UCP | Home Modification

Home Modification

Home modifications are changes made to adapt living spaces to meet the needs of people with physical limitations so that they can continue to live independently and safely. These modifications may include adding assistive technology or making structural changes to a home. Modifications can range from something as simple as replacing cabinet doorknobs with pull handles to full-scale construction projects that require installing wheelchair ramps and widening doorways.

Making a Home Accessible:

Easter Seals Easy Access Housing for Easier Living Program
Easter Seals and the CENTURY 21 System's Easy Access Housing for Easier Living Program provides homeowners with helpful educational brochures, an expert panel with additional resources and easy-to-implement tips for making an accessible home a reality.

Making Homes Accessible: Assistive Technology and Home Modifications
This resource guide provides information about assistive technology and home modifications. The guide covers definitions; laws and guidelines; initiatives from the Assistive Technology Act grantees; advocacy, financing, modification, and research resources; accreditations; online courses; and a bibliography

HomeMods.org
This web site is dedicated to promoting aging in place and independent living for persons of all ages and abilities. It offers training and education opportunities for professionals who wish to respond to the increasing demand for home modification services. It also serves as an information clearinghouse on home modification to equip professionals and consumers with a comprehensive inventory of resources such as a National Directory of Home Modification and Repair Resources.

For the do-it-yourself types:

Home Wheelchair Ramp Project
Information on building your own home wheelchair ramp including safety information and ramp specifications, manuals, and videos.

Other Helpful Resources

National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification
The Center's mission is to make supportive housing and home modification a more integral component of successful aging, long-term care, preventive health, and the development of elder-friendly communities. The Center offers a vision for the future as well as practical strategies and materials for policymakers, practitioners, consumers, manufacturers, suppliers, and researchers.

National Association of Home Builders Aging in Place Program
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in collaboration with the NAHB Research Center, NAHB 50+ Housing Council, and AARP developed the Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) program to address the growing number of consumers that will soon require these modifications. Find a Certified Aging in Place (CAPS) home remodeling professional in your area.

HandiRamp Foundation
The Handi-Ramp Foundation is an organization committed to assisting people with disabilities and their families. who can't afford the necessary accessibility products to lead a more independent life.