Veterans are largely unaware of housing subsidies for aging in place
A majority of American veterans are unaware that they may be eligible for subsidies from the The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow them to age in place, according to research data from a senior advocacy group AARP.
Sixty percent of veterans age 45 and older “are not aware that VA provides grants for home modifications, and nearly a quarter of veterans say they need financial assistance to modify their home to continue living there,” according to one research. article issued by the VA.
To that end, the department hosted a virtual event this week designed to raise awareness about these grant programs, as well as other types of assistance that could ease the daily lives of older veterans and those with mobility issues.
“Fortunately, VA offers several grants to help service members and veterans pay for renovations that can make their homes more accessible if they have lost mobility,” the VA said. “These programs are not only intended for young service members injured in combat, but also for veterans who served in the military decades ago.”
A AARP Survey A study conducted earlier this year found that veterans’ preferences for aging in place are nearly the same — but still higher than — those of the majority of the senior population. Of veterans aged 45 and older, 91% have expressed a preference to stay at home as they age.
But that study also found that the financial side of the equation might not work without additional help.
“A majority of veterans say it is important for them to stay at home if they need long-term care, but more than a quarter of veterans say they need financial help to make adjustments to their home so that they can age at home,” AARP survey found.
Aging in place is becoming a dominant preference for older Americans as they determine what their later years will look like. This is especially true as criticism of congregate care facilities, such as nursing homes, has increased following the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the costs associated with such facilities.
Additionally, 54% of baby boomers in a recent survey said they never plan to sell their home. And other challenges remain. For older adults in rural communities, a shortage of home care workers makes it difficult to age in place.
Lawmakers take aging preferences into account. The bipartisan duo leading the US Senate Special Committee on Aging – Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) – introduced a bill in July aimed at making it easier for American seniors to qualify for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Elderly (PACE) program.
