Growing older in your home comes with many changes. For those who wish to remain in their current home as they age, you may struggle with getting around comfortably.
Many caregivers or loved ones of those who are aging have concerns about elderly family members remaining at home. Data from a recent AARP study shows that more than three-quarters of adults age 50+ want to stay in their homes. They also suggest that home modifications and technology are the best way to make that possible.
Our guide covers the best home modifications for older adults, including bathroom modifications, stair lifts, grab bars, and ramps. It also explores how to find help with financing options.
Home Modifications To Support Aging in Place
Home modifications benefit everyone struggling with mobility issues, strength or muscle mass loss, disabilities, or other conditions. As we age, our bodies naturally decline without intervention. One study shows that “Muscle mass decreases approximately 3-8% per decade after the age of 30, and this rate of decline is even higher after the age of 60.”
There are various home modifications that make life easier, some more popular than others. AARP’s “Staying in Place” survey includes data on homeowners’ modifications to remain in their homes. Among the home modifications, 79% installed bathroom modifications, 71% increased home accessibility from the outside, and 61% set up emergency response systems.
Here are the top home modification opportunities that can make homes safer for adults.
Grab Bars
Don’t overlook the power of a well-placed grab bar. They’re a simple but incredible, effective mobility tool that helps prevent falls and slipping. The World Health Organization gathered data showing that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide, with adults older than 60 suffering the greatest number of fatal falls.
Installing grab bars in areas with a high risk of falling, such as the bathroom and other high-traffic areas, may help reduce the risk of falling for older adults. They are cost-effective, with prices ranging from $20 to $50 depending on the material or size, and should be installed on wall studs or anchors.
Handrails
Handrails are ideal for those who need extra support when walking up or down stairs or traveling from one room to another. This simple mobility aid helps adults counteract issues such as trouble balancing or anxieties about slipping or falling.
Handrails are commonly found along staircases but can also be installed in hallways, kitchens, and near exits. They’re also one of the most affordable, low-maintenance options to increase safety.
Ramps
Ramps reduce the need to navigate steep steps and make entrances to the home accessible for all. Installing wheelchair ramps can increase mobility for aging adults and those in wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Many aging-in-place experts, such as James Bowdler, the founder of PrimeCarers in the UK, encourage homeowners to install wheelchair or threshold ramps to make home entry safer and more accessible for people with restricted mobility.
Flooring
Many homes have curled carpet edges, broken tiles, or other issues that make walking unsafe for aging adults. Installing low-impact flooring and replacing the older material is a simple way to reduce the risk of slips, falls, or tripping over objects. Low-impact flooring should be slip-resistant and increase safety for older adults.
“At FSL, we believe adequate flooring is the number one prevention priority,” said Katie Martin, home improvements and community services administrator at Foundation for Senior Living (FSL). “Research shows that the leading cause of slips, falls, and trips are uneven or wet surfaces. It’s really important to make sure carpets and rugs are secure. Use non-slip adhesive strips on stairs or non-skid mats on kitchen or bathroom floors. Remove clutter like electrical cords or pet gear that could be easy to trip on and pick up slips immediately so you don’t slip on water, grease, or oil”.
Stair Lifts
Stair lifts are large mobility tools that make living at home easy for adults who struggle to climb stairs safely. Licensed professionals should install them, and they can significantly reduce the risk of falls and injuries related to falling.
What’s a stair lift? It’s a seat on a motorized track that glides up and down a staircase. At the push of a button, a person with mobility issues or a disability can move safely up or down the stairs. There are various types of stair lifts, including straight stair lifts, curved stair lifts, and outdoor stair lifts.
Bathroom Modifications
Bathrooms can be dangerous places for older adults. Potential hazards include hard counters, tight spaces, and wet floors. There’s a lot to consider when fall-proofing your bathroom to increase your safety.
There are both small and large types of bathroom modifications. On the smaller (and more affordable) side, you can install grab bars in the shower, tub, or near the toilet. Other minor modifications include adding a raised toilet seat to make getting up and down easier and placing a non-slip mat in the shower or tub.
