Following strong feedback from their age- and dementia friendly needs assessment survey that  97% of their 2,500 survey respondents wish to remain at home as they age, Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard was able to create a pilot program to support home modifications.

An article from the Martha’s Vineyard Times focuses on a program that could be replicated by other age-friendly communities. The article states that:

“The objective of the pilot, with funding from a Martha’s Vineyard Hospital community grant and the Martha’s Vineyard Bank, is to create an Islandwide, scalable, cost-effective program. Organizers will collaborate with Island service agencies — in partnership with the Martha’s Vineyard Builders’ Association, which promotes this program to their contractor membership who are willing to make time in their busy schedules to take on these smaller jobs.”

A Falls Prevention Coalition convened by Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard launched the referral-based program, which has served 50 people that pay a sliding-scale fee based on income.