Read the full guide: Aging-in-Place Solutions for an Accessible Home

1. Make it easy to get in and around

Start at the front door. If there are steps up to a deck or entry, a ramp is usually the first project to tackle. Ramps are designed for all weather and work with wheelchairs, walkers and scooters.

Inside, look at your stairs:

• Stairlifts fit straight or curved staircases. Our stairlifts start at $5,495 for the Bruno Elan; curved stairs need a site survey.
• A handrail helps on smaller steps between rooms, if there isn't one already.
• A home elevator may be worth it if you have several large staircases. Home elevators start at $45,000.

Have a professional evaluate your home to find the best option. For lifts and elevators, we quote first, then do a site survey.

2. Update the bathroom

You need room to move, especially with a wheelchair, scooter or walker. If the bathroom isn't safe, remodeling it for easier access can help prevent falls and injuries.

• Replace a hard-to-step-into shower with a large walk-in shower with grab bars and a seat, like this 60 x 32 shower with a built-in seat. See all walk-in shower kits with seats.
• Choose flooring that works well with a wheelchair. Tile can get slippery when wet.
• Consider a vanity with a lower countertop.
• Brighten the lighting. Higher-wattage bulbs make the room easier to navigate.

3. Organize the kitchen to reach less

• Keep everyday dishes and cooking tools in the lower cupboards.
• Add a pullout pantry so you can see everything without digging.
• Have sharp countertop corners rounded to avoid bumps to your side or hip.
• Move a high microwave down to a lower cabinet.
• Limit reaching and lifting above your shoulders to help prevent pulled muscles and lost balance.

Cut down on errands, too. Services like Instacart, DoorDash and Grubhub deliver groceries and meals, which helps when the weather isn't great. You can also look into having mail delivered to your door instead of a mailbox.

4. Clear the clutter

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that millions of people 65 and older fall each year, and one in five falls causes a serious injury, such as a broken bone or a head injury. Clearing clutter is one of the easiest ways to lower that risk.

1. Remove throw rugs, old or broken furniture, items on the floor, unused decorations, and loose electronics and wires.
2. Sort what's left into keep, throw out and donate piles.
3. Ask a friend or family member to help. It can be a big job.
4. Organize what you keep so nothing sits in your path.
5. Short on space? A nearby storage unit can hold things you're not ready to part with.

Common questions

What's the first aging-in-place project I should do?

Start with getting in the door. If there are steps to your entry, a ramp usually makes the biggest difference first.

How much does a stairlift cost?

Stairlifts start at $5,495 for a Bruno Elan and $7,745 for a Bruno Elite. Curved stairlifts need a site survey to price.

How can I make my bathroom safer?

Switch to a walk-in shower with grab bars and a seat, choose flooring that's less slippery when wet, lower the vanity if needed and brighten the lighting.

Does Medicare pay for home modifications?

No. Medicare doesn't cover home modifications. In Michigan, a physician's prescription can make a stairlift purchase sales-tax exempt.

Related help

• Home accessibility modifications and mobility aids
• Simple bathroom safety ideas
• Stairlift cost and information
• Shop ramps
• Full guide: aging-in-place solutions
• Home accessibility funding and grants