Home Modification Grants and Help for Seniors
Home safety changes like grab bars, ramps, railings and accessible showers can be expensive. These programs can help. Availability depends on where you live and your income.
1. Your Area Agency on Aging
Start here. These local agencies connect older adults to home repair, modification and chore programs, plus meals and transportation. Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or search eldercare.acl.gov.
2. USDA Section 504 Home Repair (rural areas)
The USDA's Single Family Housing Repair program offers:
- Grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older to remove health and safety hazards
- Loans up to $40,000 at a 1% fixed rate
- Loans and grants can be combined, up to $50,000 You must own and live in the home in an eligible rural area. Contact your local USDA Rural Development office.
3. Veterans Affairs
Eligible veterans may qualify for:
- HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grants
- SAH and SHA grants for certain service-connected disabilities Ask the VA or a Veterans Service Officer.
4. Medicaid
Some state Medicaid waiver programs (home and community-based services) pay for modifications that help people stay at home. Ask your state Medicaid office.
5. Medicare Advantage
Some plans include home safety items. See does Medicare pay for grab bars?
6. Nonprofits
- Rebuilding Together repairs homes for older adults and people with disabilities in many areas
- Local Habitat for Humanity affiliates may offer home repair programs
- Faith groups and community volunteer programs
7. Other options
- State housing finance agencies
- Local utility programs for weatherization
- Tax credits or deductions, in some states
Before you apply
- ☐ List the changes you need (from the aging in place checklist)
- ☐ Get written estimates
- ☐ Gather proof of income, age and home ownership
General information. Program amounts and rules change; confirm with each program.
The Aging-in-Place Home Safety Checklist includes a "ways to pay" page and a tracker for programs contacted.
Aging-in-Place Home Safety Checklist — $12
17-page room-by-room home safety and fall-prevention workbook with a fall-risk check, modification plan, ways to pay and a fridge emergency sheet. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
Get the Aging-in-Place Home Safety ChecklistFamily Paperwork Bundle — $34More guides
- Aging in Place Checklist: Room-by-Room Home Safety for Seniors
- Fall Prevention Checklist for Seniors: Home and Health
- Bathroom Safety for Seniors: Grab Bars, Showers and Toilets
- How To Talk to Aging Parents About Home Safety
- Medications That Can Increase Fall Risk in Older Adults
- Does Medicare Pay for Grab Bars and Home Modifications?
- Medical Alert Systems: What To Look For (and Alternatives)
- Stair Safety for Seniors: A Practical Checklist
- Smoke Alarms and Fire Safety for Older Adults