Direct answer: Harris County residents 60 and older start with the Harris County Area Agency on Aging at 832-393-4301. Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston and other nearby counties use the H-GAC Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-437-7396. Veterans work with the Michael E. DeBakey VA, and dialing 2-1-1 reaches local repair and support programs.
Find your Area Agency on Aging
Every part of Texas is covered by an Area Agency on Aging. In the Houston region there are two:
| Where the person lives | Agency | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County, including Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Cypress, Spring, Humble and Kingwood | Harris County Area Agency on Aging (Houston Health Department) | 832-393-4301 |
| Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller and Wharton counties | H-GAC Area Agency on Aging | 1-800-437-7396 |
Cities like Katy, Pearland and League City cross county lines, so check which county the actual address is in. Both agencies serve people 60 and older and family caregivers. Services commonly include benefits counseling for Medicare and Medicaid, care coordination, caregiver support, meals and in-home help, and long-term care ombudsman services. The Texas HHS directory also lists every agency in the state.
Veterans
The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston and its community clinics serve veterans across the region. For bathroom changes, ask your VA provider about the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant, which the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service manages. The VA lists lifetime limits of up to $6,800 for service-connected needs (or non-service-connected needs for veterans rated 50 percent or more) and up to $2,000 for other enrolled veterans. Ask about the VA caregiver support program too.
Home modification and repair programs
- Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (TDHCA): one-time grants of up to $22,500 for accessibility changes in households with a person with a disability and income at or under 80 percent of area median family income. Local administrators run it, and it is not available everywhere.
- Medicaid STAR+PLUS: members who qualify for STAR+PLUS home and community-based services can receive minor home modifications, up to a $7,500 lifetime limit, when their service plan calls for them. Ask the health plan's service coordinator; our paying for a walk-in tub page explains the steps.
- Local repair programs: your Area Agency on Aging and 2-1-1 Texas track city, county and nonprofit repair programs, which open and close as funding allows. See which Houston repair programs are open now.
Help finding anything else
- 2-1-1 Texas: dial 2-1-1 for utilities, transportation, food and home repair referrals.
- Houston Permitting Center: permit questions for homes inside Houston city limits.
- Harris County Office of the County Engineer: permit questions for unincorporated Harris County.
Fall prevention, from the experts
For a sense of scale, about 875,800 people in the Houston metro are 65 or older, according to Census estimates; our county and city figures break that down. The CDC reports that more than one in four adults 65 and older fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of injury death in that age group. The CDC's STEADI materials and the National Institute on Aging's room-by-room guide are clear and free. Ask a doctor about a fall risk check, especially after a fall or a medication change, and ask whether an occupational therapist home visit makes sense.
How we fit in
We are a bathroom company, not an agency. We can measure, recommend and install a walk-in tub or shower, and give you a detailed written quote that a program can review. Whether a program pays is up to that program. If you are working with a caseworker or VA team, let us know and we will provide what they ask for.
Questions to ask when you call an agency
- Do you have a home repair or modification program right now, and is there a wait list?
- Is there an income limit, and what documents do you need?
- Do you need a written quote from a contractor, and in what form?
- Can a family member call on behalf of my parent?
- Are there caregiver training classes or respite programs nearby?
Write down the name of the person you talk with and the date. Programs change often, and that note saves time on the next call.
Questions we hear about this
Which Area Agency on Aging serves Fort Bend County?
Fort Bend County is served by the H-GAC Area Agency on Aging, 1-800-437-7396. Harris County has its own agency through the Houston Health Department, 832-393-4301.
Does the Area Agency on Aging pay for walk-in tubs?
Generally they are referral and support agencies, not funders of tubs. They can point you to local repair and modification programs and help with benefits.
Sources
- Houston Health Department: Harris County Area Agency on Aging
- H-GAC Area Agency on Aging (12 counties around Harris)
- Texas HHS: Area Agencies on Aging directory
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (VA Houston health care)
- VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service: HISA grants
- TDHCA: Amy Young Barrier Removal Program
- 2-1-1 Texas
- CDC: Older adult falls, facts and statistics
- National Institute on Aging: Preventing falls at home, room by room
Program rules and figures can change. Check the linked agency page before you rely on them.