Caregiving Tips

RoseW289632 · ‎07-22-2025

My mother passed away in February 2019. On her deathbed, I made her a promise — that I would take care of my aging stepfather.

A few years later, we discovered the home she and my stepfather purchased in Chickasha, Oklahoma was in serious need of repairs. It had no central heat and air, outdated electrical wiring, and some minor plumbing issues. My spouse and I even considered refinancing our own house just to cover the costs.

But after a lot of research, I found something most people don’t know about — a little-known USDA program for rural senior homeowners.

If you’re 62 or older and live in a rural area, you may qualify for:

A $7,500 government grant for essential home repairs (does not have to be paid back)

A 1% interest loan up to $20,000, repayable over 20 years

I walked my stepfather through every step of the process — from paperwork to inspections — and in the end, he received $27,500 total in assistance. We installed brand new central heat and air, updated the electrical, and fixed the plumbing.

Here’s the best part: his electric bill dropped by $100/month, which completely covered the small monthly loan payment.

Now I help other seniors and their families learn about this program — because no one should be living in unsafe conditions just because they can’t afford repairs.

If you’re helping a parent or grandparent in a rural area and want to know if they qualify, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to share everything I’ve learned.