The home must be safe and accessible. People shouldn’t have to choose between paying the gas bill and buying medications, so homes should be energy-efficient. If seniors don’t have a pri- mary care provider, they may not have a doctor or nurse overseeing their medications. They may need meals, or transportation or respite care.” But identifying the required conditions is only the first step, says Pearlman. Making sure organizations “have the capacity to provide what people need” is essential to realizing the goal of allowing seniors to age in place. Home Safety: When Carol Budzik inventoried the repairs needed at her Sharpsburg home last year, the list was overwhelming. The home in which she and her husband, Jim, raised four children needed a roof, a furnace and new flooring. “When it rained, water was coming in the attic ceiling,” she recalls. “I knew the roof needed to be fixed, but I couldn’t afford all this. I made phone call after phone call [for assistance].” Finally, she found Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, which recently received $100,000 in support from the Foundation. The construction team provided free upgrades that keep the Budziks’ home comfortable and safe. Guaranteeing Services for All: The Jewish Association on Aging provides comprehensive supports for nursing home residents and other clients across the city. The faith-based organi- zation “serves everyone, regardless of ability to pay — we have a diverse clientele,” says president Deborah Winn-Horvitz. Each year the agency's Benevolent Care Fund defrays costs for social and health-related services, ranging from Meals on Wheels to adult day care and nursing home care. A recent $75,000 grant from the Foundation sup- ports the fund, which provides almost 10 percent of the association’s overall operating budget. W I N T E R 2 0 1 8 11 FOUNDATION SUPPORT BUILDS STRATEGIES TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO SENIORS caregiver support, data collection and new educational technologies to engage the elderly. Dr. Jeanne Pearlman, the Foundation’s senior vice president for Program and Policy, believes that nonprofit programs create effective care by listening carefully to those they serve. “It has been my experience that if you ask older people what’s most important to them going forward, the most common answer is to stay in their homes,” she says. “Lots of conditions are required to make that possible: ME Exercise and social activities keep members of the Anathan Club at the Jewish Association on Aging engaged and healthy.