Aging-in-Place

Stay in the home you love, safely.

Most people want to stay in their own home as they get older. The key is planning ahead, making the right changes before a fall, a surgery or a health change forces rushed decisions.

Our aging-in-place assessment looks at your home through the lens of everyday living: how easy it is to get in and out, move around, bathe, cook and rest safely, now and in the years ahead. Our approach follows the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) training from the National Association of Home Builders, which Dave is completing.

Where are you right now?

Every family comes to us at a different moment, and the right plan depends on which one you’re in.

Coming home after a fall, surgery or hospital stay

When someone is being discharged soon, you need practical answers fast. We focus on what makes the home safe and usable right away, like a clear path to the bathroom, grab bars, a ramp or better lighting. Where recovery is expected, we favor changes that are simple and can be removed later.

Living with a condition that changes over time

When needs are likely to grow, the plan should grow with them. We lay out changes in stages, such as grab bars and a handheld shower now and a curbless shower later, so nothing has to be torn out and redone when the next step comes.

Planning ahead

The easiest and least expensive time to make a home work for the long haul is before anything happens. Many of the best changes simply make a home nicer for everyone: lever handles are easier with your arms full of groceries, a no-step entry works for strollers and luggage, and good lighting helps at any age. If you’re planning a remodel anyway, it’s the perfect time to build these in.

How the visit works

1. We start with a conversation. We talk with you, and with family members or caregivers if you’d like them there. People often notice different things, and hearing from everyone gives a truer picture of daily life in the home.
2. We walk the home the way you live in it. We start where people most often struggle: getting in and out, getting to the car, moving between rooms and using the bathroom.
3. We consider who helps. A plan should account for the people who support you day to day, whether that’s a spouse, family nearby or a home care aide.
4. We build a plan that fits. Recommendations are matched to your budget and timeline, from quick fixes to longer-term projects.

What we look at

• Entrances, steps, railings and walkways
• Getting to and from the car, driveway and garage
• Stairs, hallways and doorways
• Bathrooms: tubs, showers, toilets, grab bar locations and flooring
• Kitchen reach, storage and ease of use
• Bedroom access and first-floor living options
• Lighting, switches, flooring and trip hazards
• Laundry and other daily-use spaces

What you get

A clear, prioritized plan: quick safety fixes you can do now, bigger changes to plan and budget for, and what to keep an eye on as needs change. When a project makes sense, we help you find qualified contractors.

Working with your health care team

We look at the home, not the diagnosis. We don’t interpret medical information or give medical advice. When an occupational therapist or other health professional should be involved, we’ll say so, and we’re glad to work alongside them so the home changes match what they recommend.

Your privacy

Families often share personal health details to help us understand what the home needs. That information stays confidential, and we only share it, with a family member, contractor or anyone else, with your permission.

Helping a parent?

Many of our clients are adult children, often living a distance away, who want to know Mom or Dad’s home is safe. We can walk the home with your parent, share the plan with the whole family, and help coordinate the work.

Ramps and accessibility products

Sometimes the most important change is simply getting in and out of the house. HomeForward is an authorized EZ-ACCESS dealer, so we can help you get the right ramp quickly, from small threshold ramps to portable ramps and modular aluminum systems. We don’t install ramps ourselves; when installation is needed, we’ll help you line up a qualified installer.

Our promise: your plan recommends what your home needs, including the type, size and placement of any ramp, not a brand. You’re free to buy from any supplier, and our recommendation is the same either way.

Independent advice

Many aging-in-place assessments are done by companies that also sell the remodel. We don’t do remodeling or installation, and we never accept referral fees from contractors. The one product we offer, accessibility ramps, is disclosed above and never required. Our recommendations are based only on what your home and family need.