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Bathroom Grants for the Elderly: How to Get a Free Seniors Bathroom Renovation

By Maurice

Bathroom Grants for the Elderly

Today, we’ll give you a comprehensive look at different government, disability, and charitable grant programs available to American seniors for bathroom accessibility and safety renovations. You’ll learn the names of some bathroom grants for the elderly that you can check out for your state, and you might even end up with a free bathroom remodel!

Bathroom Grants for the Elderly – Government Programs

Although Medicare doesn’t cover bathroom renovations for seniors at all, other government grant programs do, including Medicaid related grants:

Medicaid Money Follows the Person Grants

Medicaid Money Follows the Person (MFP) grants provide funds to individuals to help them live at home and in the community rather than residing in a nursing facility. Nursing home care is more expensive for Medicaid. The government and MFP programs help save costs and provide independent living modifications and healthcare through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS).

MFP is available in 34 states and the District of Columbia as of March 2022. Some states use the program name Money Follows the Person, while others have renamed this same grant program. These grants offer funds used toward assistive technology and home modifications so that seniors can live independently at home. Depending on where you live, this grant may pay for more bathroom equipment and remodeling than regular state Medicaid.

Here are the states that have the MFP program:

Money Follows the Person Grants

  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • District of Columbia
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Indiana
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Missouri

MFP Grants Under Other Names

  • Alabama (Gateway to Community Living)
  • California (California Community Transitions)
  • Delaware (Finding a Way Home)
  • Idaho (Idaho Home Choice)
  • Iowa (The Partnership for Community Integration Project)
  • Kentucky (Kentucky Transitions)
  • Louisiana (My Place Louisiana)
  • Minnesota (Moving Home Minnesota)
  • Maine (Homeward Bound)
  • New Jersey (I Choose Home)
  • New York (Open Doors)
  • Ohio (HOME Choice)
  • Oklahoma (Living Choice)
  • Rhode Island (The Rhode to Home)
  • South Carolina (Home Again)
  • Washington (Roads to Community Living)
  • West Virginia (Take Me Home)

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

HUD awards discretionary funding through over 20 Grant programs that support HUD initiatives, including Affordable Housing Development and Preservation, Community and Economic Development, Environment and Energy, Fair Housing, Homelessness, Homeownership, Rental Assistance, and Supportive Housing and Services. The Notice of Funding Opportunities is a published each year on HUD’s website. Opportunities like Older Home Modification Grant Program and Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot Program can be used to remodel bathrooms and homes.

Assorted Seniors Home Modification Grants in States Without MFP

Alaska – The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation funds the Senior Access Modification Grant Program. For seniors 55+, the home modification grant is up to $15,000 for homeowners and up to $10,000 for renters.

Arizona – For those with a permanent disability, the Ability 360 Home Modification Program includes bathroom modifications such as widening doorways, installing grab bars, and modifying sinks and toilets.

Colorado – The Elderly, Blind, and Disabled Home Modification Benefit is a home improvement grant to facilitate independent living. The $14,000 limit waiver may be used for “modifying bathrooms” as the website information notes.

California –Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grant, also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.

Florida – The USDA Rural Home Improvement Grant of up to $7,500 is for rural homeowners 62 and older with very low incomes who need to repair or modify their homes.

Illinois – Illinois has a USDA Section 504 Home Repair Grant Program for homeowners with a very low income. The maximum grant amount is $10,000.

Kansas – Under a Kansas Medicaid HCBS Waiver, see page 3, eligible seniors may receive up to $7,500 for home modification. Used as one of the bathroom grants for the elderly, it would fit the waiver’s goal of funding to increase senior independence in daily living.

Michigan – The Michigan Aging and Adult Services Agency (State Unit on Aging) provides home assessment and modifications for older adult low-income homeowners. This grant eligibility also includes renters.

Mississippi – For seniors with a disability that requires door widening or other home modifications, the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services provides the Federal Independent Living Grant for eligible homeowners.

Nebraska – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services oversees the HCBS Waiver Services program that provides elderly home modification grants. Their website mentions bathrooms, grab bars, and doorway widening specifically.

New Hampshire – The Choices for Independence Waiver supports older adults in living at home independently. Home modifications and repairs are included in the services that this program pays for and provides.

New Mexico – The USDA Section 504 Repair Grant up to a maximum of $10,000 is for New Mexico homeowners age 62 or older with a very low income. The grant must be used to remove safety hazards from the home.

