HUD Announces $15 Million to Help Older Americans Age-in-Place

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge announced that the department is making $15 million available to help older Americans age in place through home modifications. The funding opportunity, made available through HUD’s Older Adult Home Modification Program, will assist experienced nonprofit organizations, state and local governments and public housing authorities in undertaking comprehensive programs that make safety and functional home modifications repairs and renovations to meet the needs of low-income elderly homeowners.

The goal of the home modification program is to enable low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes through low-cost, low barrier, high impact home modifications to reduce older adults’ risk of falling, improve general safety, increase accessibility and to improve their functional abilities in their home. This will enable older adults to remain in their homes, that is, to “age-in-place,” rather than move to nursing homes or other assisted care facilities.

The funding opportunity establishes a program model that incorporates two core concepts: first, as people age, their needs change, and they may need adaptations to their physical environment to live safely at home; second, for any intervention to have the highest impact, the individual’s personal goals and needs must be a driver in determining the actual intervention.

Examples of these home modifications 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.

Eligible applicants can apply for funds through Grants.gov.