Section 20.43. Home modifications

(a) Preapproval. Area agencies on aging shall develop a system for the preapproval of home modifications to be authorized for reimbursement benefits. The system shall require all approved home modifications to be in response to specific details noted in the caregiver’s assessment and care plan. The system may include standards for controlling the expenditure of available funding for this purpose in a way that optimizes the distribution of these funds to the most caregivers with the greatest need for home modifications.

(b) Property ownership.

(1) The area agency on aging may approve reimbursement for a home modification of a property owned by the caregiver family without regard for whether the caregiver or the carereceiver is the owner of the property.

(2) An area agency may approve reimbursement of a home modification of rented property at the agency’s discretion if the following minimum standards are observed:

(i) The area agency shall determine that there is a reasonable expectation that the family, including the caregiver, will continue to live in the home in the foreseeable future.

(ii) The caregiver shall secure the permission of the owner before the area agency on aging grants preapproval for the home modification.

(iii) The permission obtained from the owner shall indicate whether the owner will or will not require the home to be returned to its original state when the caregiver family moves out. In some cases, this indication may be a major factor related to area agency on aging approval of the requested home modification. Program funds may not be used for restoring the home to its original state if the owner requires it. In some cases, restoration by the caregiver may be possible without additional funding.

(iv) Major modifications shall only be approved with the highest discretion with regard to caregiver need and the availability of funding.

(v) The documentation maintained by the area agency on aging of an approval of a modification of rented property shall indicate that the minimum standards of this paragraph have been observed and shall state the area agency’s rationale for approving the reimbursement.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 6 Pa. Code § 20.21 (relating to eligibility for Program benefits); and 6 Pa. Code § 20.22 (relating to conditions of participation).