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

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES: SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES (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.

OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Community First Choice (K-Plan) State Plan
Program Description: The K-Plan is a Medicaid state plan option authorized under the Affordable Care Act. The service benefits Oregonians who want to stay in their homes and communities and remain independent. Services may include environmental modifications and assistive technology.
Population Served: Individuals eligible for medical assistance under the State plan and in an eligibility group that includes nursing facility services, or are below 150% of federal poverty level if they are in an eligibility group that doesn’t include nursing facility services.

OREGON STATE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

iCanConnect – OregonAccess Technologies, Inc.
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.

OREGON STATE FALL PREVENTION COALITION

Oregon Healthy Aging Network
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:

Lifelong Housing Project
Senior and Disability Services of Rogue Council of Governments
Central Point, Oregon
Lifelong Housing Project (LLH Project) helps to make it possible for older adults in Southern Oregon to live in their own homes and communities for the rest of their lives by increasing the supply of, and demand for, housing that meets residents’ needs. The Program offers a Lifelong Housing checklist of features for remodeled and new homes, provides targeted education to homeowners and professionals, and offers a voluntary certification program so accessible homes can be identified as such when they are being sold. The certification is available for rentals, new construction or existing homes. Exhibits at the annual Home Show, seminars and presentations to civic groups further expand awareness of the LLH Project.