Carmen, a lab worker at a nearby hospital, and her 82-year-old mother, Magdalena, have lived in their South San Francisco house for 30 years. As their house has started to show its age, they struggle to keep up with the maintenance and repairs. Fortunately, Safe-at-Home technicians Frank Tijerina and Jesse Leandro were able to help. They installed a new hand railing leading to the front door and in other areas of the house, making it safer to navigate. They also installed much-needed LED lighting, grab bars in the shower, and special wiring around the foundation of the house to prevent cats from entering the home.
Carmen had purchased a new part for their broken washing machine, but lacked the tools and know-how to install it. Frank and Jesse took care of that as well. “We fixed the washing machine on a Friday, and when we returned on Monday, Carmen was dancing around the house,” Frank said.
Carmen and her mother also like to spend time among the flowers and plants in their backyard. Because the area is windy, they had purchased a portable structure to connect to their pergola, so Frank and Jesse installed it.
The two women are grateful and feel blessed for all the help. “My mother saw that this would be a huge financial burden on me. It gives her peace of mind that her daughter doesn’t have to do all of this,” Carmen said. “We take pride in our house, and we want to keep it nice. I want my mother to continue to feel that this is her safe space.”