Close-in Maryland houses can be fixed, and the county line decides the paperwork
Most older houses just over the DC line in Maryland were built for families who never pictured a walker.
AARP's 2024 Home and Community Preferences survey found 75% of adults 50 and older want to stay in their homes. In these suburbs that wish keeps running into steep stairs and tubs with high walls, and both have known fixes.
How it works in Maryland
- Tell us the county. Montgomery or Prince George's decides which permit office and which county aging agency apply.
- We walk the house and rank it. Split levels, Cape Cods, ranches and condos each get the same room by room check.
- Your scope names DPS or DPIE. The written price lists any county permit, and any town or village rules you should check.
Every service we offer in Maryland
- Assessments in Maryland
- Bathroom Safety in Maryland
- Ramps and Access in Maryland
- Stair Lifts in Maryland
- First-Floor Living in Maryland
- Kitchen in Maryland
- Flooring in Maryland
- Lighting in Maryland
- Smart Home Safety in Maryland
- Maintenance Plans in Maryland
- Hospital Discharge in Maryland
- Veterans and Disability in Maryland
Places we serve in Maryland
- Capitol Heights, MD 5.2 mi east, steep front steps up from the street
- Suitland, MD 5.3 mi southeast, walk-up apartment stairs and small houses
- Hyattsville, MD 5.7 mi northeast, the only full bath up a steep stair
- Takoma Park, MD 6.1 mi north, high porch steps on older houses
- Temple Hills, MD 6.3 mi southeast, split-foyer stairs at the front door
- Friendship Heights, MD 6.7 mi northwest, a step-over tub in a high-rise condo
- Chevy Chase, MD 6.7 mi northwest, narrow doors in older houses
- District Heights, MD 7.1 mi east, one small hall bathroom
- Silver Spring, MD 7.6 mi north, steep stairs to Cape Cod bedrooms
- Bethesda, MD 8.8 mi northwest, a high tub and a half flight of stairs
- Fort Washington, MD 10.5 mi south, a sloped lot with steps on every side
- Mitchellville, MD 10.8 mi east, garage steps and upstairs bedrooms
- Potomac, MD 13.4 mi northwest, a grand foyer stair in a big house
- Aspen Hill, MD 14.5 mi north, laundry at the bottom of a basement stair
- Bowie, MD 14.8 mi northeast, an original tub in a long-held ranch or split-level
- Leisure World, MD 15 mi north, a high-sided tub in a condo or co-op bath
- Olney, MD 18.1 mi north, a raised soaking tub in the main bath
Permits and programs in Maryland
In Montgomery County, permits come from the Department of Permitting Services (DPS). In Prince George's County, they come from the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE). Towns and cities such as Takoma Park, Hyattsville, Capitol Heights and District Heights may add their own rules, so check with them too.
Statewide, the Maryland Accessible Homes for Seniors program from Maryland DHCD is the one to ask about, and its current terms should be checked first. Montgomery County homeowners can also ask the county about the Design for Life property tax credit, a Montgomery County program that does not apply in Prince George's County.
Public help in Maryland
- Maryland Access Point points Maryland families to help at home in either county.
- Accessible Homes for Seniors is the state program for accessibility work in older Marylanders' homes. Check current terms.
Public agencies, not partners of ours. Aging in place resources by county
The Maryland places we serve
We work in the Maryland suburbs that touch DC, from Bethesda, Silver Spring and Takoma Park in Montgomery County to Hyattsville, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Suitland and Temple Hills in Prince George's County.
The Capital Beltway ties them together. Colesville Road and East-West Highway run past the Silver Spring and Bethesda Metro stations, while Pennsylvania Avenue and Branch Avenue lead out past Suitland station toward Temple Hills, with Hyattsville Crossing station up to the north.
Dashed ring: 30 miles from the Capitol.
Maryland questions
Which Maryland communities do you serve?
Silver Spring, Takoma Park and Bethesda in Montgomery County, plus Hyattsville, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Suitland and Temple Hills in Prince George's County, and the neighborhoods in between.
Does Maryland help pay for aging in place work?
Start with the Maryland Accessible Homes for Seniors program at Maryland DHCD. In Montgomery County, also ask about the Design for Life credit. Confirm current terms with each before you plan around them.
Does a contractor need a license for this work in Maryland?
Yes. The Maryland Home Improvement Commission requires a home improvement license for this kind of work, so ask any contractor for theirs before you sign.
Do you do the work yourselves?
Our own crews do the trades work. Some powered equipment, like certain lifts, is installed by qualified partners, and you hear about that up front.
