Can I get help modifying my home for a wheelchair or walker?
Yes — ramps, grab bars, wider doorways and walk-in showers are commonly paid for by a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver, by Older Americans Act money through your Area Agency on Aging, by a Rebuilding Together affiliate, or by a USDA Section 504 grant if you are 62 or older in a rural area.
What this means
- Original Medicare does not pay for home modifications. It pays for some durable medical equipment, such as a walker or a hospital bed, but not for construction.
- Some Medicare Advantage plans do cover a limited home safety benefit, so it is worth asking your plan.
- A Medicaid waiver is usually the largest source of money for modifications, and it is decided state by state.
- Veterans may qualify for separate VA grants for home adaptation.
What to do first
- Call your Area Agency on Aging through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 and ask for a home safety assessment.
- Ask your state Medicaid office whether a home and community-based services waiver in your state covers environmental modifications.
- Contact your local Rebuilding Together affiliate about volunteer-built ramps and bathroom safety work.
- Ask an occupational therapist for a written recommendation, because most programs require one.
USDA Section 504 Home Repair Grants for Homeowners 62 and Older
Up to $10,000 that does not have to be paid back, to remove a health or safety hazard from your home.
Free Home Repairs and Safety Modifications (Rebuilding Together)
Volunteers install grab bars, ramps, and railings and make critical repairs, at no cost to the homeowner.
Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services, Including Paying a Family Caregiver
Medicaid can pay for help at home instead of a nursing home, and in most states it can pay your own family member to give that help.
What you'll need
- Proof of homeowners insurance in some places
- Medicare and insurance cards
- Proof of income and assets
- A doctor's assessment of your care needs
- Photo identification
- Property tax and insurance records
- Deed or proof of ownership
- Proof of age
- Contractor estimates
- Bank statements going back five years for the look-back review
- Deed or lease
- Proof of income
Deadlines and timing
- Waiver programs often have waiting lists, so start the conversation before the need becomes urgent.
- Most programs will not reimburse work you have already had done. Get approval first.
- Use licensed contractors and never pay in full up front.
Where to go
- USDA Section 504 Home Repair Grants for Homeowners 62 and Older: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices
- Free Home Repairs and Safety Modifications (Rebuilding Together): https://rebuildingtogether.org/find-your-local-affiliate
- Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services, Including Paying a Family Caregiver: https://www.medicaid.gov/about-us/where-can-people-get-help-medicaid-chip
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last verified August 25, 2026
Sources
- Home and Community-Based Services · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Eldercare Locator · Administration for Community Living
Need help today?
- Shut-off notice in hand: call the number on the bill and ask for a medical hold and a payment plan, then call 211.
- No food today: call 211 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for a same-week food bank or meal.
- In danger: call 911, or reach Adult Protective Services through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Every program on this site is free to apply for. Anyone who asks you to pay to apply, or to “unlock” a government benefit, is a scam — hang up and call Senior Medicare Patrol or 211.
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