Led by a team that includes Certified Aging in Place Specialist Julie Moses, the program offers a comprehensive approach that combines over two decades of occupational therapy expertise with the latest tools and technology. From installing handrails to integrating emergency backup systems, Givens Home First’s Aging in Place program provides tailored solutions that not only enhance safety but also foster peace of mind. Now available to the wider Asheville community, the program is extending its mission to empower more individuals to remain confidently and comfortably at home.
Check out our Q&A with Executive Director Jessie Bosshard about the program below.
Tell us about your business and the role you play in it.
For over 30 years, Givens has been a trusted provider of senior living services in Asheville. Over the decades, new facilities and programs have emerged, including the launch of Givens Home First in 2023, a Home and Community-Based Services Program that has been thoughtfully designed to support individuals to live safely and comfortably in their own homes.
Today, Givens Home First is thrilled to expand its Aging in Place program to the wider Asheville community. This service, now available to individuals within a 90-minute round trip drive from the Givens Estates office off Sweeten Creek, includes expert home safety assessments and personalized modifications tailored to each person’s unique needs.
The program is led by Certified Aging in Place Specialist Julie Moses, who brings 20+ years of experience in occupational therapy. Julie, along with Aging in Place Technician David, understands that every individual has unique needs and wishes. From selecting the right handrails to recommending backup power options for essential devices, Julie and David offer customized solutions that enhance home safety and accessibility. Not only with they assess the home environment, but also be the ones to modify the home.
Where did your vision begin? How has it grown?
Our vision began with a heartfelt gift of $10,000 from a resident’s family member in the early 1990s, which laid the foundation for Givens’ Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), starting with a Home Care program. Over time, the vision grew with the dedication and innovation of team members like Julie Moses, who has empowered Givens residents to age in place since 2002. Today, we’re expanding these services to the wider Asheville community, using the latest technology and innovations to provide personalized home safety solutions. By integrating new tools and approaches, we’re making aging in place safer, more accessible, and more stylish than ever.
What has been your greatest challenge? Your greatest victory?
Our greatest challenge this year has been expanding our reach beyond Givens residents to the broader community, navigating logistics, such as payment systems, and establishing community partnerships – for so long, we have only operated on our Givens Campuses, so this is new for us! We are actively seeking partners from HOAs to Realtors to Home Care / Health Agencies to AirBnb Owners and more! Our greatest victory is the collection of many… preventing falls, showing off new technology, breaking barriers, bringing peace of mind, and empowering our clients to remain in their homes safely and comfortably.
What is a little-known fact about your organization?
Many in our community think of “Givens” as Givens Estates, our Asheville-based Life Plan Community where it all began in the 1970s. In reality, Givens Communities is a nonprofit organization that includes several facilities and programs, each serving unique needs across Western North Carolina. Beyond Givens Estates, we operate Givens Highland Farms in Black Mountain, another Life Plan Community and two affordable communities (Givens Gerber Park in Asheville and Givens Great Laurels in Waynesville), as well as Givens LifeMinistries, which reaches 66,000 people annually through outreach. In 2023, we also launched Givens Choice, a Continuing Care at Home program, and Givens Home First, which provides Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) to all Givens residents / members and the broader community.
If you had to give one piece of advice to someone just starting out in your field, what would it be?
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” In the world of aging in place, success means planning with heart, truly listening to each individual’s story and unique needs. Prioritize the human connection, and let each person guide you to solutions that enrich their daily lives and foster real independence. Be vulnerable!! Be brave!! Be bold!!
What does the word “community” mean to you?
Community is the powerful network of support, compassion, and resilience that strengthens us all—especially in challenging times. Recently, we’ve seen the community come together after Hurricane Helene to support those affected and wrap arms around each other with compassion and care. One of our core values is “Power of Community” and this spirit of unity drives everything we do, and we’re grateful to be a part of such a remarkable community.
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For more information on how Givens Home First can support home safety and empower you to age gracefully, contact info@givenshomefirst.org or visit www.givenshomefirst.org. Givens Home First is dedicated to helping Asheville’s residents thrive at home, no matter what the future brings.