Fall Prevention Center of Excellence

08/09/2022

The National Council on Aging is hosting the webinar, "Introducing the Newly-Approved Evidence-Based Program: Home Hazard Removal Program (HARP)" tomorrow, August 10 from 2-3 pm Eastern.

HARP targets fall risk behaviors and home hazards for older adults at high risk of falling. Register now!

Learn all about this newly approved program for the Older Americans Act Title III-D evidence-based programs list hat targets fall risk behaviors and home hazards for older adults at high risk of falling through minor home repair, adaptive equipment, task modification, and education and self-manageme...

03/17/2022

Are you interested in learning more about our Executive Certificate in Home Modification Program? Please click on the video below! Like, comment, share!

09/01/2020

Joint Informational Bulletin for Accessibility in Rural Communities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a Joint Informational Bulletin with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and three HHS agencies—the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)—to share resources, programs, and initiatives to improve home safety and accessibility for older adults and people with a disability in rural areas across three federal agencies—HHS, HUD, and USDA.

Additionally, this bulletin supports the first ever CMS Rural Health Strategyhttps://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OMH/Downloads/Rural-Strategy-2018.pdf , launched in 2018 to improve health care in rural America, by leveraging collaborative partnerships, at federal, regional, state, and local levels. Access the Bulletin here: Joint Informational Bulletin: Living at Home in Rural America: Improving Accessibility for Older Adults and People with a Disabilityhttps://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib081920.pdf

09/01/2020

Recent Webinars Now Online

USC recently presented on two webinars and the recordings are now available online. The first, State Units on Aging and Home Modification and Repair: Results from a National Survey, hosted by ADvancing States’ I&R Support Center on July 23, discussed findings from a new data report (see USC and ADvancing States Release Data Report story above for more details).

The second webinar, Creativity During Crisis: Home Modification Solutions During COVID-19, was hosted by Rebuilding Together on July 29. Presenters discussed safe interactions with homeowners, low- to no-cost home modifications, alternative delivery methods, communication strategies, and creative collaboration and funding ideas. Click here https://homemods.org/acl/training/to view the recordings.

09/01/2020

Executive Certificate in Home Modification Program

This online Program of five courses connects professionals from around the country to learn about all aspects of home modification service delivery while interfacing with experts in the field. The next Program begins Tuesday, October 6th, 2020. For course descriptions and to register, visit: https://homemods.org/online-courses/

09/01/2020

Consumer Education for All

With support from the Administration for Community Living https://acl.gov/, we have curated a sampling of educational resources https://homemods.org/acl/consumerawareness/ focused on home modifications for a range of older adult populations and caregivers. These resources include checklists, funding sources, program information, and fact sheets. Stay tuned for new resources created by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology as part of this ACL project!

09/01/2020

USC and ADvancing States Release Data Report on State Units on Aging and Home Modification

In October 2019, as part of an Administration for Community Living-funded Promoting Aging in Place by Enhancing Access to Home Modifications https://homemods.org/acl/ project awarded to the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, USC and ADvancing States administered an online survey of directors of the 56 State Units in Aging (SUAs) which ADvancing States represents. The survey sought to ascertain SUA activities, challenges, and opportunities in home modification and repair. The report called Home Modification and Repairs for Older Adults https://homemods.org/usc-and-partner-advancing-states-release-report-on-state-units-on-aging-efforts-in-home-modification/: Challenges and Opportunities for State Units on Aging, summarizes the survey results, giving a bird’s eye view of SUA roles in home modification and repair, and aims to encourage greater involvement and coordination in home modification and repair service delivery among agencies with a stake in assuring older Americans’ ability to age in place. Read the report here https://homemods.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SUAandHomeMods.Report.USC_.pdf.

08/31/2020

New! Fact Sheet on Home Modification Service Delivery During COVID-19

After months of putting home modification service delivery on hold, many professionals and agencies are adapting their procedures and resuming limited service delivery. This new fact sheet developed by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology describes strategies and precautions for providers to consider for reducing risk, addressing potential client concerns and making safety a priority for all involved. You can find the fact sheet here https://homemods.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/covid.servicedelivery.factsheet.pdf.

08/31/2020

Summer 2020 Newsletter!!!

New Resource to Find Home Modification Programs, Policies,
and Funding in Your State

A new searchable online database aims to revolutionize how professionals and consumers search for information about home modifications. Before now, such a search might involve unreturned calls and hours of fruitless online exploration. But The Home Modification Information Network (HMIN), www.homemods.org/hmin developed with support from the Administration for Community Living, was designed to bring widespread information right to your fingertips. The result of a major environmental scan of state and local activities, HMIN is a state-by-state inventory of home modification policies, funding sources, and programs that will be frequently updated.

Searchable by state, each state page has four sections:
1. Spotlight on State and Local programs: includes State Units on Aging, Medicaid waivers, tax credits, state assistive technology programs, and state fall prevention coalitions
2. Home Modification Funding Grids: National and state-specific home modification funding sources
3. Local Home Modification Providers: listings in that state including Area Agencies on Aging with home modification services and nonprofits
4. Consumer Educational Resources for a range of populations including those with low income, rural older adults, Tribal older adults, Veterans, and older adults with disabilities.