FAQ

Great Question!

We are frequently asked this question during our client’s initial contact with us. It’s a complicated question without just one easy answer. That’s why we suggest a home access site visit service. During such a site visit a review of the advantages and disadvantages of staying in your home should be discussed. You will need to know the construction opportunities and limitations of your current home. The pro’s and con’s of investing in renovation of your current home versus applying that money to new construction. You may also consider downsizing and moving into senior accessible housing as a rental option.

Consider four important categories of information:

• How to maintain the greatest level of access, safety, ease of maintenance, and beauty for your needs and wants
• Level of investment and value for your money
• Your home’s location including features such as public transportation and hospital access
• Emotional and personal issues regarding your home, your preparedness to relocate, and timeline for making a choice

While financial considerations are important, consider your entire situation and make an informed recommendation. We’ll provide as much information on our website for you to discover what to change and create a plan to make those changes.

Medicare, Medicaid, private health or disability insurance, and Worker’s Compensation may pay for some assistive technology. Funding sources often require a statement of medical necessity for the product or equipment and a prescription from a doctor or other health professional. Public educational institutions may have funding for assistive technologies needed to meet educational goals.  State vocational rehabilitation agencies may provide assistive technology for their clients when it is needed to achieve vocational goals.  Many states have programs to provide adaptive telecommunications equipment for deaf and hard of hearing individuals and others who need adaptive equipment for telecommunications.  For more information about funding assistive technology, contact your state’s Assistive Technology Act Program.  A list of these programs can be found at http://assistivetech.net/webresources/stateTechActProjects.php(link is external).

For home modifications, such as installing ramps or renovating bathrooms, funds may be available through vocational rehabilitation agencies, local independent living centers, and local volunteer organizations that offer labor or materials for construction.  To find contact information for your local center for independent living visit http://www.ilru.org/(link is external).

Veterans with disabilities may receive assistance for improvements necessary to make a home and essential lavatory and sanitary facilities accessible under the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) program. A HISA grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is available to Veterans who have received a medical determination indicating that improvements and structural alterations are necessary or appropriate for the effective treatment of his/her disability. The HISA program is available for both service-connected Veterans and non-service-connected Veterans.

Home improvement benefits up to $6,800 may be provided for a:

• service-connected condition
• non-service-connected condition of a Veteran rated 50 percent or more service-connected

Home improvement benefits up to $2,000 may be provided to all other Veterans registered in the VA health care system. The prosthetics department of the VA may also donate lifting equipment such as chairlifts or vertical porch lifts.  To learn more about the program, visit http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/HISA2.asp