About Us

Homemods.org is provided to you as a service of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, funded by the Archstone Foundation. The web site was originally created by the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification, with support from the Archstone Foundation. We are headquartered at the University of Southern California Andrus Gerontology Center.

What is Home Modification? Home modification refers to converting or adapting the environment in order to make performing tasks easier, reduce accidents, and support independent living. Home modification, ranging from low-cost to more expensive adaptations, includes removing hazards (e.g., clutter, throw rugs), adding special features or assistive devices (e.g., grab bars, ramps), moving furnishings, changing where activities occur (e.g., sleeping on the first instead of second floor) and renovations (e.g., installing a roll-in shower). In some cases, modifying the home may also require repairs such as improved wiring to eliminate the need for dangerous extension cords or fixing loose stair treads.

What is the role of home modification in fall prevention? The addition of supportive features can help reduce accidents such as falls, a leading cause of death for older Americans. Six out of 10 falls occur in homes which typically contain a high prevalence of hazards such as loose throw rugs, the lack of tub/shower grab bars, and obstructed pathways. Home modifications can reduce the demands of the environment while making the home safer and more supportive. Research indicates that the most effective interventions to prevent falls for persons at moderate to high risk of falls are multi-factorial, and include environmental modifications, medication management and physical activity.

The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification is a university-based, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting aging in place and independent living for persons of all ages and abilities. In this capacity, we:

provide training and education to develop and support skilled, educated and networked professionals who can respond to the increasing demand for home modification services; and
act as an information clearinghouse on home modification to equip professionals and consumers with a comprehensive inventory of resources

Our Faculty and Staff

Jon Pynoos, Ph.D.	Director	jpynoos@aol.com
Maria Henke, MA,	Project Director	mhenke@usc.edu
Julie Overton, MSG, MHA	Training and Resource Development Specialist	overtonusc@aol.com
Jim Alejandre	Technical Support	jalejand@usc.edu
John Sobhani	Administrative and Billing Support	homemods@usc.edu
Diane Sprague	Instructor	diane.s@usfamily.net
Susan Duncan	Instructor	susan@visualizerset.com
Dory Sabata	Instructor	doryot@gmail.com

Contact Us

National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification
Andrus Gerontology Center
University of Southern California
3715 McClintock Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191

Telephone: (213) 740-1364
Fax: (213) 740-7069
Email: homemods@usc.edu

The Fall Prevention Center of Excellence works to identify best practices in fall prevention and to help communities offer fall prevention programs to older people who are at risk of falling. It is a public-private interdisciplinary partnership drawn from five organizations:

University of Southern California's Andrus Gerontology Center (Andrus);
The Center for Successful Aging (CSA) at California State University, Fullerton;
The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC);
University of California Los Angeles, School of Medicine;
The California Department of Public Health, State and Local Injury Control Section (SLIC).

For more information on fall prevention and the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, please visit StopFalls.org