Nov 20 2012
Today, Purple Heart Homes and The Home Depot Foundation have announced a joint partnership that will provide housing solutions to older Serviced Connected Disabled Veterans that have served our country. The grant from The Home Depot Foundation will enable Purple Heart Homes to help make needed modifications to eight homes including installing ramps where steps have become obstacles, and making doorways wider and bathrooms more accessible.
Purple Heart Homes is a non-profit co-founded by Dale Beatty and John Gallina, two Iraq combat wounded Veterans. Both Beatty and Gallina want to help older Veterans remain in their homes so they do not have to consider costly alternatives.
"We founded Purple Heart Homes to help older Veterans and their caregivers to be able to remain in their own homes by making needed adaptations and modifications," said Dale Beatty. "We found raising funds to help older veterans more challenging, but now thanks to a grant we received from The Home Depot Foundation we are able to help make life easier for those who served before us."
The grant, in return, will not only help these veterans - it will also help their caregivers, who tend to be decision makers when older veterans do not specifically identify their needs.
"There are 3.5 million Service Connected Disabled Veterans that served our country and two out of five fall into the 55-74 age category," said John Gallina. "The unsung heroes are their wives and family members that are caregivers to older Veterans who, each day, help with activities of daily living," Gallina added.
In Franklin, NC, for example, an Air Force Master Sergeant, 58, who served our country in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars lives with his wife and their grandchildren they are raising. He suffers from congestive heart failure and has skeletal conditions making it difficult for him to move safely in his home. The housing solutions of wider doorways, a handicap-accessible bathroom and grab bars will not only ensure his safety but allow his wife and caregiver to feel more at ease.
Also, in Norwich, CT, a female veteran who served eight years in the U.S. Army has a 100% non-functional right hand from a Service Connected injury. Replacement windows installed in her home and a safer, more accessible kitchen will allow her to age in place in the comfort of her own home.
"The Home Depot Foundation's pledge to veterans has allowed us to help people from different walks of life," said Kelly Caffarelli, President of The Home Depot Foundation. "Veterans are men and women, young and old, able bodied and physically challenged. We are happy to team up with Purple Heart Homes to continue in our mission to ensure every veteran has a safe place to call home."
Source: http://www.purplehearthomesusa.org/