According to AARP's Home and Community Preferences Survey, 77% of adults 50 and older hope to age in place. This will be easier said than done for many.
Aging in place requires keeping the home in a safe living condition. This means paying for regular home maintenance and repairs, which often includes home modifications. The cost of these services can be prohibitive for seniors who don't have much more than their monthly social security to get by, causing delays for these needed services.
Here is a look at how easily a neglected home repair or modification can become a safety hazard for the elderly, and how you can help find home repair assistance for elderly loved ones or yourself.
Home Repairs and Senior Safety
Most seniors require a number of services to age in place, and home maintenance is no exception.
One of the challenges of aging in place is that it becomes harder to afford home maintenance and repair services once you're on a fixed income. For some repairs, the longer they are put off, the more expensive they become.
For example, clogged and broken gutters can cause costly roof damage. A neglected HVAC system could eventually require a complete replacement.
Neglected repairs can also create safety hazards in the home. What seems like a small roof leak can lead to mold and mildew growing in the house, which can be harmful for both the structure of the home and for the health of those living there. An A/C unit that is not cooling efficiently or is broken can be fatal during the scorching summer heat.
Aging in place safely might also require some home modifications. Installing grab bars in bathrooms or replacing a bathtub with a walk-in shower may be necessary. Gripping things can become difficult for seniors with arthritis or other conditions. Even something as simple as replacing round doorknobs with lever knobs might be required. The inability to pay for these home repairs and modifications, major or minor, can lead to unsafe living conditions and costly injuries. So where can you find help for elderly people with home maintenance needs?
Safe and Good-value Resources to Help Seniors With Home Repairs and Modifications
You can find several resources that assist the elderly if you know where to look. Here is a list we compiled of resources that provide aid for elderly people who require home repairs or modifications.
Each program has its own income requirements and some only perform certain types of repairs or modifications, but it’s worth looking at each program's qualifications and services.
Rebuilding Together | Safe at Home Program
Most seniors who hope to age in place do not live in a home designed to accommodate the physical changes that come with age. Even a small age-related disability can make everyday tasks hard to perform.
Rebuilding Together is a national non-profit organization that provides home modifications to enable low-income elderly and people with disabilities to continue living independently. Their Safe at Home program was designed to reduce the risk of falls, improve home accessibility, and facilitate aging in place.
The Section 504 Home Repair Program
The Section 504 Home Repair Program provides grants to elderly, very low-income homeowners in rural areas, to improve home safety and eliminate health hazards. A household is considered very low-income if it receives below 50% of the median average income for the home's area.
The Section 504 Home Repair Program is only available to those who live in rural areas. Those who live in metropolitan areas do not qualify for this program, regardless of income.
Discounted Contractor Services
Many service providers offer senior discounts. Some contractors in your area may provide senior citizen help with home repairs or essential home modifications at a reduced rate.
It is worth calling around to several contractors to find out if they provide discounts for seniors requiring home repairs or modifications. Some may only reduce their fee for low-income seniors or charge on a sliding scale, based on income. But it can be worth the time to do some research if it means being able to get the necessary repairs completed.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help your aging loved one stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It provides programs that reduce health and safety risks that arise from inefficient and unsafe heating and cooling.
The LIHEAP helps low-income households pay for home weatherization, energy crisis assistance, and home repairs that improve energy efficiency. Additionally, this program can help the elderly who qualify with their cooling and heating bills.
The Weatherization Assistance Program
Without regular weatherization maintenance, homes become less energy-efficient over time. This can result in increased energy bills that can potentially cost hundreds more per year.
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides financial assistance to low-income households to help weatherize their homes and make them more energy-efficient. The monthly savings from these services can be substantial.
Some weatherization tasks the WAP can help with include:
- Repair or replace heating and cooling units
- Repair or replace water heaters
- Minimize air infiltration with weather stripping, caulking, and window and door replacement
- Install attic and floor insulation
- Install attic ventilation
Long-Term Care Insurance Home Modification Benefits
For seniors with long-term care insurance policies, some policies cover home modifications. Some possible equipment and home modification benefits could cover:
- Grab bars
- Walk-in showers
- Raised toilets
- Stair or bed rails
- Wheelchair ramps
- Stairlifts
- Power recliner or chairs
- Wider doorways
- Accessible light switches and electric outlets
- Low-pile carpeting or other flooring
Need Senior Services for Home Repairs?
