AzTAP: AzTAP’s Initiative on Aging:Assistive Technology and Aging in Place
Article 12 - Home Modification: Creating A Home That Meets Your Needs
Jeff L. Smith, OTR/L, ATP
Assistive Technology Specialist, Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP)
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Why Modify Your Home?
According to an AARP housing survey, 83% of seniors want to stay in their current residence for the rest of their lives. Other studies show that most homes are not designed to accommodate the needs of people over 65 years of age.
Sometimes with advancing age and decreased physical ability, staying in your existing home may not be possible without home modification and related assistive technology devices. Home modification consists of making changes or adapting living spaces to meet the needs of people with physical limitations so that they can continue to live independently and safely. Common home modifications include adding a ramp, widening a doorway or remodeling a bathroom for accessibility. Some of these changes may be inexpensive such as adding a bath bench and a hand held shower hose to make bathing easier and safer. Other changes such as adding an elevator to reach an upstairs bedroom can be costly.
The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification (NRCSHHM) website at www.usc.edu/dept/gero/nrcshhm/aboutus/ gives some interesting facts:
- Many persons are living in older structures that are deteriorating to the point that they are hazardous and contribute to falls and injuries.
- Home modification and repair can help prevent accidents and falls. Research by the National Centers for Disease Control suggests that one third of home accidents can be prevented by modification and repair.
- Modification to the home environment can be a key factor in increasing the likelihood of older persons remaining independent in their homes and active in their communities as long as they desire.
- Home modifications can enhance comfort, increase safety, prevent injuries, and facilitate ongoing access to community social, recreational, and supportive activities and services.
Using A Contractor
If extensive modifications are needed, a remodeling contractor is usually necessary. Access Maine on their website at www.accessmaine.org gives important tips for hiring a contractor, including what to watch out for and what questions to ask. For example, ask for references, and a copy of their licenses and insurance certificates. Get everything in writing including a complete description of the work to be done, materials to be used, the starting and completion dates and the payment schedule. The contract should also contain the full name, address and phone number of the contractor and the homeowner. Check out the contractor with the Better Business Bureau and with the Registrar of Contractors. Ask a lot of questions and if you do not get satisfactory answers, look elsewhere. A contractor who solicits door-to-door, says he has materials left over from a previous job, only accepts cash payments or asks you to pay for the entire job up-front, may not be the best choice.
Funding
Many states and communities have funds available for home modification. These programs may have specific requirements regarding income, be limited as to the amount of money they are able to spend on any one consumer or limited on the type of modifications they will fund. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) and ask what resources are available in your area. Other options include private funding such as saving the money before you do the work or using private health Insurance if the modifications are medically necessary. If you have ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care Services or have AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System-Medicaid), you should check to see if they fund some modifications. Start making inquiries and follow the trail to where it leads.
Additional sources include home equity loans, deferred payment loans and reverse mortgages. For more information on these options, contact AARP Home Equity Information Center, AARP Foundation, 601 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20049, or call 202-434-6044.
Please refer to other articles in this series for other assistive technology solutions that can make your home meet your needs.
References
- Bakker, Rosemary. Elder Design: Designing and Furnishing A Home for Your Later Years. Penguin Books 1997.
- Baldrica, Nancy. The Accessible Home: Updating Your Home for Changing Physical Needs. Creative Publishing 2003.
This is the 12th in a series of articles designed to educate people about assistive technology and its benefits to older Arizonans. For more information, contact Randy Collins, Training and Outreach Coordinator for the Arizona Technology Access Program (AzTAP). Randy can be reached at 602.728.9533 Voice, 602.728.9536 TTY or toll free at 800.477.9921 Voice/TTY. The AzTAP website is Http://www.nau.edu/ihd/AzTap
Support for DES-AAA/NAU/AzTAP's collaborative project Assistive Technology and Aging in Place is provided by the NAHB Research Center's National Center for Seniors' Housing Research through a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging. Reference to vendors does not imply endorsement by AzTAP, DES/AAA or NAHB.
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