Lillian Perry: Aging with Dignity in Maringouin

Lillian Perry has lived in Maringouin, Louisiana, for more than a century. At 102 years old, she still rises each day in the town where she spent decades raising children, welcoming neighbors, and building a life.

These days, she is cared for by the very family she once cared for. Her children live close by and visit often, surrounding her with love, familiarity, and the rhythms of home. But even with that care, her house had begun to work against her. Simple acts — like stepping out the side door with its two steps down — had become difficult, and even risky. But she didn't need or want relocation.

As one of the pilot participants in the Foundation’s Aging with Dignity program, Mrs. Perry is an example of the difference the program can make. In partnership with Rosarium Health, the Foundation made simple but life-changing modifications: Grab bars were installed throughout the home to stabilize her steps, and a sturdy railing now lines the front stairs she uses to greet the world.

"The bars in the bathroom are really nice and the other family members who come visit will benefit from it as well,” said Delores, Lillian's daughter. "We are happy we got those railings outside because she was never able to go out that way."

These are small interventions, but their impact is significant. They allow Mrs. Perry to safely remain in her home and stay connected to her family, her neighbors, and the legacy she continues to shape simply by living.