Alliance for Retired Americans Endorses Murphy Bill to Help Seniors 'Age in Place'

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) announced the support of the Alliance for Retired Americans for the bipartisan Senior Accessible Housing Act. Introduced Monday with U.S. Representative Bruce Poliquin (ME-02), the Murphy bill would provide seniors with a tax credit for the cost of modifying their homes to make them more accessible so they can "age in place." Home improvements such as constructing entrance and exit ramps, installing handrails, and adding non-slip flooring allow seniors to be more mobile and live independently in their own homes instead of costly assisted living facilities.

"I am pleased to endorse the Senior Accessible Housing Act, which would help seniors age in place," said Bill Sauers. President of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans. "This legislation will provide older Americans who wish to remain in their homes with a tax credit to retrofit their homes or make needed modifications. Seniors who develop physical limitations that make it difficult to stay in their homes shouldn't have to be forced to move because they can't afford relatively inexpensive modifications."

"With many older Americans living on limited incomes, home improvements to make their residences more accessible are often unaffordable," said Murphy on the bill's introduction. "Making it easier for seniors to make these modifications means that they can stay in their homes longer without being forced to turn to assisted living facilities or nursing homes, which can often cost more. After a lifetime of hard work, our nation's seniors deserve to age with dignity. I thank the Alliance for Retired Americans for their support of this important legislation."

"Seniors around the country deserve the option to age with dignity in their own homes, instead of depending on expensive and often times unattainable assisted living and nursing programs," said Poliquin. "Seniors will be able to use this new tax credit to make the changes necessary for them to stay in their own homes. As a strong supporter of protecting and securing important benefits for our seniors, such as voting to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, I am proud to introduce this legislation."

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