Bob Siegfried of Grove City had six strokes in 2006.

Until then he never put a thought into the hand railing on his stairs. It’s on the right. The strokes temporarily caused him weakness — on his left.

A construction man by trade, Siegfried had the means to adjust quickly and add another railing to keep his own home a viable place to hang his hat. It’s those little adjustments, he says, that as we age can help keep us in our own homes.

“It’s as simple as stronger lighting or removing throw rugs that can be tripped over,” says Siegfried, who has received certification from the National Association of Home Builders as a certified aging in place specialist.

Siegfried, who can rattle off a list of inexpensive changes that can make senior living easier, says we often don’t put enough thought into it. Or, seniors “tough it out” not realizing how simple renovations can have an impact.

We should be thinking about it.

According to a study released earlier this month by the Joint Center for Housing Studies for Harvard University:

By 2030, the country’s population aged 50 or older will increase to 132 million.

Most of this growth will be concentrated among those aged 65 and older as the retirement of the leading edge of the baby boom is projected to nearly double the number of adults aged 65-74, from 21.7 million in 2010 to 38.6 million in 2030.

According to the report, Butler County’s 50-plus population grew from 27.1 percent in 1990 to 36.7 percent in 2010.

The same report says society is not prepared to provide economical, safe homes for our loved ones and neighbors as they age.

Butler County Housing Authority Executive Director Perry O’Malley says Butler County is progressive in providing housing and services for low-income families and the elderly. Still, there’s just never enough.

“I don’t think we will ever meet that need,” O’Malley says.

There’s a 20-year waiting list to get into the Rolling Road Regency apartment complex in Cranberry Township.

But the subsidized 50-unit facility, which is offered at $502 a month, is the exception, not the rule. All of the county’s subsidized housing has a waiting list. But for most places it’s 2 to 6 months long.

Rolling Road is in high demand, O’Malley says, because it’s new, it’s pretty and because of its “location, location, location.”

In this county, seniors can find housing assistance of a multitude of levels. There are five public housing high rises, with a total of 400 units, scattered throughout the county that are federally subsidized for people with very low or no income.

There are three high rises, with a total of 250 units, with rent deemed “affordable” for low-income people, including the Rolling Road Regency.

And, for about 600 families in this county, there is Section 8 housing in which a family receives rental assistance for a home or apartment.

O’Malley said the county is “aggressively pursuing” additional sites in different communities, including the possibility of converting the former Bruin Elementary School into an apartment complex. But, O’Malley said, funding is competitive for projects like these and only one in four projects receives needed funding.

So the trend now is keeping seniors in their own homes longer.

“Within the last 10 years the resources have been pointing in that direction,” O’Malley said, noting there are programs available to help seniors get money to modify or repair their homes.

It makes sense, O’Malley said, because it’s less costly to keep people in their homes and bring services to them.

“And who doesn’t want to stay in their own home?” said Siegfried. “That’s where your friends are and all the things you’re already used to. No one wants to move.”

Siegfried recommends working with a contractor, doctors and therapists to make home changes to improve lifestyle.

“It’s little things like your stairs. If they’re stained the same color as the landing, you might have trouble seeing the difference and trip,” he said. “I’d love to do more of this type of work. There are people I see out there that I think, if I could just get to their house and do such and such their life would be so much easier. We just aren’t attuned yet to making these kinds of changes.”

Butler County Area on Aging can help people locate funding sources for some types of home modifications.

Ricky Lake Jr., clinical deputy at Area Agency on Aging, said as long as a person is medically and financially eligible, the organization also can help seniors find services to make their quality of life at home better, too, like support for grooming and dressing.

Lake reminded people that as long as you are mentally capable you get to chose where you live.

“You have the right to make your own decisions. Age is not a criteria on whether you can make a decision once you are 18 years old,” Lake said.

For information about AAoA programs, call 724-282-3008 and ask for the referral department.