What is the
issue?
People want to
live
independently in
the community or
housing
arrangement of
their choice.
The lack of
available,
affordable and
accessible
housing for
people with
disabilities and
the elderly
prevent many
individuals from
obtaining this
goal. Increased
funding for home
modifications
for rentals or
purchased homes
is a significant
means by which
policy makers
can assist
people with
disabilities in
achieving the
goal of
independent
living.
Currently, in
Rhode Island
there is limited
funding for home
modifications
and the funding
that is
available is
difficult to
identify and
obtain. This has
resulted in a
delivery system
that is
fragmented and
uncoordinated
with major gaps
in services,
funding,
modifications,
eligibility
criteria and
geographic
location.
Without the
necessary home
modifications,
many people may
feel isolated
from the
community and
some are left
with no choice
but to move to a
nursing home or
an institutional
setting.
What is the
solution?
The
implementation
of a home
modifications
revolving fund
will provide
loans for
accessibility
modifications to
the residences
of people with
disabilities and
the elderly. The
loans will
provide people
the opportunity
to make
modifications to
their homes or
apartment in
order to remain
an active member
of society.
Eligible home
modifications
include, but are
not limited to,
ramps, widening
of doors,
accessible
bathrooms,
handrails and
grab bars,
emergency call
systems. The
legislation
creates a
revolving loan
program to
ensure funds are
recycled for
more
modifications as
the loans are
repaid. The
requested $5
million bond
funding will be
jointly
administered by
Rhode Island
Housing and
local community
organizations
with home
modification
experience.
Why does Rhode
Island need a
home
modification
revolving fund?
The
implementation
of a home
modification
revolving loan
would complement
current programs
by filling in
the gaps to
ensure that all
Rhode Islanders
who could
benefit from
home
modifications
have access to
funding and can
achieve the goal
of independently
living in the
housing
environment of
their choice.
-
A one time
cost of
$5,000 to
$50,000 for
a home
modification
saves the
state
$44,896
annually in
expenses
related to
nursing home
care (LTC,
2004)
-
89% or
$418,169,912
of Medicaid
dollars was
spent in on
institutional
care and 70%
of this
funding,
$291,981,426
went to
nursing home
care. In
contrast,
only 9% of
the total
long term
care
dollars, was
spent on
home and
community
care
programs (LTC,
2004)
-
50 elderly
Rhode
Islanders
were
transitioned
from nursing
home
facilities
(over a five
year period
of time)
back into
the
community
with the
assistance
of home
modifications;
saving the
state
approximately
$2,550,000
(OSCIL)
-
If the 40
individuals
on the state
independent
living
center
waiting
lists do not
receive home
modifications,
the
estimated
cost to the
state, if
they were to
enter a
nursing care
facility,
would be
$1,795,840 (OSCIL)
Impact on
Home
Modification
Loans for
Rhode
Islanders
A 50 year old
man, who has a
progressive
disease, uses a
wheelchair for
mobility. Living
in bungalow
style home
(mortgage low
and affordable)
with an
inaccessible
bathroom, he
could not access
the bathroom. A
one-time cost of
$10,263 to widen
the doorway,
install a
roll-in shower,
relocate the
toilet and
install grab
bars, provided
this individual
with the
independence
needed to remain
functional in
his home.
An older woman,
recently
widowed, has
lived in her
home for the
last 50 years.
She can no
longer safely
use the stairs
and must start
to live on the
first floor.
This requires
the addition of
a door or
partition to
create a private
space in the
living/dining
room and grab
bars in the
first floor
bath. The home
modifications
would cost
$3,700. A total
cost of $13,349
including the
fee for DHS
adult day care
would allow her
to remain safely
and
independently in
her home and
prevent a move
where the state
would be paying
for nursing home
care.
Due to Multiple
Sclerosis, a man
who lives in a
small home with
the bedroom and
a bathroom on
the second floor
can no longer
access the 2nd
floor. Due to a
lack of
accessibility,
he had to sleep
and bathe
(sponge�independently)
for two years.
The one-time
cost of $13,100
paid for
bathroom
modifications
and a stair lift
for the home;
providing
independence for
the resident.
A 15 year old
young man, who
was born with a
disability and
uses a
wheelchair,
lives with his
family in a
2-story home.
His family
provides all his
personal care
assistance. When
he was younger,
his parents were
able to carry
him up and down
the stairs to
the bath and his
bedroom. At 15,
however, this
has become a
challenge.
However, his
family cannot
afford to make
the necessary
modifications to
keep him at
home. The
modifications
include widening
the doorways to
a first floor
room so it can
be used as a
bedroom and
making the first
floor bathroom
accessible, for
a cost of
$13,750. Unless
these
modifications
are made, the
youth may have
to move to a
residential
treatment center
potentially
housed at
Tavares
Pediatric Center
at an estimated
cost to the
state of $44,896
annually.
Rhode
Islanders Speak
Out For a Home
Modifications
Revolving Fund
"Do I feed my
family and pay
my mortgage or
have a ramp
built?
It is terrible
to have to make
choices like
this."
"It is
impossible to
live
independently
when your house
is not
accessible."
"The current
waiting list is
long for home
modifications.
How can people
be expected to
live in home
where they can't
get up the steps
or access their
kitchens or
bathrooms?"
"People do
not have extra
money at the end
of the month to
make their homes
accessible."
"I want my
elderly mother
to move in with
me but I do not
have the extra
money to make my
home
accessible."
"It just
makes good
economic sense
to make my
parents home
accessible
instead of the
state paying for
a nursing home."
