CLEVELAND — Irene Turntine has lived in her home in East Cleveland since the 1960s. She said inside of her walls is a lifetime of memories. 

What You Need To Know

  • Irene Turntine is almost 95 years old and struggled to climb the stairs in her home because she did not have hand railings

  • Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging heard Turntine’s story and provided her and installed hand rails in her home free of charge

  • This was made possible through the agencies "Nails It" program and they are accepting applications through the end of the year

“My husband and I, we struggled, but we paid the house off,” Turntine explained. “You know, it was a struggle, it wasn’t easy.” 

At almost 95 years old, things like going up the stairs in her home became a struggle, and she didn’t have hand railings to help her keep her balance as she climbed to her second floor. 

She explained that in order to walk up the stairs, she had to either crawl or use her arms to balance against the walls.

This is why Doug Beach the CEO of Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging said they stepped in to provide new hand railings, to make it easier and safer for Turntine to go up the stairs in her home.  

“We need to understand that home is where people want to be,” Beach said. “It’s the cheapest alternative to anything, when you think about assisted living facilities or nursing homes or things like that. This is the place that provides the most bang for the buck and if we can extend that, that is what we try to do.” 

June Taylor, the chief of strategy and performance with Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, said they were able to add the railings through their ‘nails it’ program and added that they have helped hundreds of seniors stay in their homes in northeast Ohio. 

“This opportunity is ‘Nails It,’ which is an initiative to allow seniors to have grab bars, ADA height toilets,” Taylor said. “We're helping seniors and individuals with challenges remain in their homes safely by having grab bars installed, hand rails and things that can help them be more mobile inside of their own homes.” 

The agency will be accepting applications for this program until the end of the year. They can be contacted by calling 216-539-2138.

As for Turntine, she said she’s grateful for the opportunity to live out her golden years in the place she has always called home. 

“It means a lot that I stay here,” Turntine said. “I told my daughter already, do not take me out of my house. If I get sick enough, get someone to take care of me. I want to stay right here. I kept my husband here. I want to stay here.”