Aging-in-place home check: leave with a priced plan
A free aging-in-place checklist for a parent's home or your own. Answer 64 plain checks room by room and get a ranked list of fixes, what each costs, and a brief to hand a contractor.
Takes about 25 minutes. Nothing leaves your browser. Not medical advice.
Home check for Home 1
needs a fix all clear
Entrance and steps
The front door is where a lot of falls happen: carrying bags, fumbling keys, a wet step at dusk. It is also the route out in an emergency and the route in for paramedics, so a good entrance does two jobs.
Entry steps are solid and even, with no cracks, loose bricks or raised edges
Broken or uneven steps leading to the front door are a classic trip. Look for any lip of ¼ in or more and for steps of different heights.
Source: National Institute on Aging
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There is a sturdy railing beside the entry steps, ideally on both sides
Grab the rail and lean on it: it should not move. A rail on both sides lets someone with a weaker side always use the stronger hand.
Source: National Institute on Aging, U.S. Access Board
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The entrance and its steps are lit at night, ideally by a light that switches on by itself
Coming home after dark to an unlit step is a common trip. A motion-sensor light means nobody has to remember to leave the porch light on.
Source: National Institute on Aging
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Outdoor steps have a non-slip surface
Painted wood and smooth concrete get slick when wet or icy. Grit strips on each tread fix it for a few dollars.
Source: National Institute on Aging
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There is something solid to hold while unlocking the door
Standing on one foot on a top step while working a key is a balance test. NIA suggests a grab bar beside the front door.
Source: National Institute on Aging
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There is a bench or shelf by the door to set bags down
AARP's HomeFit guide suggests a bench, table or shelf near the door so both hands are free for the lock and the rail.
Source: AARP Livable Communities
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The door threshold is low (½ in or less) or beveled
A raised threshold catches toes, walker legs and wheelchair casters. The ADA benchmark is ½ in, or ¾ in with beveled edges.
Source: U.S. Access Board, AARP Livable Communities
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At least one entrance can be used without climbing steps
A zero-step entrance is the first item in AARP's HomeFit guide. If the person uses a wheelchair or struggles with steps, this decides whether they can leave the house at all.
Source: AARP Livable Communities, U.S. Access Board
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The front door lock and handle are easy to work, and family can get in without breaking the door
Small keys and round knobs are hard with arthritis. A keypad lock lets family, carers and paramedics in without a hidden key.
Source: U.S. Access Board, AARP Livable Communities
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The house number is large and visible from the street at night
If an ambulance cannot find the house, minutes are lost. Fire services ask for numbers at least 4 in tall on a contrasting background, reflective or lit.
Source: FIRESafe MARIN
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How the plan is built
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Answer what is true today
Each check is the safe version of a room ("rails on both sides of the stairs"). Yes, No, Unsure or N/A. Unsure counts at half weight until you look.
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Hazards get weighted for the person
Severity and likelihood from the cited guidance, multiplied up for a walker, low vision, memory changes or a wheelchair, so the plan fits who lives there.
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Fixes get ranked by safety per dollar
Every fix carries a national cost range with its source and date. Free and cheap fixes rise to the top; the budget picker finds the best set for what you can spend.
Room-by-room checklists
Prefer to read first? Each area has its own page with every check, why it matters and what the fixes cost.
What modifications cost
National US price ranges for the common jobs, each with its source and date, and when the job is worth doing.
- Cost to install grab bars $85–$300
- Stair lift cost: straight vs curved $2,000–$8,000
- Tub to walk-in shower conversion cost $2,000–$12,000
- Curbless roll-in shower cost $8,000–$15,000
- Walk-in tub cost and trade-offs $3,500–$10,000
- Wheelchair ramp cost for a home $1,700–$5,000
- Lever door handles and faucets cost $100–$250
- Cost to widen a doorway for a wheelchair $300–$2,500
- Stair handrail installation cost $350–$1,200
- Home lighting upgrades for seniors: cost $40–$53
- Comfort height toilet cost vs raised seat $250–$800
- Porch lift (vertical platform lift) cost $5,000–$20,000
- Residential elevator cost $35,000–$60,000
- Smoke and CO alarm installation cost $70–$150
- Automatic stove shut-off device cost $250–$385
- First-floor bedroom and bath cost $45,000–$100,000
Frequently asked questions
What is an aging-in-place home assessment?
A room-by-room look at the home for the things that make falls, burns and getting stuck more likely: rugs, dark stairs, a high tub wall, no grab bars. Keepstead walks you through 64 checks drawn from CDC, NIA, ADA and AARP guidance, then turns every "no" into a priced fix.
How much do home modifications for seniors cost?
Many fixes are free (moving rugs, clearing stairs, turning the water heater to 120°F) or under $100 (motion night lights run $40–$53 a 4-pack). Grab bars cost $85–$300 each installed, a straight stair lift $2,000–$8,000 and a tub-to-shower conversion $2,000–$12,000, based on national cost guides checked in October 2026.
Does this replace an occupational therapist or a contractor?
No. It is a planning checklist. An occupational therapist can assess the person and the home together, and a contractor measures and quotes. The plan and the one-page contractor brief make both conversations faster.
Does Medicare pay for home modifications?
Original Medicare generally does not pay for grab bars, raised toilet seats or other home modifications, though Part B covers some prescribed equipment such as walkers and commode chairs. Veterans can apply for VA HISA grants of up to $6,800, and some state Medicaid waivers, USDA Section 504 grants and local Area Agencies on Aging help.
Are home modifications tax deductible?
Possibly. IRS Publication 502 says changes such as ramps, widened doorways, grab bars and handrails usually do not raise a home’s value, so their cost can count as a medical expense. Only total medical expenses above 7.5% of adjusted gross income are deductible, and you must itemize.
What is a CAPS contractor?
A builder or remodeler who has completed the National Association of Home Builders’ Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist courses. Keepstead’s contractor brief includes the questions to ask one.
Where are my answers stored?
Only in this browser. Nothing you type is sent to us. Download a backup file to move your plan to another device or share it with family.
Guides
- Aging in place checklist, room by room
- Home modifications for seniors cost (2026)
- Grants for home modifications for seniors
- Bathroom safety for the elderly
- CAPS contractors and the questions to ask
- Fall prevention at home for older adults
- Aging in place vs assisted living costs
- Preparing a parent's home after a hospital stay
Help shape what comes next
Everything is free during the beta. Tell us which of these you would pay for and we will email you when it ships.