At 92-years-old, Guelda Bell and her husband, Glenn, are proud to still be living in their own home in York County. 

However, their daughter wanted to make sure they were living as comfortably and safely as possible as they enjoy their golden years. So, she connected her mother with the United Disabilities Services Foundation and their Community Aging in Place Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) program.

With a focus ofhelping older adults who live at home with minimal or no live-in support system, CAPABLE is an evidence-based program developed by Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. It improvesparticipants’ independence so they can reconnect with their families and communities, live more freely and improve their overall quality of life. CAPABLE received a WellSpan Inspire Grant to expand their services and reach more individuals in need. 

Last year, WellSpan awarded more than $2.67 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, supporting 66 impact-driven initiatives aligned with the WellSpan Community Health Improvement Plan.

“CAPABLE’s purpose is to provide the tools needed for older adults to live out their life with dignity, independence and enhanced quality of life, which directly aligns with WellSpan's mission statement,” said Julia Kint, community grants program administrator at WellSpan Health.

Located in Lancaster County, the grant also servesBerks, Lebanon and York counties – all of which face unique challenges in providing services to older adults due to their diverse urban, suburban and rural landscapes. 

After an assessment is conducted by a nurse and occupational therapist, staff set personalized goals with the participant to improve their safety and daily functionality. A handyperson also assists with implementing necessary home improvements and modifications to help with independent living.

“CAPABLE is the only program for older adults where they can choose their goals and which interventions work best for them,” saidShauna Buchmoyer, CAPABLE program manager.“We work beside them instead of telling them how to do something. It’s important to really look at smaller things to help them live better. It could be as simple as trimming bushes to get into their house or changing a light bulb. The little things make a big difference.”

Guelda and her husband are grateful for the CAPABLE team for making their home safer to live in. After an assessment of their home, updates included the addition of a grab bar in the bathtub, handrails for the steps of their front porch and basement and night light censors to see better around their house. An occupational therapist also helped provide personal hygiene items to use while showering, improving Guelda’s mobility and relieving back pain. 

“The team has been absolutely wonderful to work with, and I can’t thank them enough for all they’ve done for us,” said Guelda. “It’s a great program and helped us feel more comfortableliving in our own home. It also helped us save money on home improvements. I recommend CAPABLE to any elderly couple – it helps protect older adults and makes it easier to live in your own house instead of going to a nursing home. We can take care of ourselves better and that means a lot.”

Guelda Bell 

The grant supports more than 60 individuals, while the organization as a whole has supported approximately 11,000 older adults and individuals with disabilities.CAPABLE participants experienced an 80% improvement in their ability to perform daily activities in the past year. The program also saw an 82% reduction in falls and an 88% reduction in hospitalizations.

“Our goal is to help these individuals remain in their home for as long as they can,” said Shauna. “Sometimes their home can become dangerous,and we strive to take that danger away. WellSpan issuch a great community partner and always willing to help. They want to find the next thing to help at-risk populations and how to make it happen. We can’t thank them enough for their support.”

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