Even small changes can help improve health. Some home electrification upgrades can reduce a patient’s risk of developing asthma or other chronic lung issues. Insulation measures can increase comfort at home by limiting pollutants, improving sleep, and maintaining safe temperatures. In addition, these measures often help patients save substantially on utility costs in the long run.
However, you know your patients best. For many, electrification or weatherproofing measures may be out of reach due to income level, lack of time, or other more pressing priorities. A new home electric heating system or kitchen cooktop may not be feasible for a patient today, but could be something they consider down the line as appliances need replacing. In addition, some upgrades are portable and can be accessed by renters: Window-unit heat pumps and some electric cooktops either already qualify or will qualify in the near future, and can help improve health at home.
There are opportunities available to your patients. Support for implementing home improvement measures like these has never been as accessible as it is now. Existing resources from Rewiring America, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are designed to help as many people as possible get started. By pointing patients towards these resources, you are providing them with important tools to help protect their health at home, and understand what their options are.