Your home is more than a house. It is a source of comfort, security, nurturing and pride – the place where you can most relax and fully let your guard down. A place that often houses your most treasured and personal memories. A place that should feel safer and more comforting than any other place on earth.

So, what do you do when the home you love starts to present dangers that threaten your health and safety? This is the question that Martha Kratz, and millions of seniors just like her, have to face every day. 

Martha, a Colorado native who has lived most of her life on the eastern slopes of the Rockies, knows a little something about pride of place. After moving to Western Germany during the Cold War to be with the airman who would become her husband, she eventually journeyed back to the place she called home. Whether it’s a house, a neighborhood or a nation, the place where we put down our roots is a part of who we are – a piece of our identity, and a wellspring of strength in hard times.

So, in her later years, when Martha began to experience a decline in her mobility that ended up confining her to a wheelchair, she began to worry that she would lose her safety, her independence and the sense of purpose she gets from caring for the home she has loved for more than 65 years. And, she’s not alone.

The Unique Challenge of Home Safety for Seniors

We are all aware that, as we age, abilities we previously took for granted can begin to gradually – or sometimes quickly – fade away. Our vision can become blurry; our hearing isn’t as sharp as it used to be; our sense of balance may begin to fade. Even our thinking and memory can become hazier than we’d like. These changes can combine to create conditions where a once perfectly safe home can present serious health hazards.

In addition to obvious culprits like slippery throw rugs, steep staircases and wandering pets, other factors like dim lighting, narrow doorways and changes in floor material or elevation between rooms can increase the risk of potentially crippling falls. And, for those in wheelchairs, light switch and telephone installations can put everyday aids out of reach.

Martha faced all of these challenges and more as she became increasingly reliant on her wheelchair, however, she was determined to remain in the home, even if she needed a little help every now and then to keep it safe. And, Meals on Wheels is happy to come to her aid.

Our Eyes in Their Home Keep Seniors Safe

Martha knew it was time to call in backup when, during yet another stint at the hospital, a healthcare worker advised her of the benefits of using Meals on Wheels.

“I was anxious to get signed up,” she said, describing how she looked forward to adding an extra layer of safety into her life. “It makes me feel much more secure.”

Now, when Martha opens the door for regular visits from Longmont Meals on Wheels volunteers, she gets much more than a meal. She opens it to the wealth of resources, care and attention they provide, and the support she deserves.

The consistent nutrition they deliver, for instance, helps her overcome the challenges she now faces in preparing her own meals. However, meal delivery is also an entry point for a wide variety of other benefits. Volunteer visits, for example, provide companionship that would otherwise be hard for her to come by. Luckily, she’s found she has a lot in common with those who drop by a few times a week to deliver her food and see how she’s doing.

“[One volunteer] likes the Broncos,” she says, “and I like the Broncos! So, we like to talk about that. I usually try to find out what the visitors’ names are, so I can greet them.”

Perhaps most importantly, these regular visits give volunteers a chance to politely check on the inside of Martha’s home for hazards – many of which can be easy for our seniors to miss as they try hard to maintain their independence. A quick check allows volunteers to spot loose objects, uneven floors and other risks – and be sure they are fixed before they cause harm.

“Whenever [the volunteers] are here,” she explains, “they always want to check to make sure I’m ok.”

In addition, Martha is particularly happy that Longmont Meals on Wheels offers safety programs that she has taken advantage of on several occasions. Their “lockbox” program allows volunteers and first-responders to access the key to her home in the event of an emergency. And, a medical alert system lets her signal to the fire department when that help is needed.

“About a month ago, my legs gave out on me while I was trying to transfer from my bed to the wheelchair. So, I pushed my ‘lifeline’ button,” she says, referring to the medical alert system she carries with her throughout the day.

“I told them I needed some help to get up, and someone from the [fire] department came out and helped me. Even if my door is locked, [the first-responders] can still get in. EMTs, firefighters, police – whatever!” 

Martha was quick to point out that community-based senior safety initiatives like those offered through Meals on Wheels are much more than a simple convenience. Given the living situations that she and many other seniors face, they can be downright essential.

Delivering More

Martha also says that her local volunteers are always eager to help in ways that go beyond their job descriptions.

“My refrigerator broke last year,” she explains, “and I had to get a new one. But with COVID-19, things are slow, and it was going to be three weeks before I could. But one of the ladies from Meals on Wheels heard what had happened. She had a small refrigerator for her kids to use in college – but since they weren’t going to be using it during the summer, she called and asked if she could bring it over for me. They’re just great.”

Martha says she is thankful to have volunteers who take time out of their day to look out for her safety. As she puts it:

“I am so grateful for the volunteers – people who have it in their heart to help. They don’t have to do it, but they do.”

Today, Martha is making the most of her situation, still living in the home where she’s formed so many memories. With her safety supported by the keen eyes and caring hearts of Meals on Wheels volunteers, she can confidently go about her day – that help is never more than a knock away.

Even with limited mobility, seniors like Martha can lead full, independent lives with assistance – and they deserve the opportunity to do so. Some day, we’ll be the ones in need of an extra hand to ensure our safety in our homes. Today, Meals on Wheels is there to deliver more than a meal by helping to keep Martha, and millions of seniors just like her, safe in their own homes.