Guest Post by Pat Lund
Twin Cities Habitat Staff

Falls are the number one reason aging homeowners need to leave their home for alternate living situations. One out of four older people falls each year resulting in 2.8 million emergency visits, 800,000 hospitalizations, and a cost of $31 billion dollars in health care annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

One of the challenges as we age is staying connected to family, friends and community. According to the Bipartisan Center on Senior Health and Housing Task Force: One of the most important public health findings over the last two decades has been that there are a number of factors, beyond medical care, that influence health status and contribute to premature mortality. 

Gwen is a longtime resident of Minneapolis. She and her husband Bruce love their home and their neighborhood. They have raised a family and continue to be caring neighbors in their community. They both plan (and hope) to stay in their home as long as possible.