Indianapolis seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities have more funding options than most families realize
— from VA grants up to $6,800 to Indiana's CHOICE program, CICOA's Safe at Home modifications, and City of Indianapolis repair programs. Here's every major program available in the Indy area, who qualifies, and who to call.
Home accessibility modifications — stairlifts, wheelchair ramps, walk-in showers, grab bars — are an investment in staying safely in the home you love. But nobody should assume they have to pay the whole cost alone. If you live in Indianapolis or the surrounding Central Indiana counties, work through this list before you write a check.
For Veterans: VA Grants
Veterans & eligible family members
HISA Grant (Home Improvements & Structural Alterations)
The VA's HISA grant provides up to $6,800
for veterans with a service-connected condition (and up to $2,000 for certain non-service-connected conditions) toward home modifications like ramps, stairlifts, bathroom modifications, and widened doorways. Indianapolis-area veterans apply through the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center.
Larger grants — SAH (Specially Adapted Housing) and SHA (Special Home Adaptation) — are available for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities.
As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Altamira works with VA-funded projects regularly — we know the paperwork and can help you navigate the process.
For Seniors 60+: Indiana & Central Indiana Programs
Age 60+ or living with a disability
Indiana CHOICE Program
CHOICE (Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled) is Indiana's state-funded program to help people at risk of nursing-home placement stay in their own homes. Covered services can include home modifications such as grab bars, lifts, and ramps. Eligibility is based on age (60+, or younger with a qualifying impairment) and level of need; there's often a waiting list, so apply early.
Start here:
In Marion County and Central Indiana, CHOICE is accessed through CICOA, your Area Agency on Aging.
Central Indiana — older adults & people with disabilities
CICOA Safe at Home
CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions is Central Indiana's Area Agency on Aging, and its Safe at Home program funds home safety and accessibility modifications focused on fall prevention
— grab bars, handrails, ramps, improved lighting, lever handles, and more. The process starts with an in-home assessment. Eligible homeowners age 62+ may also qualify for additional support through the Older Americans Home Modification Program.
Start here:
Call CICOA at (317) 803-6131
to request an assessment.
Hoosiers 60+ on Medicaid
Indiana PathWays for Aging (Medicaid)
Indiana's Medicaid long-term services for adults 60+ now run through the PathWays for Aging program. When a modification is medically necessary
— like a ramp or bathroom modification that lets you safely stay home instead of entering a facility — it may be covered. Your PathWays care coordinator can tell you what your plan covers.
Start here:
Contact your PathWays health plan care coordinator, or call CICOA for options counseling if you're not yet enrolled.
For Income-Qualified Marion County Homeowners
Low/moderate income homeowners
City of Indianapolis Homeowner Repair Program
The City's Department of Metropolitan Development operates a home repair program for income-qualified Indianapolis homeowners covering essential repairs including accessibility modifications.
Start here:
Call the Department of Metropolitan Development at (317) 327-4663.
Marion County, age 62+, income-qualified
Home Repairs for Good
This nonprofit provides no-cost home repair and stabilization for Marion County homeowners age 62+ living at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Line.
Start here:
Call (317) 286-2740.
Other Ways to Cover the Cost
- Financing.
Altamira offers financing on stairlifts, ramps, and bathroom modifications — spreading the cost into manageable monthly payments while you pursue grant funding.
- Tax deduction.
Modifications made for medical reasons may qualify as deductible medical expenses — keep your documentation and ask your tax professional.
- Long-term care insurance.
Some policies cover home modifications that delay or prevent facility care. Check your policy's "alternative care" or "home modification" benefit.
- Dial 211.
Indiana 211 can point you to additional county and neighborhood-level repair and accessibility programs that come and go with funding cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare pay for a stairlift or wheelchair ramp in Indiana?
Traditional Medicare generally does not cover home modifications like stairlifts or ramps. However, some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited home-safety benefits, and Indiana Medicaid (PathWays for Aging) may cover medically necessary modifications.
Who qualifies for Indiana's CHOICE program?
CHOICE serves Indiana residents age 60 and older, or younger individuals with a qualifying physical or mental impairment, who are at risk of losing their independence. Services are accessed through your Area Agency on Aging — CICOA for the Indianapolis area.
How much can Indianapolis veterans get for home modifications?
Through the VA HISA grant, veterans with a service-connected condition can receive up to $6,800 toward home modifications. Veterans with severe qualifying disabilities may be eligible for the larger SAH or SHA grants.
Can I combine these programs?
Often, yes. A veteran might use a HISA grant for a ramp while CICOA assists with grab bars, and financing covers the remainder of a larger project. Note that some programs require Medicare or Medicaid funds to be used first where available.
Not sure where to start? Our Indianapolis team works with VA-funded, grant-funded, and privately funded projects every week — we'll help you figure out what your project costs and which programs fit your situation.
Call Our Indianapolis Office: (765) 926-7660
Explore our Indianapolis services: Stairlifts
· Wheelchair Ramps
· Bathroom Modifications