More extensive modifications, such as installing a walk-in shower, can significantly increase safety by reducing the risk of falls, but they come at a higher price. Independent Home Solutions installs walk-in showers in two days, and we can make your home more accessible. Fill out the online estimate tool to get a quote for your Pennsylvania bathroom.
Accessible Cabinet Pulls and Door Handles
If you have arthritis that makes it challenging to open drawers, doors, or cabinets, you may need cabinet pulls. They are simple accessibility tools that make it easy to open cabinets without a fuss. They are a low-cost home modification option that can improve quality of life.
Do Experts on Aging in Place Recommend Home Modifications?
While some experts on senior care may not believe home modifications are the best solution, many believe they are an excellent way to help people stay in their homes. However, most experts in aging agree that basic mobility aids can increase your quality of life at a low cost.
The National Falls Prevention Resource Center at the National Council on Aging and the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence at the University of South California School of Gerontology team up to create a quick visual infographic on five simple home modifications that can easily improve safety.
Home Modifications Costs
If you plan to stay in your home as you age, you’ll need to consider the costs of home modifications. Most older adults will need assistive modifications or tools at some point to make living at home safe and fun.
Some home modifications may be easy, such as simple hardware tweaks like replacing handles or doorknobs. But even these simple changes can come with high price tags. Replacing doorknobs and handles all over a home can cost as much as $350.
Minor home modifications may include handrails, grab bars, anti-slip flooring, raised toilet seats, and basic ramps for walking over steep steps or getting over high lips on doorways. Basic home modifications like these can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000; if you want to do them all, expect to spend more than $1,000.
More extensive structural updates are major home modifications that require more money, time, and resources. These may include adding a large wheelchair ramp, widening hallways, installing walk-in showers, purchasing a stair lift, or moving a bedroom to the home’s main floor.
Major home modifications generally cost between $3,400 and $20,000 per project. For example, walk-in showers require a complete renovation and installation, costing between $12,000 and $15,000, while stairlifts cost between $3,400 and $27,000.
What’s the Real Cost of Aging in Place?
The national average for homeowners to spend on home modifications for aging in place is between $3,000 and $15,000. However, many homeowners spend more than that, with some costs even going as high as $150,000.
Compared to nursing homes or other assisted living facilities, aging in place is often considered less expensive. Data from The National Council on Aging shows that the average cost of assisted living is $4,500 per month (about $54,000 annually).
Here’s a list of standard home modification costs for older adults:
- Elevator or platform lift: $2,500 to $60,000
- Stair lift (curved, straight, outdoor): $3,400 to $27,000
- Walk-in shower: $12,000 to $15,000
- Wheelchair ramps: $1,000 to $10,000
- Wider doorways (per doorway): $750 to $2,500
- Lowering cabinets and sinks: $1,500 to $9,000
How to Pay for Home Modifications: Funding Options
Funding may be available for Pennsylvania residents needing home renovations to age in place safely. There are several non-profits and organizations that assist older adults with minor and major home modifications.
Giselle Bardwell of BrightStar Care suggests homeowners should consider programs that may help cover the costs, such as the VA’s Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant and Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers.
Check the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for funding opportunities for various types of home modification. Find the list under “Fiscal Year ‘Year’ Funding Opportunities.”
The Administration for Community Living also has an extensive list of Funding Sources for Home Modification: Pennsylvania.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a Help at Home (OPTIONS) program that provides assistance to Pennsylvania residents ages 60 and over. Home modification assistance may be available through the Help at Home program in conjunction with the Local Area Agency on Aging. Find your local Area Agency on Aging in Pennsylvania to explore their services.
Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources (PA LINK) connects Pennsylvania residents with local services. Connect with the service and ask about home modification financing options for your city or county.
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging offers various programs and services for older adults, including home repairs and modifications and other services like home-delivered meals and care management.
Local Pennsylvania funding opportunities:
For an extensive list of funding options, visit Disability Rights Pennsylvania’s Resource List for Home Repairs, Modifications, and Assistive Technology.
Home Modification: FAQs
What company offers home modifications in Central Pennsylvania?
Independent Home Solutions offers five-star service for homeowners in Central Pennsylvania. We aim to provide the best home modifications so you can use your home safely. Our service areas in Pennsylvania include Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading, and York.
