A common stereotype of aging is an era of decline and shrinking horizons, but the process of aging is far more nuanced. Many find their health and functional trajectories actually widen as they get older. In fact some, like President Joe Biden or pioneering nurse-midwife Ruth Lubic, won’t make their greatest contributions until their later years. Key to staying healthy as we age is maintaining or improving health, which largely falls outside of healthcare facilities. Led by Sarah L. Szanton, PhD, ANP, FAAN, the CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders) program brings together a nurse, an occupational therapist and a handy worker to address the home environment, while encouraging the strengths of older adults to improve safety, independence, and dignity based on the client’s goals. By installing small, cost effective adaptations to the home environment, older adults can ease the navigation of daily living – bathing, dressing, standing to cook, using stairs – sustaining their physical, mental, and emotional energy and leading to richer lives full of creativity and meaningful contribution.

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