Aging-in-Place Home Checklist

• Walk the four daily paths before assessing rooms individually.
• Lighting and flooring fixes are the cheapest meaningful safety upgrades.
• Anything requiring an open wall should be planned before you remodel.
• Re-run the checklist annually and after any hospital stay.

Entry

Getting through the front door reliably, in the dark and in bad weather.

• At least one step-free entrance
• Level landing at least 5x5 feet outside the door
• Threshold under half an inch
• Motion-activated exterior lighting
• Lever handle and keyless entry

Bathroom

The highest-value room to fix, and the most common site of serious home falls.

• Grab bars anchored into structure at the shower and toilet
• Curbless or low-threshold shower entry
• Handheld sprayer and a stable bench
• Non-slip floor surface, wet and dry
• Comfort-height toilet
• Night lighting on the path from the bedroom

Bedroom

Transfers, night navigation, and reach.

• Bed height allowing feet flat with knees at about 90 degrees
• Clear, unobstructed path to the bathroom
• Lamp or switch reachable from the bed
• Phone or call device within reach
• Closet rods and shelves in comfortable reach range

Stairs and hallways

Where falls become serious injuries.

• Handrails on both sides, extending past the top and bottom step
• Contrast marking on the first and last step
• Switches at both the top and bottom
• No loose runners or unsecured rugs

Kitchen

Independence in daily tasks, without reaching or climbing.

• Daily items stored between hip and shoulder height
• Pull-out shelves in base cabinets
• Lever or touch faucet
• Task lighting over counters and the range
• A seated work surface option