Aging in Place

Company Hopes to Ease Burden Each Month This Year. Firm will donate a day of home-improvement work to a senior or disabled vet as part of its ‘Community Give Back’ program.

by Sandra J. Pennecke Correspondent

There’s no way around it: We’re all getting older. Mike Esposito, a baby boomer who turns 65 in November, is well aware of that. Esposito, owner of Home Solutions Pro Inc., started his Virginia Beach-based company that specializes in full-service home-improvement projects in 1996. Long-term relationships forged with the company’s customers reminded Esposito that time flies. “Our typical customers, when we found them, were in their 50s . Now they’re in their late 60s or 70s, and we’re working on their children’s houses,” he said. That helped inspire Esposito and wife Mary, with whom he co-owns the business, to incorporate aging-in place-modifications, remodeling and renovations into their services, and why the company will make a $25 donation to the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for each aging-in-place project it completes.

Aging in place’s premise is that an older individual’s current living situation can be made as secure and comfortable as possible so that he or she may remain in the home. In addition to the Alzheimer’s Association donations, the Espositos has kicked off a Community Give Back program. For the next 12 months Home Solutions Pro Inc. will donate one full day of construction and home improvement labor to a deserving senior or disabled military veteran (of the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan) who lives in South Hampton Roads.

The public can make nominations by calling 306-0500 or by emailing virginiahomesolutions@gmail.com. Nominations must state who the person is, where he or she lives, and why that person is a deserving candidate.

“There are many people in the Hampton Roads area that need the home-improvement help we can provide,” Esposito said. “This is something that we can do to give back to the community and help those that need it most.”

Projects may include, but are not limited to, installation of railways down a hallway, grab bars in a bathtub, modifications to tubs and showers, widening doorways, removal of thresholds to ease use of walkers and wheelchairs, and other American Disability Act compliant endeavors.

The motivations to help also are personal.

“We had an issue with a family member who one day was fine a nd the next day she was not,” Esposito said. And with a grandson serving in the Marine Corps and in harm’s way daily, Esposito said he feels a strong connection to the wounded warriors who are returning home and trying to adapt back into their homes.

“We just want to try to help ease their burden somewhat,” Esposito said.

Picking the monthly recipients won’t be easy, Mary Esposito said, adding, “It’ll be whoever pulls at our heartstrings the most.” This month’s recipient – the first – is an 85-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s. She was selected for a day of installing handrails and grab bars at her home.

Sandra J. Pennecke, pennecke@cox.net

How to Nominate

Nominations began April 15 and will be accepted on the 15th of each month for the next 11 months. Contact Home Solutions Pro Inc. at 306-0500 or virginiahomesolutions@gmail.com to make a nomination. Nominations must state who the person is, where he or she lives, and why that person is a deserving candidate.