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My mom is a widow of a retired vet. I am 90% disabled and my wife is 100 disabled. We are trying to sell her house to pay for some of the expenses. I am a retired vet also and asking if there is financial assistance to assist with the remodeling. We are paying out of pocket expenses now for an unlicensed care taker and would like to know if any financial assistance is available? I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and y mom suffers with dementia and alzheimers. Jim B.

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I'm going to offer a different viewpoint. I recall from reading a thick VA booklet on benefits that the VA does have home assistance for adaptations. The booklet was published a few years ago so I don't know if the programs are still in effect so I'll have to check. Probably won't be until Saturday though.

Did a quick check though and found this, which might help you. You'll have to read the qualifications and criteria, but it's certainly worth some review to determine if you can get remodeling help.

http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/psas/HISA2.asp

If the link is deleted, google "Va home remodeling assistance" and look for the VA link that in the hits I got was 4th in the hits.

I notice there's also a link for a Home Depot related foundation grant:

homedepotfoundation/page/veteran-housing-grants
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Lindy, I never even knew about that program. I'm going to do some checking for my father. I'm wondering now if Lowe's also has a similar program; both of them give discounts to veterans.
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A link from the one I posted above: Special Housing Adaptation Grant:

http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/adaptedhousing.asp

Eligibility (you'll need speakers to listen to this video):
yutube/watch?v=AKZjGmvJJ6c

More videos on adaptation on the right side of the above page.

VA provides grants to Servicemembers and Veterans with certain permanent and total service-connected disabilities to help purchase or construct an adapted home, or modify an existing home to accommodate a disability. Two grant programs exist: the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant and the Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant. Learn more at: http://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/..."

Note that this refers to both grants and loans; look for the provisions for grants.
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Remodeling is your choice, thus it would be difficult to find financial assistance. But check with the Veterans Administration to see what type of programs they might have.

Please note, if down the road your Mom needs to be placed in a nursing home for a higher level of care, and Medicaid would be needed..... there is a 5 year look back on how her money was spent. If Medicaid notices that she helped pay for remodeling on your house, that amount could be subtracted from the monies needed for her own care.

You might want to consult an Elder Law attorney to see what would be the best approach to this situation.
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No Jim, no help for remodeling unless your locality has a program. Using her money to build/remodel can end up making her ineligible for Medicaid if she ever needs it. Talk to an attorney about it.
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Hi Jim, I don't know about the remodel, but our Area Agency on Aging got us hooked up with a handyman service that helps low-income seniors at very low cost (like 10% of what a regular handyman would cost.) He installed safety bars in Grandpa's bathroom, and has done plumbing and household repairs. He also does basic lawn or snow service. I'm not sure about how it works if your mom is living with you, but it's worth looking into. Your mom may also qualify for a certain number of hours per week of caregiving. Sometimes there are also low-cost day care and transportation services available through them. At any rate there should be a social worker through your local area agency that will help you find some resources for her.

Frequent Flyer is right -- it might be a good idea to at least keep a log of how mom's money is being spent if you are not doing so already. Talking to an elder care or a veteran's attorney is probably the best, but in the meantime it may be better to have her sign a lease with you and charge her rent, then pay for some of the repairs from that rent, instead of having her chip in directly for repairs.

If your dad served during armed conflict (he did not have to see combat, just had to be enlisted and active during wartime) your mom may qualify for Aid and Attendance benefit. She may qualify for the housebound benefit also. You probably already know about it, but the VA doesn't like to give out that benefit and they don't necessarily tell you about it unless you go looking for it.

There should be programs to help vets in your situation but I don't know if there are. Maybe someone else will chime in who knows about assistance for veterans. I'm really sorry about your diagnosis; I hope you are getting good care and feeling ok. And thank you for your service to our country.
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That Home Depot grant program looks awesome! Nice job, Garden Artist!
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