A Safer Place to Call Home: Fall Prevention Renovations Complete at AHEPA 100
                     A Safer Place to Call Home: Fall 
Prevention Renovations Complete at 
AHEPA 100
 At AHEPA Senior Living, the safety of our residents is the foundation everything else is built on. With 
the help of a $60,000 grant from the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, 
AHEPA 100 Senior Apartments in South Bend, Indiana, has just completed a targeted safety upgrade 
that will help residents age with dignity and peace of mind.
 Why Fall Prevention Matters
 Falls are one of the most serious and preventable threats to older adults’ independence. Each year, 
an estimated three million older Americans visit emergency rooms after a fall, and more than 319,000 
of those visits involve hip fractures. For many older Americans, a single fall at home can be the 
difference between continued independence and a life-altering health crisis.
 Turning Bathtubs Into Safer Showers
 The grant from the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County funded the conversion of 25 
bathtubs into walk-in showers equipped with safety rails at AHEPA 100, with matching funds 
identified through HUD 202 reserves. The work wrapped up recently, and residents in those units 
now have showers built for safer, more independent bathing.
 These renovations took place at AHEPA 100’s original Phase I building, while the newer Phase II 
community next door, which opened in December 2025, was already built with walk-in showers. This 
project brings Phase I up to the same standard, so residents and their loved ones don’t fear that they 
have to be in the newer building to have a safer bathroom.
 “Safety is the foundation of healthy aging – and for very low-income seniors, that safety cannot be 
taken for granted,” said Aaron Perri, Vice President of Community Impact at the Community 
Foundation of St. Joseph County. “This grant reflects a commitment to the older adults of St. Joseph 
County who deserve to live with dignity and independence in their own homes.”
 Panos Niarchos, board president of AHEPA 100, Inc., echoed that sentiment: “Safe housing means 
safe bathrooms. Our residents have worked hard their entire lives. They deserve to age at home 
without fear of falling.”
 Building Awareness Beyond the Home
 Fall prevention also means giving residents the knowledge and tools to reduce their risk.
 Across AHEPA Senior Living, communities in Albuquerque, Houston, Cincinnati, Milford and Hoover 
recently partnered with health professionals and community organizations to provide residents with 
education on fall prevention, balance, foot health, mobility, home safety and the potentially serious 
consequences of a fall.
 A Model for Community Partnership
 “Fall prevention is one of the most direct investments we can make in the long-term health and 
stability of our residents,” said Ike Gulas, Chairman of the Board of AHEPA Senior Living. “The 
Community Foundation of St. Joseph County’s investment in AHEPA 100 reflects exactly the kind of 
community partnership that makes a difference for older adults who have no safety net beyond the 
home we provide. We see that same spirit of partnership across our communities, where local health 
professionals and organizations are helping educate residents about fall prevention and giving them 
practical tools to stay safe and independent.”
 Looking Ahead
 The $60,000 grant covered half of Phase I, 25 of the building’s 50 units. AHEPA Senior Living is 
already exploring additional grant funding and partnerships to bring the same safety upgrade to the 
remaining 25. This project is a reminder of what’s possible when local foundations and mission-driven 
housing providers work toward the same goal of helping older adults live safely and independently in 
their own homes.
 Find a community here, or for more information, contact us!
Get in touch with us
AHEPA 100 Senior Apartments Penelope 54 I & II Senior Apartments
53871 Generations Drive, 8111 & 8113 Creekbend Drive,
South Bend, IN 46635 Houston, TX 77071
(574) 243-1300 (713) 271-2987
[email protected] [email protected]
AHEPA 310 IV Senior Apartments AHEPA 250 III Senior Apartments
100 Ahepa Way, 251 Drozdyk Drive,
Saraland, AL 36571 Groton, CT 06340
(251) 679-0770 (860) 449-0283
[email protected] [email protected]