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NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER ON SUPPORTIVE HOUSING & HOME
MODIFICATION
HOME MODIFICATION
WHAT IS HOME MODIFICATION? Home modification refers to adaptations to the home environment to increase ease of use, safety, comfort, security, and independence. Major modifications include ramps, roll-in showers, and lowered countertops. Minor modifications include grab bars, widened doorways, better lighting, hand-held showers, and lever door handles.
WHY IS HOME MODIFICATION IMPORTANT? * Home modification can make the home easier, safer, and more comfortable
to use for all family members and visitors, regardless of ability or age.
Home modification also facilitates caregiving.
WHAT HOME MODIFICATIONS CAN HELP WITH ACTIVITIES AT HOME?
FINANCING HOME MODIFICATIONS Most home modifications are paid out-of-pocket. However, there are programs that make loans or provide services free of charge (or at reduced rates) for eligible individuals. Examples include: * Area Agency on Aging: Some Area Agencies on Aging use funds from the Older Americans Act Title III to modify homes. To locate the Area Agency on Aging in your community, call the Eldercare Locator at (800)677-1116 or visit www.n4a.org. * Banks and Lenders: Some banks offer loans to finance home modification projects such as building ramps, installing lifts, widening doors, or lowering cabinets. Banks and lending agencies also offer reverse mortgages that allow homeowners to turn the value of their home into cash. Contact the local banking and lending organizations for more information. Free counseling on reverse mortgages is available from a HUD*-approved housing counseling agency. Call (888)466-3487 for a referral. (*HUD - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.) * Department of Housing and Community Development: Many cities and towns use Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to help maintain and upgrade homes. Contact the local Department for more information. A listing of Housing and Community Development Agencies can be found by visiting www.nahro.org/reference/internethousing.cfm or calling the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials at toll free (877)866-2476. * Federal Housing Administration (FHA): The FHA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), administers mortgage insurance programs (e.g., Title 1 and Section 203(k)) that can help homebuyers and homeowners secure loans to make home modifications. For more information, contact the regional HUD field office listed in the telephone directory, visit www.dtinational.org/training/hudinfo/hudoffices.asp or call (202)708-1112. The local FHA-lender can be found by visiting www.hud.gov/ll/code/llplcrit.html. * Health Insurance: Medicare and Medicaid will pay for medically necessary durable medical equipment as prescribed by a doctor. Contact the local Medicare intermediary or the state Medicaid office. For a list of State Medicaid Offices, visit www.hcfa.gov/medicaid/obs5.htm or call the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at (410)786-3000. Some private health insurance and long term care insurance plans also pay for limited home modifications. Check with the insurance provider. * Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) / Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) / Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): Called by different names in the various states, these federal programs help low income households obtain home modifications that increase comfort. Contact the local Department of Community Services and Development, Department of Human Services contact the LIHEAP Clearinghouse at (866)674-6327. * Internal Revenue Service (IRS): If the home modifications meet certain conditions, they may be tax deductible. Part of the expense of building ramps or installing elevators may be deductible if they increase the resale value of the property and have been prescribed as medically necessary. Consult a tax professional and order a free copy of IRS Publication 502 for more information. Contact the IRS by visiting www.irs.ustreas.gov/cgi/formorder or call (800)829-3676. * Rural Housing Services (RHS) Grants/Loans: Part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the RHS offers various grants and loans for rural, low-income elders. RHS Section 502 Home Ownership Loans may be used to rehabilitate, repair, buy, build, or improve rural homes and related facilities. RHS Section 504, the Very Low-Income Housing Repair Program, provides loans and grants to very low-income persons 62 years and older to repair, improve, or modernize their dwellings or to remove health or safety hazards. To locate the local Rural Development area offices, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html. To learn more about the USDA Rural Housing Services programs call (530)792-5820, (530)792-5848 (TDD).
HOW TO GET THE HOME MODIFICATIONS DONE 1. Contact a local home modification program. Some programs provide an assessment of the home environment to determine the magnitude of home modifications needed. a) Programs can be located through the State Agency on Aging, State Housing Finance Agency or Housing and Community Development Agency, Department of Public Welfare, Department of Community Development, or through the local Senior Center or Independent Living Center. b) A list of home modification services nationwide can be found by visiting www.homemods.org/profile/index.html, a website operated by the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification. 2. Do it yourself, or get an experienced friend or relative to help. 3. Hire a contractor, handyworker, or remodeler. a) Get recommendations from others who have had similar projects completed. b) Hire a licensed and bonded professional. To verify a contractor*s license, contact the state contractors licensing agency which can be found in the blue pages of the local telephone directory. c) Ask for a written agreement, with only a small down payment. Make the final payment only after the project is completed. d) Check with the local Better Business Bureau regarding the professional*s reliability and performance record. Call (703)276-0100 or visit www.bbb.org.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For more information about home modification, visit www.homemods.org, write to the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification, USC Andrus Gerontology Center, 3715 McClintock Ave., Suite 228, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, call (213)740-1364 or email: homemods@usc.edu. |