Support to Help Kings County Seniors Stay in Their Homes
Occupational therapist and CAPABLE team member Chantel Armstrong helps a client identify small changes that will help her to continue to live safely at home. (Communications Nova Scotia)
Seniors in Kings County now have access to a new pilot program to help them continue to live independently at home.
“As we age, many of us want to live in our homes as long as we can. Often, seniors can do that with a few simple modifications to their daily routines and living spaces,” said Barbara Adams, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care. “Teams of professionals are helping seniors set goals and make these changes through the innovative CAPABLE program.”
The Community Aging in Place, Advancing Better Living for Elders program (CAPABLE), which opened to seniors in the Preston area in December, is now available to seniors in Kings County. Eligible seniors are paired with a nurse, occupational therapist and handyperson to identify simple changes to their daily activities and homes that will help them live more independently.
Program teams will work with seniors to set goals and introduce new skills, exercises and house modifications, which might include doing exercises to improve strength and mobility; reviewing medications; rearranging furniture or moving frequently used items so they are easier to reach; improving lighting; and installing grab bars, raised toilet seats, lever faucets and lever door handles.
Occupational Therapist and CAPABLE team member, Chantel Armstrong, meets with a client to help identify small changes that will help them stay living in their home safely. (Communications Nova Scotia)
VON Nova Scotia is delivering the program, on behalf of the Province, to 100 local seniors in Kings County.
To qualify, seniors must:
- be 65 or older
- have physical or mobility challenges
- have a net income of $85,000 or less or receive income assistance, the Province’s heating assistance rebate or the guaranteed income supplement from Service Canada.
Seniors can get more information and apply online at https://von.ca/von-care/capable or by calling 1-888-925-6101.
Addressing the factors affecting health and well-being is part of Action for Health, the Province’s strategic plan to improve healthcare.
Quotes:
“We are looking forward to expanding CAPABLE into Kings County and working closely with community partners and local agencies to identify residents who could benefit from this program.”
— Alison Abrera-Gibb, Director, Strategic Growth and Partnerships, VON Canada
“CAPABLE is so important for residents of this area, as it not only gives them additional resources to age in place, but it enables them to retain more autonomy over their daily activities and brings them and their families peace of mind that they are safer at home.”
— Stephen Forbes, CAPABLE handy worker and owner of ECL Home Safety Solutions
Quick Facts:
- applications for seniors in the communities of Cherry Brook, Lake Loon, North Preston, East Preston and surrounding area opened in December and remain open; applications for seniors living on the Halifax Peninsula are expected to open later this winter
- Nova Scotia is the first province in Canada to pilot the program, developed by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 2009
- CAPABLE teams include a nurse, an occupational therapist and roster of handy workers
- the pilot is being tested in both rural and urban areas of the province
- the government is investing $2 million in the CAPABLE pilot program
Additional Resources:
News release – Supports to Help Seniors Stay in their Homes: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/12/18/supports-help-seniors-stay-their-homes
Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/