Olivia, an AHC resident, has always been more comfortable by herself. But something shifted for her during a new workshop series at her apartment community.
“I’ve always been a person who keeps to myself,” she said. ” Coming to these classes now, I can be more open, socializing, keeping busy, and going to different activities and events.”
Olivia was one of 14 residents at Charter House, an AHC senior community in Silver Spring, Maryland, who completed the four-part Aging 360 pilot program this fall — a new partnership between Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) and At Home with Growing Older (AHWGO).
Made possible through a Thome Aging Well grant, the program brings a different approach to aging in place — one that goes beyond home safety to address social connection, mental health, and confidence building.
“This workshop series empowers older adults with practical, low-cost solutions to age safely and comfortably in their homes. Watching our participants support one another has been incredibly rewarding.”
-Michelle Kells, AHC Program Manager of Health
This partnership comes at a critical time. The U.S. Census Bureau forecasts that the number of people 85 and older will nearly double by 2035 and nearly triple by 2060 — yet most existing housing lacks basic age-friendly features and services.
Aging 360, developed by architects and social workers, addresses this gap. The workshop series helps older adults make affordable home adaptations that support safe, independent living — from simple modifications using everyday products like seat pillows and stick-on LED lights to strategic reorganization of bathrooms and kitchens to reduce fall risks.
“Older adults in AHC communities will not only learn the benefit of making simple, often no-cost changes to their homes—they’ll also become advocates for age-friendly design, inspiring family, friends, and others in their communities.”
– Susanne Stadler, AHWGO Executive Director
Beyond practical home improvements, the workshops also offer practical skills and new perspectives for participants.
“Learning to just adjust to aging and knowing that I had options made me feel more confident and look forward to making more changes,” Tonya, Charter House resident, said. “Because sometimes change is so hard.”
Three AHC team members — Michelle Kells, Lourdes Rivera, and Edgar Awumey — completed facilitator training through AHWGO, enabling AHC to continue offering the program independently and expand to additional communities.
The program is also growing at Charter House. On October 22, AHC launched another cohort of the program there, reaching 14 more interested residents.
“We’re excited to expand to more communities, allowing us to reach more residents and give our seniors the tools they need to age in place with confidence and independence,” Michelle said.
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