While retirement communities and assisted living facilities are the right choice for many seniors, surveys show that most older Americans hope to age in place. In some cases, aging in place means downsizing but staying in a beloved neighborhood. Other seniors choose to remain in their family home.
Unfortunately, a home that was perfect for raising a family might not be well suited for aging in place. Stairs might make parts of the home inaccessible to older adults who have difficulty climbing steps. Older bathroom fixtures might create safety hazards for seniors who cannot easily enter a tub or use a toilet.
Home renovations do not always fit into the budgets of seniors who are living on a fixed retirement income. Fortunately, some low-income seniors may be eligible to obtain modest assistance from a program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Older Adult Home Modification Program
HUD developed the Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP) to help older adults age in place. The program makes grants to local nonprofit organizations, state and local government agencies, and public housing authorities. Grant recipients use the funding to help seniors modify their homes to improve accessibility and safety.
Broad eligibility standards for homeowners who need assistance for home modifications are established by HUD. Assistance is limited to low-income homeowners who are at least 62 years old and who wish to modify their privately owned primary residence. The program defines “low-income” homeowners as those whose income does not exceed 80% of the median income of people who live in the same area.
The OAHMP requires entities that receive grants to take a “person centered approach” to modifying living environments. Grant recipients typically rely on the expertise of an Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapist Assistant, or Certified Aging in Place Specialist to evaluate the homeowner’s functional abilities and needs.
After the expert identifies the senior’s specific needs, experts determine how the senior’s home can be modified to meet those needs. The program pays for “high-impact, low cost” improvements that do not exceed $5,000 per homeowner.
The program’s focus is on making simple modifications that will reduce the risk of falling. Examples of common changes to a home include “installation of grab bars, railings, and lever-handled doorknobs and faucets, as well as the installation of adaptive equipment, such as temporary ramp, tub/shower transfer bench, handheld shower head, raised toilet seat, risers for chairs and sofas, and non-slip strips for tub/shower or stairs.”
Is Funding Available in Your State?
While HUD established the OAHMP in 2019, it has taken some time for the program to find its footing. Its first grants were awarded in 2021. Last year, grants were awarded to entities in urban and rural areas in about a dozen states.
In April, HUD announced a new round of housing rehabilitation grants. They went to entities in 27 states and Puerto Rico, although they included grants under programs that do not target older adults. Grants were made under the OAHMP in 18 states. Ohio and Tennessee tied with three OAHMP grant recipients in each state.
This month, HUD announced three more OAHMP grants. Entities that received grant money are located in Florida, Maine, and Massachusetts.
Participants in the program are chosen by the entities that receive the grants. Most entities, including the Houston Housing Authority and Community Action Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts, accept online applications. After an online screening for eligibility, the program will typically schedule an in-person visit so that a team of experts can inspect the home and determine whether modifications would assist the older homeowner.
Assuming that Congress continues to fund OAHMP, modification funds may be available in the future for homeowners who do not live in an area covered by an existing grant. A local HUD office should be able to identify OAHMP grant recipients that can help seniors pay for home modifications to help them age in place.