The Home Mod Connection: Connecting Professionals with Older Adults with Disabilities to Support Community Living

This Phase I SBIR conducts the Home Mod Connection project with the mission to maximize at-risk older adults’ engagement in their communities by improving the supportiveness of their home environments. The goal is to create a remote home assessment to increase access to home modifications for rural older adults (65+) with disabilities that affect one or more major life activities. Project outcomes include: (1) a remote web-based home assessment tool with a user-friendly interface that connects consumers and professionals to identify home modification solutions with efficient project completion; (2) increased assessments and improved home environments for older adults with disabilities; and (3) a platform where funding sources can identify Return on Investment and geographical needs. Potential commercial applications for this project include: (1) Home Mod Connection web portal for providers and funding sources to coordinate service delivery and view cases for potential funding; (2) advertiser access, to ensure the long term self-sufficiency of the portal, reduce the overall cost of home modification assessments, and allow universal access to all parties; (3) streamlined home assessment process for Medicare, Medicaid, and other public and private health insurance programs to expedite home modification coverage; (4) a system for hospitals to facilitate home assessments to reduce readmission rates, increase Medicare reimbursement, and maximize Return on Investment; (5) a tool for non-profits and for-profits to collect home environment information that promotes community living and participation; and (6) a training program for providers on home assessments to ensure best practice guidelines are utilized.