Whether you are a retiree hoping to age in place or have an elderly loved one who wants to stay in their home, you will not want the house to become unsafe.
Hopefully, with this list of resources that provide help for seniors with home repairs and modifications, you will find an affordable option for getting the work done.
If you live in Central Arkansas and have questions about the senior services in your area, contact CareLink today. We’ll help connect you with available resources that can assist with aging in place and other senior citizen advice.
I AM 72 AND LIVE ON SS. AND TRYING TO KEEP MY HOME UP. BUT THE REPAIR I HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST 9 YEARS HAVE TAKEN MOST OF MY SAVING. I PUT SIDING ON THR GARAGE, PUT A NEW ROOF ON THE HOUSE, REPLACED 8 OF MY 9 WINDOWS, AND HAD TO PUT A NEW DRIVEWAY IN THE FURNACE IN. I NOW NEED HELP WITH A ROOF FOR MY GARAGE, I WOULD LIKE TO INSULATION SIDING ON THE HOUSE AND NEED GUTTERS REALLY BAD, A PATIO DOOR WE USE AS OUR REAR DOOR CAME WITH THE HOUSE, AND TWO MORE WINDOWS. WE KNOW THAT’S A LOT OF WORK. BUT THE GUTTER AND GARAGE ROOF ARE NEEDED BADLY. WITH PRICES GOING UP IT’S HARD TO EVEN TO BY FOOD.
ON MY FRIST COMMENT LIHEAP PUT THE FURNACE IN LAST MARCH FOR US . WHICH IS HELPING THEY PUT A 96% EFF. FURNACE IN. I HAVE TERMORS AND MY TYPEING ID VERY BAD. SORRY.
I have no heat are air in my house and would be so grateful for any help I could get.
Get in touch with your county about the Weatherization Program
Help!
Someone took our money – it happened twice and I don’t understand it all.
Something is wrong.
My parents are 81 and 83 and we can’t use the bathrooms or get water until we pay Morris Jenkins $20,000.
They say Mom and Dad’s house has the old galvanized piping and we need the new PVC piping.
Please offer us avenues and numbers that we can call.
With our money taken, and my son and I having some type of illness that NO ONE would touch or help with…it has been very, very rough.
The money was taken in the form of false transactions on all four c redit cards.
That was what happened to both of us.
I just didn’t understand.
Please help us.
Please.
Please.
Give us people who know what to do.
Mom and Dad do not have the credit for this type of money.
My mother is 84 and has a leaking roof that is causing mold in the ceiling and down the wall.
Her husband is disabled with a neurologist condition and is getting where he can’t walk up stairs. They want to stay at home.
They live on social security. We have replaced the side of the home. All the upstairs flooring was replaced and needed new sub flooring.
My husband and I are helping them on their daily expenses and don’t have money to replace the roof. They have many medical bills and have exhausted their savings.
I have no heat I’m 74 years old and I’m so cold my unit broke. I’m on a fixed income no body ey help me I have a bad heart I lost my husband I. 2020. My address is 2014 hwy 135 n Paragould Arkansas 72450
Phone 8702159872
Please i’v been without heat all winter
I’m so cold.
I am a single female, 68, and live in a modular home senior community in California. We have had a tremendous amount of rain this winter. My ceiling is leaking so much that it is literally raining in my house as I write this email. I have pots and pan all over to catch the rain but I can’t keep up with it. The leaks also make the house very cold. SoCal gas has gone up so much that I can’t afford to run the heat.
I need to repair my roof where it is leaking and I am going to need a new ceiling in my living room. I am on a fixed income and don’t know what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If anyone can or wants to help, I would be happy to send photos of the ceiling that needs to be replaced. I will also provide receipts that any funds sent to help will be used solely for repairs. Thank you for any help that you can provide.
