Accessible Homes for Seniors Maryland: DHCD WholeHome Grants and Other Funding

Most Maryland Homes Weren't Built for Aging

The standard American house — narrow doorways, steep stairs, bathtubs with high sides, slick tile floors — becomes a daily hazard for a senior with mobility limitations. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults over 65 in Maryland, and most of them happen at home. Making a house physically safe for aging in place isn't optional when the alternative is a nursing home at $155,125 per year.

The good news: Maryland has several funding programs specifically designed to pay for home accessibility modifications. The most substantial is the DHCD WholeHome program, and many families don't know it exists.

The DHCD WholeHome Program

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) runs the Accessible Homes for Seniors program through its WholeHome initiative. It provides financial assistance for home modifications that enable seniors to live safely and independently.

What it funds:

• Wheelchair ramps and threshold modifications
• Grab bars in bathrooms and along hallways
• Walk-in showers or tub-to-shower conversions
• Stairlifts and chairlifts
• Widened doorways for wheelchair or walker access
• Non-slip flooring
• Accessible kitchen modifications (lowered counters, pull-out shelves)
• Lever-style door handles and faucets

Financial terms:

• Up to $25,000 in assistance per household
• Delivered as either a 30-year, 0% interest deferred loan or an outright grant, depending on household income
• The loan is deferred — no monthly payments during the deferral period. Confirm repayment terms with DHCD before accepting assistance
• Lower-income households may receive a grant instead of a loan; confirm the approved assistance type and terms with DHCD

Eligibility requirements:

• At least one household resident must be age 55 or older
• The household income must be under 80% of the statewide median income
• The home must be the applicant's primary residence
• The applicant must own the Maryland home

How to Apply for WholeHome

Applications use the DHCD Accessible Homes for Seniors program and its local partners. Check DHCD's program page for the current intake route. The process:

1. Contact the current local intake partner listed by DHCD. It handles intake, income verification, and property assessment.
2. A home assessor evaluates the property to identify what modifications are needed and whether they fall within the program's scope.
3. DHCD reviews and approves the application. Approval depends on available funding — the program has a fixed annual budget.
4. Licensed contractors perform the work. The program manages the contractor relationship and inspects the completed modifications.

Expect a wait. WholeHome is popular, and funding cycles can create delays of several months between application and installation. Apply as early as possible — don't wait for a fall to make it urgent.

Medicaid-Funded Home Modifications

If your parent is enrolled in Community First Choice (CFC) or the Community Options Waiver (COW), Medicaid covers safety-related home modifications as part of the service plan. These are separate from DHCD funding and can sometimes be combined:

• CFC modifications include safety-related adaptations like grab bars, ramps, and emergency response systems. The scope is defined in the participant's Plan of Service and approved by the Supports Planning Agency.
• COW modifications cover a broader range, potentially including more extensive structural changes. The waiver's scope is wider, but access requires getting through the waitlist.

Medicaid-funded modifications are typically smaller-scale (safety items like grab bars and PERS devices) compared to WholeHome's capacity for larger projects like stairlifts and bathroom remodels. For a comprehensive modification project, applying to both WholeHome and requesting Medicaid-funded items through the care plan can maximize coverage.

Other Funding Sources

Beyond WholeHome and Medicaid:

• SOAR — the state's SOAR program covers minor home repairs and safety modifications for moderate-income seniors who don't qualify for Medicaid.
• VA Aid and Attendance — veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for a VA pension that can be used for home modifications. The VA also has the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant programs.
• County programs — some counties (notably Montgomery and Prince George's) operate their own emergency home repair programs with separate funding. Check with your local Area Agency on Aging.
• Nonprofit programs — organizations like Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity operate in multiple Maryland counties, providing free home modifications for low-income seniors.

Modifications That Make the Biggest Difference

If you're prioritizing on a limited budget, the evidence consistently points to three high-impact categories:

1. Bathroom modifications — grab bars in the shower/tub and next to the toilet, a raised toilet seat, and a walk-in shower conversion. The bathroom is where the majority of in-home falls occur.
2. Entrance accessibility — a ramp at the primary entry point and adequate outdoor lighting. A senior who can't safely get in and out of their home becomes functionally homebound.
3. Stairway solutions — if the bedroom or only bathroom is on a different level than the main living area, a stairlift or a first-floor bedroom conversion eliminates the most dangerous daily activity.

For more on the full range of home modifications and which Maryland programs cover them, the Maryland home care navigation guide includes a room-by-room safety assessment checklist alongside the application details for every funding source.

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