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

STATE UNIT ON AGING: NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING (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. Minor home repair and home modifications are part of allowable services offered by the 59 Area Agencies on Aging in New York State.

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

1. Care at Home (CAH) I/II Medicaid Waiver
Program Description: This waiver program allows Medicaid to pay for some services not provided through “regular” Medicaid, including home adaptations. It provides medical assistance to families with children living at home who have severe disabilities or medical conditions.
Population Served: Participants need to: be under the age of 18, unmarried, and determined to be physically diabled; require the level of care provided in a skilled nursing facility or hospital; be capable of being cared for in the community; and be a recipient of Medicaid.

2. Long Term Home Health Care Program (LTHHCP) Medicaid Waiver
Program Description: LTHHCP is a 1915(c) home and community-based services Medicaid waiver. Modifications covered include internal and external physical adaptations to the home that are necessary to ensure the health, welfare and safety of the waiver participant. There is a limit of up to $15,000 per twelve month period.
Population Served: Medicaid-eligible New York residents of any age who are medically eligible for a nursing home level of care with an assessment.

3. Olmstead Housing Subsidy – Community Transition Services (CTS)
Program Description: This program, funded by the New York State Department of Health and administered by the New York Administration on Independent Living, is designed to help people live independently in the community. Community Transition Services funding is available for small environmental modifications that help the participant settle into the home.
Population Served: Medicaid enrolled New York residents currently living in a nursing home for two years or longer and who wish to move to the community.

4. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Medicaid Waiver Program
Program Description: This waiver program provides services to persons with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) so that they may live in the community setting of their choice. Services include environmental modifications.
Population Served: New York state residents who are Medicaid-eligible, age 18-64, and have a TBI.

5. Veterans Directed Home and Community-Based Services Program
Program Description: New York serves veterans through collaboration between the Veterans Administration (VA) and local Area Agencies on Aging with grant funds provided by the Nursing Home Diversion Modernization/Community Living Program Grant funded through Administration of Aging. The program is available for eligible veterans of all ages and includes home modification not covered through the VA.
Population Served: Must meet VA eligibility review process for services.

NEW YORK STATE HOMES AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL (HCR) AGENCY

1. Access to Home Program
Program Description: The New York State Access to Home program provides financial assistance so that residential units can be made more accessible for low- and moderate-income persons with disabilities. The goal is to help individuals live safely and comfortably in their residence or return to their residence from an institutional facility. There are three programs: three programs Access to Home; Access to Home for Veterans; and Access to Home for Medicaid.
Population Served: Individuals must meet income and disability criteria. Eligible program awardees are not-for-profit corporations and municipalities throughout New York State provide assistance to eligible participants.

2. The Residential Emergency Services to Offer (Home) Repairs to the Elderly (RESTORE) Program
Program Description: This program assists low-income, older homeowners who may face unsafe and unlivable conditions in the home. It specifically addresses situations where the homeowner cannot afford the cost of emergency repairs within a reasonable period of time.
Population Served: Homeowners age 60 and older with a household income not exceeding 100% of the area median income.

NEW YORK STATE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID) Program
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 YORK STATE FALL PREVENTION COALITION

Fall Prevention for Older Adults Workgroup: New York
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:

Aging in Place Guide for Building Owners: Recommended Age-Friendly Residential Building Upgrades: Guidebook
New York City Department of Aging
New York, New York
Along with the City of New York and the American Institute of Architects New York, the New York City Department of Aging created this comprehensive guidebook to address the safety and home environments of older tenants.

CAYUGA COUNTY OFFICE FOR THE AGING IN AUBURN, NY

Home Repair Programs
The agency has access to grants, low-interest loans, and cost-sharing programs to assist eligible households with home repairs in some localities. These home repair programs are operated by Cayuga County Homesite. They help with necessary home repairs, maintenance, and improvements.

Handyman Program
Cortland County Area Agency on Aging
Cortland, New York
The Cortland County Area Agency on Aging’s Handyman Program provides minor home repairs and installs safety devices and equipment for income eligible homeowners age 60 years and older. They also have the “Make A Ramp” Program in which they purchase and own modular aluminum ramp systems that can be installed for short-term or long-term use for individuals age 60 and older.

Handyman Program
Genesee County Office for the Aging
Batavia, New York
The Handyman Program of the Genesee County Office on Aging provides older residents with minor electrical and plumbing repairs, installs safety devices or modifications, changes light bulbs, and repairs windows and screens. This program is funded by the Muriel H. Marshall Fund for the Aging in Genesee County.