age in place.
I have been fortunate to spend time with Representative Jane Garibay, Chair of the Aging Committee, and a walking encyclopedia of all things senior-related. She’s been an inspiration and a constant reminder that aging isn’t a problem to solve, it’s a privilege to plan for.
Commissioner Amy Porter of the Connecticut Department of Aging reinforced that philosophy during a State Bond Commission meeting, where she detailed the agency’s strong focus on independent living, accessibility, and advocacy for older adults across the state.
As your state representative, advocating for you is part of my everyday job. That conversation made me ask: what more can we do locally to bolster independent living and accessibility for seniors in our community?
Those questions reflect your concerns and lessons I learned firsthand from caring for an elderly father-in-law. Commissioner Porter noted that sometimes it’s not one big issue, but a combination of small challenges and the realities of aging that can put safety at risk. This started my thinking, how can we help seniors stay safely in their homes?
Lisa Roman of Stay At Home in Wilton and I met with Habitat for Humanity to learn more about its successful home-safety work. The result is a simple but powerful idea: trusted, verified experts visiting seniors’ homes to complete a home safety checklist and help address common risks.
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| Lisa Roman, Vice President of Stay At Home in Wilton, Rep. Constantine, Jim Kapustka, Treasurer of Stay At Home in Wilton |
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The $60,000 investment supports a free home safety assessment for members of Stay at Home in Wilton and a checklist of repairs and recommendations from accredited professionals designed to improve home accessibility. In an effort to ensure overall safety, those professionals will address minor modifications and repairs that lead to an increased fall risk, such as replacing burnt-out lightbulbs, securing loose carpet edges, safely moving cords and other trip hazards, installing grab bars in bathrooms, and removing items to prevent falls.
This grant means safer homes, more independence, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing someone trustworthy is there to help. It’s a practical investment in prevention, dignity, and quality of life, and I’m proud to support Stay At Home in Wilton in bringing this program to our community.
Stay At Home in Wilton will host a meeting for members on The Home Safety Program on Thursday, January 29 at 2 p.m. in the Comstock Community Center in Wilton. Interested seniors can find more information here or call (203) 762-2600.