Good Morning,
My name is Hilda Heard, I’m writing you this email, due to wanting to file a complaint against my mortgage company, the adjuster Ms. Sheree Woods stated verbally on Friday, April 21,2023 approximately around 3:15pm that the claim hail damage claim reported on March 31,2023 was denied. The Inspector by the name of Mr. Kevin Flannery came out on April 13,2023 and took pictures of the damages on the house. There is also an existing claim on hail damage from June 2021, the contractor that was hired completed the roof, but the Window’s, Sutters and Gutters
we’re supposed to be fixed as well, but the contractor stated that he didn’t have enough money to repair anything else, so the contractor never returned. I reported the incident to my mortgage company and also to the police, buy nothing has never been done. Recently Missouri had a bad hail storm about 2 week’s ago, the wind blew a big hole in my mother’s room, which is allowing, squirrels, birds and other wild life to come into the home. My mother is 73 year’s old and I’m 45 year’s old, I grew up in this home all of my life and the mortgage company has ripped us off several times and me and my mother have to live with the consequences of unhonest people. Please tell me that you can assist us or point us in the right direction. The mortgage company use to be Owen now there name is as followed
Newrez
PO Box 5954
Springfield, OH 45501-5954
Names on the Mortgage
Shona Heard & Hilda Heard
Policy Number: MLR21149670906
Property Address: 7649 Lynn Avenue
Saint Louis, MO. 63130
Inspector Name : Kevin Flannery
417-860-6354
314-610-5049
Adjuster: Mrs. Sheree Woods
1-888-882-1855
Fax: 1-937-525-4210
PHH MORTGAGE SERVICES
PO BOX 5954
SPRINGFIELD, MO 45501-5954
LOAN NUMBER: 7142782072
YOU CAN REACH ME SHONA HEARD AT 314-610-6637. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU SOON.
KIND REGARDS,
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
My mom is 78 and wheelchair bound. She needs her flooring replaced due to water damage.She is on a limited income and does not have money to pay out of pocket.
I am 69, disabled, and need handicapped bath/shower desperately. Only bath is upstairs, inaccessible to me. On ssa, need help asap. Thanks
Glenda Aul
Today it’s 108° heat index outside I need someone that can come and install some insulation for me it doesn’t have to be foam it can be the pink roll up kind but I can not even afford that .I tell my wife that I will try to get some help for us and right now it’s just around 78° in the house stil . I know got to set it 72° -73° it gets 78 degrees in here and it’s really Hot during the day. the way I looked at it all I can do what to do is install insulation with some help if it works great if it doesn’t well I’m trying if it doesn’t well I’ll try.
Iam a low income senior citizen and disabled. I need a new garage door and can’t afford it. I live in clay county missouri what should I do???? Thanks.
Need siding on my cedar siding boards have rotted need facial work done and painted. House was never insulated when originally built. Was quoted 18000 for repairs. I live on a fixed income. Need help. I just fell down my basement steps and broke my wrist. I am 75 yes old.
Deborah Dean
6783505748
Thanks
I’m 60 years old on fixed income. I’m disabled with many health issues and in need of some assistance with my mobile home. The porch has fallen in and my plumbing is bad. My bathtub has a hole in it so it’s not usable. The floors has soft spots in different rooms. I can’t afford the repairs. So if there is any help available it will be greatly appreciated.
Need help with an issue due to park management where I live, in my mobile home.
Problem issue with the manager of the mobile home park I live in. Some issue with unnecessary request making it a an enormous expense and damage to my property.
It’s disheartening to hear about the challenges faced by seniors when it comes to home repairs and safety. Aging in place should be made easier and more accessible for them. The resources mentioned, like Rebuilding Together and the Section 504 Home Repair Program, sound like wonderful initiatives. I’ll definitely explore these options to find assistance for my elderly loved ones or even myself in the future. It’s crucial to ensure their homes are safe and comfortable so they can continue living independently with dignity and security. Thank you for shedding light on this important issue.