Lakewood, with a population of 50,229 citizens as of 2023, is not as small a town as many assume. Of those residents, 20% are over the age of 60. Beyond its population, Lakewood is known for its historic homes. In a city with a significant number of residents over 60 and many aging houses, the need for Aging in Place (AIP) became apparent.
Older residents are the heart of the Lakewood community. They keep honor and tradition alive and inspire younger generations. While aging is a beautiful thing, it can also be difficult at times. It can become dangerous for older residents to remain in their dated homes. This is why AIP is crucial. It allows residents to stay in their homes for as long as possible, keeping the heart of Lakewood where they are most comfortable.
Mark McNamara, the community engagement specialist for Lakewood Alive, founded the program dedicated to helping residents remain in their homes. After securing property certification, he began entering the homes of Lakewood citizens to assess safety concerns. This included tightening stairway handrails, installing chair lifts, checking smoke detectors, adding safety bars to showers, and more.
Matt Clark, the toolbox and housing outreach coordinator and McNamara’s successor, is the current head of the program. Clark said, “Probably 90% of what I do for my job [is] basically striving to keep elderly residents safe in their homes, and it’s a huge impact on a lot of residents.” After securing his own certification, he began aligning his services with Cove Community Center, another key neighborhood hub for support within Lakewood, expanding the scope of AIP.
No one can outrun time. Yet, that doesn’t make it any less difficult when age makes simple tasks seem impossible. Older individuals often struggle with the idea of losing their independence. Clark describes it as “a huge mental stress.” AIP aims to help residents over 60 stay in the family homes that mean the world to them and maintain their independence.
Laura Jaissle, the assistant director of the Department of Human Services at Cove, works with the Division of Aging at the center each month to review clients and assess cases. “With the older homes in Lakewood and an aging population, this is an extremely important service we can offer to our residents,” Jaissle said. The program also has two social workers at Cove who are certified to work with AIP clients. The partnership between the two organizations has fueled the continued growth of this powerful initiative.
In addition to working with Cove Community Center, AIP has expanded collaboration with the Lakewood Fire Department. Oliver Harper is a neighborhood paramedic for the department. On top of working with the front-line EMS crew, he collaborates with Lakewood Alive and the Department of Human Services at Cove to “make sure all residents have basic social needs met,” Harper said. The neighborhood paramedic often refers residents to Matt Clark after they’ve had a hospital stay. Clark then visits their homes to implement appropriate measures to help prevent future accidents.
Beyond involving several new organizations to expand its reach, AIP recently secured grant funding to increase its impact. The Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River provided funds for new beds for residents, and the Healthy Lakewood Foundation supplied funding for handrails, shower seats, and grab bars.
AIP has grown into a program dedicated to supporting the older citizens of Lakewood. These residents may not be entirely safe in their family homes, but they aren’t ready to leave. Lakewood Alive, Cove Community Center, and the Lakewood Fire Department have created a system that allows them to remain in their homes and stay safe while there. It is the individuals of these organizations—McNamara, Clark, Jaissle, and Harper—who drive this initiative and help keep their community members healthy, happy, and safe.
