Aging in place (with a little help from others)
More than one in five Floridians is over the age of 65 – and as our state’s population grows progressively older, a top priority is creating communities where older adults can stay healthy and independent as they age.
A new grant-funded initiative was launched to do just that: Enhanced Home Care for the Elderly (eHCE). Made possible by a partnership between the Department of Elder Affairs and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, eHCE will provide $6 million in aid to older adults in Central Florida through June 30 — and each eligible beneficiary may receive up to $6,000 in services to keep them aging safely and successfully in place.
The benefits of living in your own home as an older adult are well-documented by researchers. By staying close to the landmarks that keep people connected — like the local library where they check out books … the neighborhood senior center where they play mahjong with friends … or the park they visit for their morning walk — seniors can improve confidence, self-esteem and overall quality of life.
But that’s easier said than done. As we get older, it can become harder to make it up the stairs to your front porch, manage pills or keep track of chronic health conditions like diabetes — and for those living alone, a sudden fall or medication mix-up can be life-threatening.
That’s where eHCE comes in. Unlike traditional home care programs, the “enhanced” program doesn’t include everyday assistance like meals, personal care or housekeeping; instead, it focuses on low-cost, high-impact interventions that create lasting benefits for resource-limited seniors.
A simple example is home modifications — such as a no-slip ramp or a shower grab bar — that can make it safer and easier to navigate the house and handle day-to-day activities. But eHCE also offers more advanced new technology, including radar-based fall detection alerts; accessible smart doorbells and security devices; and vitals-tracking monitors that can track blood pressure and glucose from the comfort of home. These small enhancements can make a big difference, especially for older adults who would otherwise be at risk of moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home.
To be eligible for the eHCE program, an adult must be 60 years old or older and either be enrolled in Florida Medicaid or be at risk of nursing home placement. Assessment and services are provided through reputable local organizations: Aging Matters in Brevard County, the Osceola Council on Aging in Osceola County and the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation (BAFI) for Seminole and Orange Counties.
Everyone deserves to age with dignity and independence, and everyone deserves to be safe and comfortable in their own home. Achieving that goal takes a community effort, and we’re so thankful for the local partners who are contributing their time and talent to the program.
And if you think eHCE might be a good fit for yourself or a loved one, now is the time to learn more: Funding for the program ends June 30.
Although enhancements scheduled before that date will be completed as planned, no additional funding will be provided after enrollment closes. So find out more by calling Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (35337) today.
That’s where eHCE comes in. Unlike traditional home care programs, the “enhanced” program doesn’t include everyday assistance like meals, personal care or housekeeping; instead, it focuses on low-cost, high-impact interventions that create lasting benefits for resource-limited seniors.