Moderate Support • Life Changes • Goal 1:
Evaluate Your Housing Situation for Your Current Needs and Wants
Action step 1.
Reassess your housing needs and wants.
As you age, your housing needs and wants may shift. For example, you might wish to make a change in your living situation because of your work. You may have an expanded family and social network, or your skills may have expanded to make more independent tasks possible.
Whenever you experience big life changes that involve an adjustment to your living situation, plan to reassess important factors like:
- Your support needs at home
- Your support network
- Your housing budget
Resources
Words to know
Action step 2.
Select the housing option that best fits your needs now.
If you feel it’s time for you to explore new housing options, begin by evaluating what supports you currently require in daily living, what you may no longer need, and what you may need to add or increase.
Because every person is different, so are the supports that help them thrive. Develop a list of necessary supports you already know you need, a list of supports you don’t have but would need in a new living situation, and a list of daily living domains where you might seek greater independence.
Consider developing your support profile with a trusted person or your current support network. Using this information, you’ll be able to assess how a variety of housing environments may or may not fit your needs.
Our Resource Guide can assist you in your search.
Resources
Words to know
Action step 3.
Refine any housing modifications and your support network.
Whether or not you are moving to a new home, certain factors can change over time. Your need for accommodations and your support network can change depending on your current circumstances. Perhaps your support network relies less on friends and family, and more on trained staff. Knowing this helps you know who to turn to for help and guidance.
You also may need a new adaptation or adjustment to your living space to make it safe and practical for you, even if it was fine as it was before. Federal nondiscrimination laws require housing providers to make reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications for individuals with disabilities.
If you require an accommodation to your housing, discuss with your support network how best to raise this with your housing provider.
Resources
Words to know
Action step 4.
Adapt services and supports for current needs.
You may already be receiving Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). These services are provided through a Medicaid waiver program that allows states to offer services to people with disabilities who don’t qualify for Medicaid.
As your housing needs and daily routine begin to change, you can consult with your support network, and if applicable, the employees of the home where you currently live, about whether you need new services, or perhaps fewer than before.
You should expect adjustments of services to take time to process, so it is important to apply for new or changes in services as soon as possible.
