ST. LOUIS – Independence Center is proud to announce that it has received a $30,000 grant from the Marillac Mission Fund for occupational therapy to support seniors aging in place. This grant has allowed Independence Center to expand its occupational therapy services, providing more support to its older members.

“This grant allows us to provide occupational therapy services in home to our seniors,” said Katie Hartnett, Community Support Supervisor at Independence Center. “A lot of times occupational therapy comes into homes ‘after’ a fall or a crisis has occurred but our goal is to provide preventative care for our seniors so they can live safety and independently in their homes as long as possible. 35% of our population at Independence Center is older adults so it’s important for us to not only provide support for their mental health but also care for their physical wellbeing as well.”

The grant will allow Independence Center to support older adults by administering assessments of their home environments to ensure their ability to safely and comfortably ‘age in place.’ Independence Center members meeting the requirements are given suggestions on how to make their home safer. Hartnett said her team has already assessed more than two dozen seniors and helped make minor modifications in their homes such as installing grab bars in bathrooms, removing fall hazards and making repairs that could help prevent accidents.

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