Nearly half of older adults who responded to a recent Upper Arlington survey said they struggle to find help with basic home tasks like yard work, snow removal and minor repairs. The city's answer: a new online hub that matches them with screened community volunteers, free of charge.
The STAY UA Online Support Hub, which launched this summer, lets residents 60 and older request help with everything from raking leaves and changing smoke detector batteries to sorting mail, walking a dog or getting a ride to run errands. Volunteers sign up separately and are matched to requests after completing screening, a background check and training.
The service is free.
Survey drove the response
The hub grew directly out of a city survey completed by about 700 older adults in May 2026. According to the city's July-August UA Insight newsletter, 43% of respondents said they find it somewhat or very hard to locate the services they need. The top unmet needs: cleaning and organizing, snow removal, yard work and minor home repairs.
The survey also found that most respondents said remaining safely in their homes and neighborhoods as they age is important to them, and that many worry about financial pressures including rising property taxes, scams and medical expenses.
What the hub offers
The full service menu spans four categories:
- Social support: Check-in phone calls, friendly visits and social gatherings
- Home exterior: Leaf raking, clearing storm branches, light gardening, snow removal and hanging or removing holiday decorations
- Home interior: Changing lightbulbs, smoke detector batteries and furnace filters; technology help with phones, tablets and computers; sorting paperwork; light moving; and short-term pet care
- Transportation: Simple errands run by the volunteer
The city said the hub's goal is keeping older adults in their homes longer, close to familiar neighbors and routines.
City officials did not respond to a request for comment about the program.
Part of a broader consolidation
The hub sits under the STAY UA umbrella, which stands for Services To Age in Your Upper Arlington. The city consolidated several older-adult programs under that brand early in 2026. The umbrella also includes UA CARES, a team of paramedics, officers and a social worker focused on home safety, fall prevention and emergency preparedness, reachable at 614-583-5352.
Parks & Recreation programs for older adults at the Bob Crane Community Center, including fitness classes and hobby groups, also fall under STAY UA but do not require hub membership.
How to sign up
Residents and volunteers can register at uaoh.helpfulvillage.com. The STAY UA team can be reached at 614-583-5326 or [email protected].
An Older Adult Resource Fair is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 22, at the Bob Crane Community Center.
