Building a Veteran-Friendly Home in Winston-Salem: Adaptive Changes That Support Daily Living
A supportive home should make everyday life more manageable while reflecting the preferences of the person who lives there.
For a Veteran, that might mean entering the house without struggling with steps, moving more comfortably between rooms, or reaching personal-care items without asking for help. Another person may prioritize preparing meals or having greater privacy in the bathroom.
For Winston-Salem families, the best starting point is a conversation: “What would you like to do more easily at home?”
The right plan can combine simple layout changes, professionally recommended adaptations, and appropriate assistance. Some Veterans may also qualify for VA adaptation programs, but eligibility and project requirements must be reviewed individually.
Table of Contents
What You Will Learn
- Why a Veteran’s abilities, preferences, and daily priorities should guide home accessibility decisions.
- How a professional assessment can help identify barriers and prioritize appropriate modifications.
- Which entrance changes to discuss when steps, thresholds, or limited maneuvering space make access difficult.
Ask for a Professional Home Assessment
Before buying equipment or beginning construction, ask the healthcare or rehabilitation team about a home assessment.
An occupational therapist can help connect proposed changes to the Veteran’s abilities, routines, and personal goals. Instead of focusing only on the building, the discussion should consider how the person uses each space.
Areas to review include:
- Entering and leaving the home
- Moving through doorways and hallways
- Using prescribed mobility equipment
- Getting in and out of bed or a chair
- Bathing and toileting
- Preparing food and reaching supplies
- Receiving assistance from a caregiver
If VA funding is being explored, involve the VA team early. The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations program requires medical justification and a prescription written or approved by a VA physician describing the proposed work.
Make Entrances Easier to Navigate
A home’s entrance can affect how easily a Veteran attends appointments, visits friends, or participates in community life.
For homes with steps, raised entrances, or difficult thresholds, discuss options such as:
- A professionally designed ramp
- Secure handrails
- A more manageable threshold
- Adequate space to approach and open the door
- A stable, unobstructed route from the vehicle
- Improved entrance lighting
The most suitable solution depends on the property, the Veteran’s mobility, and the equipment being used. A ramp or handrail should be planned around those needs rather than purchased solely because it is marketed as accessible.
VA’s HISA program may cover medically necessary entrance and exit improvements, including permanent ramping and certain improvements to the immediate entrance path. Not every exterior project qualifies.
Create Clear Movement Routes
Inside the home, start with the spaces used most often: the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and main living area.
Families can review:
- Furniture that narrows a route
- Items stored in hallways
- Cords crossing walking areas
- Tight turns near doorways
- Space needed to use a walker or wheelchair
- Room for a caregiver to assist
A clear route should work for the Veteran’s actual movement needs—not merely look uncluttered.
Some concerns may be resolved by rearranging furniture. Others may require professional recommendations about doorway access, thresholds, or structural changes.
Keep frequently used equipment accessible without allowing it to become another obstacle.
Give Bathroom Accessibility Special Attention
Bathing and toileting often involve several movements in a small space. A Veteran may need to turn, reach, sit, stand, or transfer between surfaces.
Depending on the assessment, helpful adaptations may include:
- Properly positioned grab bars
- A shower chair or transfer bench
- A more accessible shower entrance
- Suitable toilet support equipment
- Easier-to-operate fixtures
- Reachable towels and personal-care supplies
- Space for mobility equipment or assistance
Ask the rehabilitation team which equipment and placement fit the Veteran’s needs. Installing a support does not automatically make an activity safe to complete alone.
HISA identifies access to essential bathroom facilities, including roll-in showers, as a potential use of the benefit when medically necessary. Approval depends on the individual project and applicable requirements.
Make Storage and Work Areas Easier to Use
Accessibility is also about participating in ordinary routines: choosing clothing, making a snack, washing hands, or working on a hobby.
Ask which items are difficult to reach and which tasks require unnecessary bending or stretching. Consider reorganizing:
- Frequently used clothing
- Personal-care supplies
- Dishes and utensils
- Food preparation items
- A phone and charger
- Supplies for favorite activities
The goal is not to move everything lower. It is to place items where the Veteran can use them comfortably while keeping surfaces organized.
More substantial adaptations may involve kitchen or bathroom sinks and counters. VA lists making these features accessible as a possible HISA purpose when medically justified.
