AAFC has received a $20,000 grant from the City of Frederick
Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County has recently been awarded a $20,000 grant from the City of Frederick to enhance their Assistive Devices Program, which helps low-income seniors age in place. This program provides essential and medically necessary assistive devices such as ramps, grab bars, and mobility aids to ensure safety and ease in daily living. The grant will enable the purchase of approximately 300 devices, assisting over 250 seniors, with around 165 being city residents. The initiative is particularly impactful for seniors in economically disadvantaged communities, including communities of color, where Advocates continues to break down language barriers.
Since its inception in September 2021, the Assistive Devices Program has successfully placed over 1,100 devices in homes, benefiting more than 575 seniors. Through partnerships with healthcare, social services, and local organizations, Advocates conducts ongoing outreach to reach those in need. Melanie Cox, President of the Advocates Board, highlights the program’s vital role in improving housing accessibility and allowing seniors to live independently in their neighborhoods, rather than in age-restricted housing.
News Release
Frederick, MD — Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County has received a $20,000 grant from the City of Frederick supporting Advocates’ Assistive Devices Program for low-income seniors in both rental and resident-owned housing.
The Assistive Devices Program provides and installs appropriate and medically necessary assistive devices for the bathroom and bedroom, for mobility, ramps, recliners, grab bars, special grab bars, and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) without cost to low-income seniors who are residents of Frederick County, who meet agreement criteria and compliance, including income guidelines. Based on previous fiscal year figures, the City’s grant, made through the Community Promotion Grants Program, will fund the purchase of approximately 300 assistive devices to serve 250+ individuals, of whom approximately 165 would be City residents, for approximately one quarter (3 months) of the 2024-25 fiscal year.