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

NEW MEXICO AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT (ALTSD) (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. Efforts of the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) that involve home modification or repairs include:

1. ALTSD has an agreement with the State Medicaid Agency to ensure that consumers transitioning from long-term care receive necessary home modifications.

2. ALTSD partners with the Veterans Administration through the Veteran’s Directed Care Program to ensure eligible Veterans receive home modifications.

3. ALTSD partners with the Governor’s Commission on Disability’s Residential Accessibility Modification Program (RAMP) to provide referrals for funding for home modifications.

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

1. Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver
Program Description: This Medicaid Waiver serves individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities so they may live as active members in the community. The maximum allowed funding for environmental modification is limited to $5,000 every five years.
Population Served: Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities that occur before the age of 22.

2. Medically Fragile Waiver (MFW)
Program Description: MFW is New Mexico’s 1915(c) home and community-based services program serving individuals diagnosed with a medically fragile condition prior to the age of 22 and a developmental disability or who are developmentally delayed or at risk for developmental delay and meet an intermediate care facility for the intellectually and developmentally disabled level of care. Environmental modifications may be provided as a service.
Population Served: New Mexico residents who have a medically fragile condition and a developmental disability before age 22 and meet income guidelines.

3. Mi Via Self-Directed Waiver
Program Description: This consumer directed waiver is targeted to medically fragile individuals and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities as a community-based alternative to institutional care. Environmental modifications may be provided as a service.
Population Served: Medically fragile New Mexico residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities who meet income and eligibility requirements.

NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR’S COMMISSION ON DISABILITY

Residential Accessibility Modification Program (RAMP)
Program Description: RAMP is a state-funded program for individuals with physical disabilities who need improvements to their homes that will improve their quality of life. RAMP services target safety or functional concerns that address the recipient’s specific functional strengths and needs.
Population Served: Residents of New Mexico with a documented physical disability and who meet income eligibility requirements.

NEW MEXICO HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Community Assistance and Community Services Block Grant
Program Description: The purpose of this service is to provide emergency assistance through six Community Action Agencies located throughout the state using money from the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG). Services may include weatherization, home repair and rehabilitation.
Population Served: Low-income New Mexico residents.

NEW MEXICO STATE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

New Mexico Technology Assistance Program (NMTAP)
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.

NEW MEXICO STATE FALL PREVENTION COALITION

New Mexico Adult Falls Prevention Coalition
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:

Home Chores and Minor Repair Program
Pueblo of Isleta
Isleta, New Mexico
The Pueblo of Isleta has a Home Chores and Minor Repair Program which provides a part-time handyman who conducts minor home repair services for individuals 60 years of age or older. Services include replacements to windows, doors, screens, and glass and door knobs/handles.

Home Rehabilitation Program
City of Las Cruces
Las Cruces, New Mexico
The City of Las Cruces offers two Home Rehabilitation programs to address health and safety issues of low and moderate-income residents of Las Cruces: 1) Homeowner loans and grants in which owner-occupant families may obtain a zero-interest loan or grant to fund home improvements that address health and safety issues; and 2) The Mobile Home Ramp Installation Program for residents with a qualifying disability to have an ADA-approved wheelchair ramp constructed at their home.

Home Services Program
City of Albuquerque Department of Senior Affairs: Area Agency on Aging
Albuquerque, New Mexico
The Home Services Program of the Albuquerque Area Agency on Aging provides individuals who are age 60 and older and live in Bernalillo County with a variety of home chores, minor home repair and home retrofit services. Services include annual yard cleaning, grab bars and other safety equipment installation, walker-steps or wheelchair ramp design and build-out.