Repairs During a Pandemic

Cancer survivor Ms. R is also contending with other health concerns. She isolates at home alone to avoid the virus, which she says is hard on her since she is a “people person.” The only exception she makes is the occasional family visit during which her children and grandchildren willingly sanitize and distance for her protection.

Sensitive to Ms. R’s concerns, the Westminster staff wore masks and worked in separate rooms from her during repairs and communicating by speaking from across rooms and even making calls when necessary. Ms. R. said the staff was a great mixture of professional and friendly. “Wayne was always good about explaining what he was doing and when he would come back the next day. Matthew is a patient sweetheart. I enjoyed talking to him about the Lord and the way he handles diabetes because faith has also gotten me through cancer scares.”

Ms. R appreciated how staff worked as a team, noting who did which task. “Wayne tightened up the rail at the front of my house. Now it’s really strong. Matthew installed a new ADA toilet and fixed my smoke detectors.”

The wide range of repairs Westminster provided to keep Ms. R safe in her home was especially valued since she is determined to safely age in place during the pandemic. Even though their interactions were at an awkward distance, the rapport she developed with the staff was an important tonic for such an extroverted person who has tired of spending so much time alone.

Ms. R gave one final compliment, “Your staff is wonderful, and I would recommend them to the highest degree. They get an A++ from me. I will always keep Wayne and Matthew in my prayers.”

NPT: Aging Matters Fall Prevention

Each year, millions of people over age 65 fall. In fact, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults. Those numbers should give us pause, but they shouldn’t paralyze us with fear. Falling is not inevitable, and there are things we can do to prevent falls from happening in the first place. Join NPT as we discuss FALL PREVENTION on this edition of AGING MATTERS.

(Westminster Home Connection’s feature starts at 17:30.)

NPT: Aging Matters: Westminster Home Connection

AS SEEN ON NASHVILLE PUBLIC TELEVISION | NPT Reports: Aging Matters

The majority of Americans desire to remain in their homes as they age, but too often the costs of home ownership and maintenance expenses lead to unsafe living conditions. Westminster Home Connection provides free basic repairs and mobility upgrades for older adults and people living with disability in Middle Tennessee. This helps people successfully and safely age in place.

A Persevering Pair

Visitors to the B. household are greeted by the welcoming aroma of a vanilla-scented candle. This attention to detail is emblematic of the dignity the Bs take in preserving their home. They are a hardworking couple, whose health battles forced their early retirements. While Mr. and Mrs. B. have recovered and are enjoying this new phase of life, they still talk about how hard it is to lose control over your livelihood. According to Mrs. B., “It makes me relate to the people who lost their jobs to COVID, you know? They got the rug pulled out from under them and don’t know what to do. The bills don’t stop coming due just because it got harder to pay them.”

Fortunately for the Bs, they have done a great job keeping their home clean and maintained, and they connected with Westminster for their bigger repair needs. We modified their bathroom to be more accessible, repaired their roof to prevent further water damage, and installed stronger locks and security doors to keep them safe. In thanks, they said, “You don’t know how much you’ve helped. Between the age of this house and our health, we never could have made these repairs.”

Now the Bs can remain peacefully in their home and focus on the happier things in life, like their grandchildren, who bring them so much pride and joy. They recounted stories of one of their granddaughters who teaches music overseas and has experience in providing musical outlets to inmates through prison ministry. Mrs. B. also insists that her cat is like one of her children, and he will not quit hollering unless she cranks up his country music. There is nothing quite as refreshing as spending time with a happily married couple and seeing how they focus on the positive aspects of difficult living situations.

Modern Samaritans

Westminster Home Connection repaired multiple lighting and plumbing issues in Ms. H.’s home. She was especially overjoyed by her unclogged sink, which had not drained in nine years. Ms. H’s fixed income made her hesitant to hire an unknown handyman; she was relieved to have trusted staff from Westminster restoring her home.

Ms. H. has been a foster parent since the mid-1970s. She spent years fostering and running a daycare. While Ms. H. has countless stories about raising children, the tales she recalls about her father are perhaps the most profound.

“My daddy used to fish at the Cumberland River. He was as likely to bring back a homeless family as he was to return with a fish.” He let these families stay under his roof until they could get back on their feet. When two families were sharing, those who could not fit at the dining table “ate dinner on newspapers on the floor.” Neither family was given special treatment. This was in the 1960s, when there were sit-ins and marches across the south. Ms. H. and her family were black, and they shared their home with a white homeless family.

What the H. family did for the homeless was like the actions of the Good Samaritan. They did not walk past those in need. Instead, the H.’s shared their resources in an era when they may have been perceived as outsiders. The modern reenactment of a parable is a powerful reminder that God’s teachings are always relevant. Ms. H. credits her father in heaven and her earthly father with her decision to be a foster parent. Her story reminded us what it means to care for others, and how important it is to do so during times of adversity.