Answers
What is aging in place?
Staying in your own home as you get older instead of moving to assisted living. For most people that depends on the house changing with them, and it usually starts with the bathroom, the entry and the stairs.
How much do aging in place home modifications cost?
Most projects run $2,000 to $25,000. National cost guides put grab bars at $100 to $500, a tub to curbless shower conversion at $2,000 to $15,000, a ramp at $1,000 to $10,000 and door widening at $300 to $2,500 per door, and Lifeway Mobility (2026) puts a straight stair lift at $2,900 to $8,000. Your own price comes in writing after the assessment.
Does Medicare pay for home modifications?
Original Medicare doesn't pay for grab bars, ramps or shower conversions. A few Medicare Advantage plans carry a home safety benefit, and the plan itself can tell you whether yours does.
Are there grants for veterans?
The VA HISA grant covers medically necessary entrance and bathroom changes, up to a lifetime $6,800 for a service-connected condition and $2,000 otherwise. The VA has to approve the request before any work, so check its current terms first.
Are there local programs in DC and Maryland?
DC has Safe at Home for older residents, Maryland has Accessible Homes for Seniors, and Montgomery County has the Design for Life property tax credit. Each sets its own rules, so check the current terms with the program.
Can long-term care insurance pay for it?
Sometimes. Some policies reimburse medically necessary home changes that are part of a plan of care, usually after the family pays and sends in the invoices. Read the policy before work starts.
Is it cheaper to modify the house than to move to assisted living?
For most families it is. A single year of assisted living ran a median of about $92,220 in DC and $79,300 in Maryland in the 2024 Genworth and CareScout survey, and that bill comes back every year. You pay for the house changes once, and most projects fall between $2,000 and $25,000.
What if I live in another state?
You don't need to be here. Join the assessment by phone, read the written report with its photos, and approve the plan from wherever you are.
Can you do this work in a rental?
We can. Anything fixed to the walls needs the landlord's written permission, and we draft that request for you. A modular ramp and the fixes that leave the structure alone can come out again when the lease ends.
Do you provide care or aides?
No. We aren't a home care agency and we give no medical care. We work on the house.
Will I be pressured to buy something at the assessment?
You won't. You keep the written report with no obligation. If you hire us, each project gets a written scope and fixed price before anyone picks up a tool.
If you still don't know where to start, the Livability Assessment looks at the whole house and answers these questions for yours.