{"id":10346,"date":"2016-10-07T07:00:13","date_gmt":"2016-10-07T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=10346"},"modified":"2020-10-14T08:51:14","modified_gmt":"2020-10-14T13:51:14","slug":"how-to-pay-for-home-modifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2016\/10\/how-to-pay-for-home-modifications\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Pay for Home Modifications"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Pay for Home Modifications\u00a0\"How<\/strong><\/h1>\n

According to the AARP<\/a><\/strong>, 87% of seniors are planning to stay in their own homes as they age. That makes aging in place one of the biggest trends in senior living<\/a><\/strong>, but it\u2019s a choice that presents some significant challenges.<\/p>\n

The reason so many seniors end up living in assisted living facilities<\/a><\/strong> and nursing homes<\/a><\/strong> is because families worry about how safe aging in place<\/a><\/strong> is for their loved ones. Houses are usually built with the young in mind, so making them safe and comfortable for seniors can take some work.<\/p>\n

A number of the home modifications<\/a><\/strong> that make aging in place safe are fairly simple and affordable, but some homes need bigger changes that can get expensive. If you\u2019re not sure how to cover the cost of the home modifications you know you need, you may have some options for either bringing your costs down or getting a little extra money to help out.<\/p>\n

Most of the resources here won\u2019t pay for expensive home modifications in full and not everyone will qualify for them, so do keep your expectations realistic. But if you can offset the cost even a little bit, it may make the difference in being able to stay safe in your own home.<\/p>\n

Ways to Get Money for Home Modifications<\/h2>\n

If you qualify, you may be able to get financial aid from one or more of these sources.<\/p>\n

Area Agencies on Aging<\/h3>\n

The Older Americans Act sets aside funds for programs designed to help seniors maintain independence in a home environment, which can include providing help with the cost of home modifications and repairs. You can search the database at Eldercare.gov<\/a><\/strong> to find local services or call at 1-800-677-1116 to get more information about what\u2019s available and how eligibility works.<\/p>\n

Medicaid<\/h3>\n

If you qualify for Medicaid, you may be eligible for Home and Community Based Service Waivers (HCBS). The HCBS waiver program<\/a><\/strong> exists to help seniors on Medicaid who prefer to receive long-term care in their homes rather than an institution, in cases where the cost of doing so is lower than a stay in assisted living would be. If the home modifications you need are deemed necessary to allow you to age at home, they may be covered under the program.<\/p>\n

The resources available through Medicaid vary considerably in different states, so talk to a local representative to see what your options are.<\/p>\n

Veterans\u2019 Assistance<\/h3>\n

One benefit available to veterans is veteran-directed care, which allows eligible veterans to access Home and Community Based Services<\/a><\/strong> with a flexible budget that they and their caregiver can determine the best way to spend.<\/p>\n

The Department of Veteran\u2019s Affairs also offers a HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant<\/a><\/strong> that veterans can apply for. The grant provides up to $6,800 for home alterations if your condition is considered at least partially service connected, or $2,000 if it\u2019s non-service connected.<\/p>\n

Grants and Loans<\/h3>\n

A few grants are available to help seniors with the cost of home modifications:<\/p>\n