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

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES: SENIOR AND DISABILITY 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. Program(s) with home modification or repairs include:

1. Home and Community-Based Services
Program Description: Home and community-based services are provided to adults age 18 and older who are Medicaid eligible and in need of assistance in the home. Services are provided through the Department of Health and Senior Services and may include home modifications.
Population Served: For Medicaid-eligible individuals age 18 and older who need assistance in the home.

2. Independent Living Medicaid Waiver
Program Description: The Independent Living Medicaid Waiver provides personal assistance services beyond the limitations of the Consumer-Directed State Plan Personal Care program. Services may include environmental accessibility adaptations. The Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Senior and Disability Services administers this waiver program through an inter-agency agreement with the Missouri HealthNet Division.
Population Served: Environmental accessibility adaptation services are available to Medicaid eligible individuals age 60 or older and to adults with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 59 who also qualify for the Missouri Consumer-Directed Personal Care program.

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Residential Dwelling Accessibility Tax Credit
Program Description: This Missouri state tax credit may be used to make the principal residential dwelling of a taxpayer with disabilities accessible. A refundable tax credit of up to $2,500 may be claimed in the same taxable year as costs were incurred.
Population Served: The person with a disability must be a permanent resident of the dwelling.

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Money Follows the Person Missouri
Program Description: Missouri was awarded a Money Follows the Person Demonstration grant in 2007 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This grant program is designed to support people who have disabilities and older adults who are moving from a nursing facility or habilitation center to a community setting that meets their needs and wants. Participants that transition to the community from skilled nursing facilities can have home modifications and some repair services paid for using demonstration services funds, not to exceed $2,400.
Population Served: Eligible individuals in Missouri include those who have lived in a state habilitation center or nursing facility for at least 90 days, received MO HealthNet benefits in the facility, and transitioned to a home that is leased or owned by the participant or participant’s family, or are moving to residential housing with no more than four individuals living in the house.

MISSOURI STATE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

Missouri Assistive Technology (MoAT)
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.

MISSOURI STATE FALL PREVENTION COALITION

Show Me Falls Free Missouri
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.”

3. Featured Efforts:

Family Caregiver Support
Care Connection for Aging Services: Area Agency on Aging
Warrensburg, Missouri
Through its Family Caregiver Support Program, Care Connection for Aging Services provides family caregivers with help installing grab bars, ramps, and other assistive devices to support the caregiving experience.

MID-EAST AREA AGENCY ON AGING IN BALLWIN, MO

Family Caregiver Support Program
Aging Ahead, the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging, provides a Family Caregiver Support Program wherein caregivers are given information on minor home modifications to support the caregiving process.

SeniorAge: Area Agency on Aging

Home Safety Program
Springfield, Missouri
Program Description: Senior Age’s Home Safety Program includes home modifications such as the installation of grab bars and handrails, hand-held showers, toilet risers, shower seats, and safety pendants that help with emergency situations. The Agency also helps with arranging a contracted handyman for repairs.