Match Modifications With Appropriate Assistance
An adapted home and personal assistance serve different purposes. A wider doorway may improve access, but the Veteran may still need help moving safely. A shower bench may be appropriate, but its use may require training or supervision.
Ask the care team to clarify:
- Which tasks can be completed independently
- Which require someone nearby
- Which require trained hands-on assistance
- What equipment should be used
- When the arrangement should be reassessed
Include the Veteran in these decisions. The purpose is to support participation without expecting more than is safe or taking over tasks unnecessarily.
Understand VA Adaptation Assistance
VA offers several programs that may help eligible Veterans adapt a home. They are not interchangeable, and qualifying for one does not automatically establish eligibility for another.
Home Improvements and Structural Alterations — HISA
HISA provides limited lifetime assistance for medically necessary improvements to a primary residence.
Potential purposes include improving home access, providing access to essential bathroom facilities, making sinks or counters accessible, and certain plumbing or electrical changes required for home medical equipment.
HISA can apply to eligible Veterans with service-connected or non-service-connected disabilities. The applicable benefit category depends on individual circumstances. It is not a general remodeling or routine home-maintenance allowance.
Specially Adapted Housing — SAH
SAH can help eligible Veterans buy, build, or adapt a home to accommodate certain qualifying service-connected disabilities.
Specific disability and housing requirements apply. Having a disability rating alone does not establish eligibility.
Special Home Adaptation — SHA
SHA helps eligible Veterans with particular qualifying service-connected disabilities adapt or obtain a suitable home. Depending on the arrangement, the home may be owned by the Veteran or a family member.
SAH and SHA have different criteria. Ask VA which program, if any, fits the situation.
Confirm Requirements Before Work Begins
Do not assume that completing a renovation first will guarantee reimbursement.
For HISA, the application package includes:
- A prescription written or approved by a VA physician
- A completed VA Form 10-0103
- An itemized estimate for labor, materials, permits, and inspections
- A color photograph of the area before modification
- Required property-owner authorization, including notarized permission for renters
Ask VA what approvals are necessary and when work may begin before committing to a project.
SAH and SHA use a separate application process through VA Form 26-4555.
How Always Best Care of Winston-Salem Can Help
Always Best Care of Winston-Salem can help families explore available non-medical in-home support that complements an accessibility plan.
Depending on local services and the individualized care arrangement, assistance may include:
- Personal-care support
- Meal preparation
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Companionship
- Transportation assistance
- Help maintaining daily routines
- Respite for family caregivers
Explain any mobility, transfer, or supervision needs before arranging services so the team can determine what assistance it can safely provide.
Home care does not replace a professional home assessment, construction services, rehabilitation, or a VA eligibility review. Its role is to provide practical assistance around the Veteran’s needs and the guidance of the healthcare team.
FAQ
Q: Where should families begin?
A: Start with the Veteran’s priorities, then ask the healthcare team about a professional home assessment. If VA funding is being explored, confirm the applicable program before committing to major work.
Q: Do all Veterans qualify for adaptation benefits?
A: No. HISA, SAH, and SHA each have specific eligibility and project requirements. VA determines whether the Veteran and proposed work qualify.
Q: Can renters explore HISA assistance?
A: Potentially. HISA includes application requirements for renters, including a signed and notarized statement from the owner authorizing the improvement. Other eligibility and project requirements still apply.
Q: Will HISA pay for routine repairs?
A: HISA is not a general home-repair benefit. VA lists routine maintenance, such as replacing roofs, furnaces, or air conditioners, among excluded projects.
Q: Should we buy bathroom equipment before an assessment?
A: Ask the rehabilitation team first. Equipment and placement should match how the Veteran moves and completes daily activities.
Q: Can home care eliminate the need for modifications?
A: Not necessarily. Assistance and environmental changes address different needs. A professional assessment can help identify where both may be useful.
Build the Plan Around Daily Life
A Veteran-friendly home begins with meaningful goals: entering comfortably, using the bathroom more independently, preparing a meal, or moving between familiar rooms.
Ask the healthcare team about a personalized assessment and explore VA adaptation requirements before beginning major work. Then contact Always Best Care of Winston-Salem to discuss in-home assistance that supports your loved one’s preferences, routines, and daily needs.
Always Best Care of Winston-Salem at (336) 396-8919 to learn more and schedule your free consultation.
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