The Habitat Repairs program was a cause Dixon advocated for, and he “believed would change the lives of low-income, disabled and elderly Catawba County homeowners,” J. Anthony Rose, President and CEO of CVMC said via the release.
By working with the hospital, Habitat Repairs will gain firsthand knowledge of home conditions they would previously be unaware of, as well as medical conditions and health issues.
“We realize for the hospital, so much of expenses come from readmissions into the hospital,” Mitzi Gellman said, who is the executive director for Catawba Valley Habitat for Humanity. “Doing a minor repair can help keep costs down.”
Around 10 to 20 percent of residents the program helps are elderly, Gellman estimates.
The program began about two years ago, and one of the goals of the hospital, as well as Habitat Repairs is to keep patients in their homes, while addressing repairs that could help prevent sickness, Gellman said.
Home-related illnesses include asthma patients living in mold-filled homes due to a leaky roof, or patients with COPD lacking air conditioning or heat, according to the release.
“It was at Charlie’s encouragement that we launched Habitat Repairs, and we are only now beginning to scratch the surface of his vision. I believe Charlie would be deeply moved by CVMC’s gift. His compassion and drive has rallied Habitat donors and volunteers to help the many existing homeowners in need of repairs,” Gellman said.
Source: Praats, Michael. “CVMC Promises $200,000 to Home Repair Program.” Hickory Record. 17 January 2017. Web.
