By: Dr. Janet Alvarez Gonzalez
Legislator, Dallas County District 25
21st Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, Human Services Committee
For older Texans, home represents far more than four walls and a roof. It is where independence is preserved, memories are created, families stay connected, and dignity is protected. Yet for too many older adults, the very place where they should feel safest is becoming a source of danger because they cannot afford the repairs and modifications their homes urgently need.
Texas is experiencing a profound demographic transformation. More than 5.6 million Texans age 60 and older live in our state, and that number will continue to grow. Many of these older adults live on fixed or limited incomes in homes built decades ago. As those homes age, problems such as leaking roofs, faulty wiring, deteriorating plumbing, uneven floors, inadequate lighting, and inaccessible bathrooms can turn everyday activities into serious safety hazards.
The financial reality makes these challenges even more difficult. According to America’s Health Rankings, 32.6% of Texas seniors are housing cost-burdened. United For ALICE reports that 52% of Texas senior households cannot afford a basic-needs budget. When an older adult is already struggling to pay for food, utilities, medication, and housing, an unexpected home repair can become an impossible financial decision.
Behind these statistics are real Texans whose independence can disappear because of a problem that, in many cases, could have been prevented or corrected.
A broken front step can become a fall waiting to happen. A bathroom without grab bars can make bathing dangerous. Poor lighting can increase the risk of injury. A deteriorating floor or leaking pipe can transform a home that once provided comfort and security into an unsafe environment.
The consequences can be devastating.
A preventable fall or household injury can result in hospitalization, rehabilitation, loss of mobility, premature institutionalization, or even the loss of the home and community an older person has spent decades building.
But we do not have to wait for tragedy before taking action.
Many solutions are straightforward and relatively modest: installing grab bars and handrails, improving lighting, adding non-slip flooring, repairing plumbing, correcting hazardous flooring, and making bathrooms and entrances more accessible. These improvements can make the difference between an older Texan remaining safely at home and being forced to leave it.
The benefits extend beyond the individual. Preventing injuries can reduce hospitalizations and healthcare costs while helping families avoid the emotional and financial consequences associated with premature institutional care. Safe and accessible housing should therefore not be viewed solely as a housing issue. It is also a healthcare issue, an economic issue, and a matter of responsible public policy.
That is why, through Resolution SL026, Support Safe and Accessible Housing for Older Texans, the 21st Texas Silver-Haired Legislature is urging state lawmakers to strengthen investment in evidence-based home repair and accessibility programs.
The resolution calls for increased funding and improved coordination through Texas’s 28 Area Agencies on Aging so that assistance can reach older Texans who need it most.
As a legislator representing Dallas County District 25 in the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, I believe we must change the way we think about aging in Texas.
We should not wait until an older Texan falls, enters a hospital, or is forced out of a home before we decide that their living conditions matter. Safe and accessible housing should not be a luxury available only to those who can afford costly renovations. It should be part of our commitment to ensuring that older Texans can live with independence, security, and dignity.
I am available to meet with Texas legislators and senators who are interested in discussing this issue and Resolution SL026. I welcome the opportunity to meet by Zoom or in person. I will also be at the Texas State Capitol in Austin October 5–7 to meet with lawmakers and discuss practical solutions for helping older Texans remain safely and independently in their homes.
Texas has an opportunity to lead—not simply by recognizing that our population is aging, but by making sure Texans have the opportunity to age well.
Aging well should not depend on whether an older Texan can afford to make their home safe.
A safe home is not a luxury. It is a foundation for independence, security, and dignity.
