Recent health issues had forced Philpot, 74, from his home, his daughter said.
“He had been sick after a heart attack and stroke and had been receiving rehab and nursing care,” said Angela Vitetta, who lives in Pennsylvania. “But his benefits were running out and the nursing facility said that before they could release him, he needed a ramp built on his home. The problem was that most of his benefits were exhausted and he was not able to afford the ramp.”
After several months of searching and worrying, Philpot found help from the Butler County Veterans Service Commission and SELF.
SELF’s Neighbors Who Care is a program that completes home repair projects for the elderly and disabled through the efforts of volunteers. This year, the program helped more than 100 Butler County families, according to John Post, who runs Neighbors Who Care for SELF.
“We do everything from hand rails to wheelchair ramps,” he said. “It is mainly for the elderly or the disabled, but it is also for low-income families.”
The program is part of the initiatives set forth by Gov. John Kasich called Aging in Place. The idea is that it costs less to keep elderly or disabled people who can function at home in their homes instead of being placed in a nursing facility.
“Why put somebody in a nursing home at a cost of $60,000 to $80,000 a year,” Post said, “when spending a few hundred dollars or $1,000 can keep them in their home where they want to stay anyway.”
Programs that are a part of Aging in Place depend on volunteers to complete the work and to raise money for materials to keep costs low.
“We have some people on staff who are good craftsmen and this year we had almost 1,500 volunteers that gave us 23,000 hours of time,” Post said. “Butler County is such a caring community. For every dollar donated, we give back $10 in services.”
Philpot’s ramp commercially would have cost $4,000 to $5,000, he estimated. Neighbors Who Care was able to install it for $5oo and at no charge to Philpot.
For Philpot and his family, they are thankful that home is where the holidays will be spent.
“Dad just cried when he realized the ramp was in and he would be home,” Vitetta said. “This is a great Christmas gift and the only thing we wanted so he could be home.”
“I’m so glad to be home,” Philpot said, marveling at the 60 feet long ramp that is part of his house now. “It feels good to be here.”
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