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

DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND COMMUNITY LIVING

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. Program(s) with home modification or repairs include:

1. The Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (EPD) Waiver
Program Description: This Medicaid Waiver supports individuals who are age 65 and older or between 18 and 64 years old and have a physical disability. The services offered include environmental accessibility adaptations which allow for physical adaptations (such as ramps, stair-lifts, and grab bars) to a participant’s home that are necessary to ensure the health, safety and wellness of the participant.
Population Served: Medicaid-eligible District residents over the age of 65 or between the ages of 18 to 64 with a physical disability.

2. Safe at Home Program
Program Description: The Department of Aging and Community Living’s Safe at Home Program provides safety adaptations in and around the homes of qualifying residents age 60 years and older as well as individuals with disabilities age 18-59 years old. Adaptations include handrails, grab bars, bathtub cuts, shower seats, furniture risers, chair lifts, and security cameras. In FY 2019, the agency received an increase of $926,000 from FY 2018.
Population Served: Washington, DC homeowners or renters age 60 years or older and individuals with disabilities age 18-59 years with an annual household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income.

3. Senior Home Repair Service Program 
Program Description: The DC Office of Aging and Community Living has partnered with YouthBuild Public Charter Schools to provide older adults with free labor for small home repairs, home improvements or painting projects.
Population Served: Older DC residents.

DC HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Single Family Residential Rehabilitation Program
Program Description: The DC Housing and Community Development Department Single Family Residential Rehabilitation (SFRRP) administers loans and/or grants for home repairs through four different programs: 1) Roof Repair Program; 2) Handicapped Accessibility Improvement Program; 3) Rehabilitation Loans; and 4) Senior Deferred Loan Program. The focus is to alleviate DC building code violations and assist homeowners in repairing health and safety concerns and modifying and/or eliminating barriers to accessibility for persons with mobility or other physical impairments.
Population Served: Homeowners with a primary residence of at least 3 years with homeowners insurance who meet income requirements.

DC FALL PREVENTION COALITION

DC Falls Free Coalition
Contact [email protected] for more information.
For an up to date list of all state fall prevention coalitions, visit:
https://www.ncoa.org/resources/list-of-state-falls-prevention-coalitions/

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.”