Eaa-Z Fix It program needs a hand with repairs

I have always liked superheroes. Superman, Underdog and of course, Batman and Robin, whose show I rarely missed as a child. No feat was too tough. They all did the undoable.

It is not often in life that you come across someone who is reminiscent of these characters. But Rolf Staples, program coordinator of the Eaa-Z Fix It minor home repair program, fits the bill. If it needs to be built, fixed, raked, or replaced, Staples is on the case.

But unlike the superheroes of comic book fame, he needs some help.

“We have jobs out there that need to be done and we just don’t have enough volunteers to do them,” said Staples. “And if there is one thing that I can’t stand, it’s waiting lists. There are seniors who are not physically able to get ready for spring, or they need help with things like a leaky faucet, broken screen door or rotting front steps. And I really want to see them get what they need.”

Picture this: An elderly woman fears falling every time she takes a bath. What used to be a relaxing experience is now a source of anxiety. She needs grab bars but has no one to install them. Or how about the elderly gentleman who cannot come home from rehab because there is no wheelchair ramp at his house? Think rotted floor boards, cracked and drafty windows, frayed wires, continuously running toilets, and kitchen lights that are not working, which puts seniors in the dark as they try to cook. Not a good combination.

Here’s how you can help. Eaa-Z Fix It needs people who can wield a hammer or love working outdoors. Think about this: An afternoon spent in the sun, breathing in fresh spring air. Spending a couple of hours raking the lawns of seniors who take pride in their homes gives a kind of satisfaction that doesn’t happen every day. Not to mention being on the receiving end of a broad smile and hearty handshake (or hug) from a very grateful senior.

But it is about more than a well-groomed lawn or the annoying drip of a faulty faucet. Sometimes the repairs are a matter of safety in the home.

“We had a woman who was afraid to leave her house because the steps were in such bad shape,” said Staples. “She was terrified that she was going to fall through and break a hip or worse. And then there was the back door that wouldn’t close. And smoke detectors that need to be installed. Keeping people safe in the homes that they have lived in for decades is our goal. And oftentimes it doesn’t take much, just manpower.”

For large jobs that are not manageable for volunteers, Eaa-Z Fix It has a database of reputable contractors who come with verifiable references.

“Often the seniors are willing to pay for the service, but just are not sure who to contact or trust,” Staples added. “But really, the bottom line is that we desperately need people who are handy around the house, and who like to putter, and have maybe replaced a screen door or two in the past – that kind of thing. I cannot emphasize it enough. We need volunteers.”

Now while Staples and his volunteers may not wear capes, they are crusaders nonetheless, championing the cause of keeping seniors independent and happy and in their own homes. A worthy cause indeed.

If helping seniors with minor repairs or yard work appeals to you, call Staples at 941-2865. You, too, could be a hero to a senior.

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