SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Hospice Savannah just received a 2 million dollar grant to help our elderly age in place. They are the only ones in the Southeast to implement a program of this nature.

It’s called capable, and it helps our elderly, like Deborah Goldwire age in place and gives them a better quality of life by providing modifications in their home with the help of occupational therapists and nurses.

“When they came it just enlightened everything for me it really did, I appreciate them I really do,” Goldwire said.

Capable or community aging in place advancing better living for elders is a program many like Goldwire in Stillwell Towers and many others in senior living facilities have used to function better in their daily lives.

Kathleen Benton, President/CEO of Hospice Savannah describes the program as innovation at its finest.

“One of our clients hadn’t been able to get in the bathtub for many, many years because of different arthritic and other impairment issues,” Benton said. “We’re able to put in place stability through a different bed or a lift that really helps lower that patient into the tub or toilet.”

The first thing they do is set you up with a team for five months that will come into your home and listen to you and the struggles you face in your daily life.

From there the team will work together to provide you with everything they can from installing lifts and chairs for easier access, all the way to providing cleaning and cooking tools that make it easier for the patients.

Deborah said her team came in listened to her and met all the needs she asked for.

“She had them raise the toilet she gave me an outing on the side where I could lift up and push up because I actually put a hole in the wall behind the door because I would use the doorknob to try to pull up because there wasn’t anything,” Goldwire said. “She brought the shower next time, and she said, Ms. Debra, she said with this shower chair you can actually slide the curtain all the way around it and cover your back that way the water will stay in the tub.”

Goldwire said the best thing is, “This hasn’t cost me a penny, not one penny. But I have been blessed, you know, to receive all these things that help me and put strength in me.”

Capable is accepting new patients and you can sign up by clicking here or calling at 912.355.2289.