Care on Wheels

Along with nutritious meals, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels is dedicated to delivering services that make aging in place safer and easier for our homebound neighbors.

Inspired by Johns Hopkins University's evidence-based CAPABLE program (Community Aging in Place - Advancing Better Living for Elders), Care on Wheels is a multi-disciplinary program designed to help remove the obstacles that make aging in place difficult, and even dangerous, for our homebound neighbors. It simultaneously eases the burdens placed on family caregivers, leaving them more time to care for themselves, or to just enjoy their loved one without the duties that come with caregiving.

University of Michigan's National Poll on Healthy Aging reveals that 88% of adults between 50 and 80 wish to live at home for as long as possible. But many seniors living in and around Ypsilanti lack the physical and financial resources to make that happen. Care on Wheels is designed to help seniors make changes to their lifestyles and homes that will allow them to avoid or postpone the need for a senior living facility.

What is Care on Wheels?

• Care on Wheels (CoW) is a highly individualized, 4- to 24-week intervention that provides older adults with strategies, resources, and services to help them to age at home.
• CoW is an Occupational Therapy-driven home safety program that provides adults 55 and older with in-home occupational therapy consultation, chore support, caregiver respite, assistive devices, durable medical equipment, and minor home modifications to make aging in place safer and more comfortable for the senior and their caregivers. 
• Seniors who participate in CoW will be better equipped to age where they choose, with reduced risk of falls, a better understanding of their medications, and improvements to daily routines. Additional resources such as referrals for transportation and counseling may be offered to address other challenges that the older adult identifies as an area of concern.
• CoW is free and open to community member 55 and older who have challenges with at least one activity of daily living or are concerned with their accessibility in the home. There is no minimum or maximum income requirement to participate in CoW.
• CoW prioritizes the needs of each household to improve safety, health and activities of daily living. This begins with a conversation with the YMOW occupational therapist to determine what activities are important or challenging to the participant, followed by goal-setting to improve safety or preserve independence. Goals might include gaining the ability to use public transportation, achieving the ability to bathe independently, or acquiring help to perform chores around the house.
• The program offers supplemental support from nursing and case management professionals when appropriate.

Interventions and Services may include:

• Chore support.
• Case management to help connect with community resources.
• Consultation with an Occupational Therapist, which can result in home modification recommendations, tips for safely moving about your home and strategies to improve independence in daily activities.
• Nursing education and support with physical and emotional conditions, pain and medications.
• Professional assistance with home modifications and installation of adaptive equipment.

Care on Wheels helps seniors: 

• Learn to be more independent and take better care of themselves.
• Get help with housekeeping and laundry.
• Learn to safely perform household tasks.
• Improve safety during mobility to reduce and/or prevent falls.
• Learn to advocate for themselves with doctors and others.
• Learn to access community resources.
• Enjoy the company of a trained household helper.
• Spend more quality time with their family caregiver.

Benefits for caregivers: 

• Learn alternative strategies to improve safety of client and caregiver during hands-on help.
• Feel more confident and supported, even from afar.
• Enjoy peace of mind knowing household tasks are being addressed.
• Spend less time as a caregiver and more time as a loved one.
• Learn techniques to advocate for your senior.
• Help your senior by reinforcing the skills they learn from CoW.

Who can participate? 

CoW participants must be: 

• Be 55 years or older
• Experience  challenges with at least one  activity of daily living (ADL)
• Desire to make progress toward at least one goal that improves safety in the home or independent living.