CaregiverZone Resources

While the longitudinal costs of aging at home are often less than living in a care facility, the initial price of a remodel to age-proof one's home can be high. The average monthly costs of a long-term care facility total to $8,365 (2018 statistic). While over 90% of seniors prefer to stay in their homes, less than 1% of houses in the United States are quipped for safe and successful at-home aging. Here are resources available to help fund an aging-in-place remodel.

1. If you home is your largest asset, a traditional home loan or a reverse mortgage can help access equity to fund the remodel. Counselors  who can help determine if this is the right solution for you are available through The Department  of Housing and Urban Development.

• Link: https://www.hud.gov/topics/information_for_senior_citizens

2. Those without the equity to fund a remodel may want to consider the FHA Title-1 loan program.

• Link: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/title/ti_abou

3. If living in a rural area with less then 10,000 residents and are over the age of 62 years, you may be eligible for The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Grant and Loan program. Income limit requirements are considered and the funds can only be used to make alterations related to health and safety.

• Link: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants

4. If you are a U.S. veteran living with a disability, you can qualify for several grants through the The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. These are the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grants and Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grants.

• Link to SAH grants: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/disability-housing-grants/
• Link to HISA grants: https://www.prosthetics.va.gov/psas/HISA2.asp

5. Those with Medicaid should look into the Home and Community-Based Services waivers. These waivers help fund modifications that allow low-income seniors to stay in their homes.

• Link: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services/home-community-based-services-authorities/home-community-based-services-1915c/index.html

6. Habitat for Humanity has an aging-in-place program for low income seniors that renovates and repairs their homes. To qualify, senior's income cannot exceed 80% of their region's annual median income.

• Link: https://www.habitat.org/impact/our-work/aging-in-place