The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers loans and grants to elder homeowners in current or former rural towns. These include Plymouth and Cape Cod, most North Shore towns above Danvers, and most communities west and south of Acton. For repairs of health or safety hazards such as failed roofs, heating or septic systems, USDA also offers grants of up to $7,500 for those over 62, and loans that charge just 1 percent annual interest to all others.