Oregon – Grants through the Home Access and Repair for the Disabled and Elderly (HARDE) can help seniors pay for safer bathroom flooring and other repairs.

Tennessee –  USDA Rehabilitation Grants for Senior Homeowners can be used for home renovation for low-income residents 62 and older. The maximum grant is $7,500.

Utah – Habitat for Humanity’s Aging in Place A Brush With Kindness Repair Program Grants help low to moderate-income senior and veteran homeowners living in Utah County. The website mentions that these elderly bathroom grants include grab bars and doorways.

Virginia – The Emergency at Home and Accessibility Repair Program (EHARP) includes plumbing and safety modifications for low-income Virginians.

Wyoming – For very low-income Wyoming homeowners age 62 or older living in rural areas, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) may provide a grant of up to $10,000 to remove safety hazards from the home. They also offer loans for home modifications.

Here’s a great state-by-state resource directory for Assistive Technology grants and programs: Statewide Assistive Technology Contacts

Home Modification Grants for Veterans

For veterans with a qualifying service-related disability who own or will own their homes, the U.S. Department of  Veterans Affairs (VA) accepts applications for their Specially Adapted Housing Grant. The grant amount maximum is adjusted each year. For example, the maximum grant for 2022 is $101,754 so this is for more modifications in a home than just the bathroom.

Rebuilding Together Heroes at home – Veterans, their families, carers, and/or widows and widowers are all eligible for this program. The program most typically changes homes and home access to make them accessible to wheelchair-bound veterans. This involves building ramps and modifying bathrooms, halls, and kitchens to assist veterans in maintaining their freedom.

Habitat for Humanity Repair corps program – This program is open to all military veterans, provided they have received an honorable discharge, and is not restricted to any specific veteran groups. While the primary focus of the program is on critical home repairs for veterans, the foundation has expressed readiness to fund standard repairs on the homes of qualified veterans provided homes with critical needs take precedence.

Purple Heart Home Veterans Aging in Place – This program is meant for Service Connected Disabled Veterans who own a house and want assistance with modifications , remodel, or repairs to make it safe and accessible.

Operation Homefront – Operation Homefront provides crucial financial help to qualifying veterans and service members for repairs and family needs. Financial aid is provided based on qualifying for a variety of expenses such as house repairs, remodelling, auto repairs, moving and relocation, utilities, transportation, medical, and food assistance.

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) – The VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations Grant (HISA) offers funds to disabled veterans with service-connected medical issues (and in some cases, non-service-connected issues) who need to make alterations to their homes whether purchased and owned by the veteran, or rented by/for the vet.

There are numerous non-profit organisations that offer bathroom remodel grants for seniors:

Not-for-profit Organizations

Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. assists injured, wounded, and aged veterans with home adaptations and mobility devices. It also provides mortgage-free specifically adapted smart homes for post-9/11 defenders. This project has no defined qualification requirements, and assistance is provided on a case-by-case basis.

The Travis Roy Foundation’s Quality of Life Grant Program awarded more than $9 million, helping thousands of families purchase adaptive equipment or make homes accessible.

Christmas in Action is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation that fixes the homes of low-income elderly and/or disabled homeowners in collaboration with the community by putting Christian ideals and principles into action.

disABILITY Link Home Modifications provide information and referral services, home modification services, and collaborate with Community Partners to execute home modifications that allow individuals preserve or increase their independence in their homes.

Rebuilding Together Safe at home Program – The Safe at Home program assists people with mobility difficulties and other impairments with no-cost preventive home improvements to improve accessibility, reduce falls, boost independence, and facilitate aging-in-place. Safe at Home is a program that aims to enhance aging-in-place outcomes for low-income older individuals by modifying their home environment to match their specific requirements.

SEARS Helps low-income military families and veterans with home modification and necessary repairs.

Chive Charities makes one-time grants for therapy equipment and sessions that are not covered by insurance, home modification, car adaptations, mobility items, developmental and learning gadgets, and other medical requirements as determined by a medical practitioner.

Elks Club has hundreds of local chapters throughout the United States. They offer support at individual and community levels. If you are a member or are interested in becoming one, you can contact your local chapter to find out what kind of assistance you may be eligible to receive for your home modifications.

You now have some grant program names to check out for your state and area that may help you get free bathroom renovation if you qualify. When seeking out bathroom grants for the elderly, it’s best to check ahead and apply when you’re eligible, as some grants may only accept applications at certain times of the year or have a waiting list to apply.

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