Home Modification and Repairs for Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities for State Units on Aging: This report by the USC Fall Prevention Center of Excellence and ADvancing States reports on a national survey

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES: DIVISION OF AGING AND ADULT SERVICES (State Unit on Aging)
State Units on Aging (SUAs) are designated state-level agencies that develop and administer state plans that advocate for and provide assistance, including home modifications or repairs, to older residents, their families, and adults with physical disabilities. SUAs administer funds, including Older Americans Act funds, which may be used to support home modification or repair services through local Area Agencies on Aging and other state and local entities. Additionally, state level programs through the State Unit on Aging that include home modification and repair include:

ARChoices in Home Care 
Program Description: This Medicaid Waiver program provides home and community-based services for adults ages 21-64 with a physical disability and adults age 65 or older. It includes environmental accessibility adaptations/adaptive equipment as a home and community-based waiver service. It provides physical adaptations to the beneficiary’s home to promote independence, health and safety. Examples of adaptations include installing wheelchair ramps, widening doorways, modifying bathroom facilities, installing grab bars, and installing overhead tracks for transferring. Adaptations for general utility repairs and adaptations which add total square footage to the home are excluded. The lifetime benefit for this service is $7,500 (as of 2019).
Population Served: Medicaid-eligible Arkansas residents ages 2-64 years with a physical disability and adults age 65 years or older.

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES: DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES

Developmental Disability Services Alternative Community Services (DDS ACS)
Program Description: This Medicaid Waiver program is for persons with severe, chronic developmental disabilities that started before the age of 22. It provides home and community-based services that include environmental modifications in support of community-based living.
Population Served: Residents of Arkansas who qualify for Medicaid and have a severe, chronic developmental disability and are eligible for the level of care required by an intermediate care facility.

ARKANSAS STATE FALL PREVENTION COALITION

Injury & Violence Prevention Section Chief Arkansas Department of Health Trauma Program UAMS Medical Center
For an up to date list of all state fall prevention coalitions, visit: https://www.ncoa.org/resources/list-of-state-falls-prevention-coalitions/

ARKANSAS STATE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

iCan Tools for Life
The Increasing Capabilities Access Network (iCAN) connects Arkansans with technology to help them learn, work, communicate and live more independently.

The State Assistive Technology Grant Program, funded under the Assistive Technology Act of 2004, supports comprehensive, statewide programs in each state that improve the provision of assistive technology (often home modification-related) to individuals with disabilities of all ages.

1. To locate the Area Agency on Aging in your state, please contact Eldercare Locator at https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx

2. Data Brief: Building Community Capacity to Serve Older Adults: The Role of Area Agencies on Aging in Home Modifications and Repairs
This Data Brief highlights key findings from the 2019 National Survey of Area Agencies on Aging on how Area Agencies on Aging are providing and funding home modification and repair activities. It was developed by the USC Fall Prevention Center of Excellence in partnership with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging as part of the Administration for Community Living project, “Promoting Aging in Place by Enhancing Access to Home Modifications.”

3. Featured Efforts

Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas, a chartered affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, International, works to transform lives by building and repairing homes in partnership with families in need, and uniting all Central Arkansans around the cause of safe and affordable housing. The Neighborhood Revitalization Program partners with local residents and community leaders to coordinate a variety of projects depending on neighborhood and resident needs. This may include accessibility modifications. Additionally, Rock the Block, a one day event, assists residents with a variety of needs including safety and accessibility modifications.