EAA-Z Fix helps seniors with repairs

I think spring has finally sprung. I have spotted the first robin in my yard – and so have my cats, who live in hope that one day they will be on the other side of the window. I also have seen the first determined flower buds inch their way up through the hard, unforgiving ground.

Spring is a good time to take stock of your surroundings, and see what needs to be cleaned, raked or fixed. For some seniors, recognizing the problem is only half the battle. Then they must search for someone to fix it.

“We’ve had requests from some seniors who need minor home repair, and we have no place to refer them for small projects,” said Deb Chapman, director of outreach services at Eastern Agency on Aging.

“Some seniors are not physically able to get ready for spring,” she said. “They need help with things like a leaky faucet, broken screen door or rotting front steps. In order to serve this population, we have started a program called EAA-Z Fix. It is a minor home repair program.”

EAA-Z Fix is searching for volunteers willing to do minor home repair work for seniors.

“We are looking for people who are handy around the home – someone who likes to putter, and has maybe replaced a screen door or two in the past, that kind of thing. Someone who is good with a hammer, and has that Yankee ingenuity, do-it-yourself kind of attitude. And who can tinker with success,” said Chapman.

“We also will have a database of reputable contractors for projects larger than what our volunteers can handle,” she said. Often the seniors are willing to pay for the service, but just are not sure who to contact or trust, she added. Arrangements may be made for those unable to pay a fee but still need the work done.

EAA-Z Fix may help keep seniors from being scammed by unscrupulous contractors, because references will be checked before the program makes referrals, she added.

The program coordinator for EEA-Z Fix, George McCann, 68, said, “I jumped at this opportunity because I have always been interested in home repair, especially for seniors, which can be a very vulnerable population. Lots of seniors have lost their savings to scammers.”

The goal is to match reliable volunteers to the right project for their skill level. And there are many jobs from which to choose. Here is a sampling of things seniors can call us about:

. Carpentry: repairing broken furniture, fixing a broken window, installing safety railings and wheelchair ramps, hanging window treatments.

. Electrical: repairing small appliances and connecting VCRs.

. Plumbing: repairing sink stoppers and replacing toilet tanks.

. Routine maintenance: yard cleanup, window washing, cleaning gutters, removing or installing storm windows and small paint jobs.

“Many seniors take pride in their homes, which are a source of comfort and pleasure,” said Chapman. “We want to help them keep their homes maintained so they can continue to enjoy them.”

That’s all McCann needed to hear. “I know what it’s like to get older. Just the fact that I can get out there and visit these people and shake their hand – to me, that’s the reward,” he said. “I’m certainly not doing this job to get rich. I love it.”

For more information or to volunteer, call McCann at 941-2865.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information, call 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.