Aging in place checklists
Work four checklists in order: a room-by-room home walkthrough, a fall-hazard sweep, a caregiver readiness list, and a contractor vetting list. The home walkthrough should be done at night as well as during the day, because most of the route problems only exist in the dark, and it should be done while watching the person actually move through the house rather than asking them how they manage.
Home walkthrough. Entry: is there a step, is there a handrail, is the lock reachable and operable with a closed fist, is the path lit and drained? Hallways: 36 inches of clear width, nothing stored along the walls, switches at both ends. Bathroom: how do they get into the shower, what are they holding onto, is the toilet approach clear, is there a night light? Bedroom: is the bed at a height they can rise from, is there a lamp reachable from lying down, is the path to the bathroom clear? Kitchen: is anything used daily stored below knee or above shoulder height? Stairs: handrails on both sides, uniform treads, contrast at the nosings, light at both ends.
Fall hazard sweep. Every loose rug - gone, not taped down. Every cord across a walking path - rerouted. Every dark stretch of route between bed and bathroom - lit, ideally by motion sensor. Every transition strip that sticks up over ¼ inch - the ADA bevels those and ramps anything over ½ inch (§303), and in a house that means fix it or remove it. Every thing being used as a handhold that isn't a grab bar - towel bar, sink edge, shower door, radiator. Note each one; they mark exactly where a real grab bar should go.
Caregiver readiness. Where does the caregiver stand during a transfer, and is there room? Is there a chair in the bathroom? Where do medications live, and is that place unambiguous? Is there a written list of medications, physicians and the pharmacy somewhere a paramedic would find it? Does someone outside the house have a key or a lockbox code? Is there a plan for a power outage if any equipment needs electricity? Caregiver injuries are common and mostly happen during transfers in spaces too tight to work in.
Contractor vetting. License number verified on the state board's public lookup, not a photo of a card. Certificate of insurance sent directly from the insurer. Three references for accessibility work specifically, at least one over three years old. Written scope with dimensions. Who pulls the permit, in writing. Payment schedule tied to milestones, with a deposit you'd be willing to lose. And a direct question: what would you tell me not to do? A contractor who has never talked a client out of anything is not advising you.
Choosing aging in place checklists
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- Do the walkthrough twice - daylight and dark Two completely different lists come out of it. The night list is usually shorter, cheaper and more urgent.
- Watch, don't ask People describe the good version of their routine. Watching someone get into the shower or up from a low chair tells you more in thirty seconds than an hour of conversation.
- Follow the handholds Wherever the paint is worn, the towel bar is loose or the wall is smudged, that's where a hand goes. That's where the grab bar belongs - not where the catalog picture shows it.
- Verify insurance with the insurer Ask for the certificate to be sent to you by the insurance agency directly. Contractor-supplied PDFs are trivially edited and expired coverage is common.
- Ask the contractor what not to do The good ones will tell you a proposed item is a waste of money. That single answer separates advisors from order-takers faster than any reference check.
- Put the emergency information somewhere obvious Medication list, physicians, pharmacy, emergency contacts, and any DNR or advance directive - on the fridge. Paramedics look there. This costs nothing and matters enormously on the worst day.
All aging in place checklists
Aging in Place Homeowner Checklist
Aging in Place Caregiver Checklist
Aging in Place Safety Checklist
Aging in Place Contractor Vetting Checklist
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- U.S. Access Board - Chapter 3: Floor and Ground Surfaces (changes in level, §303) · retrieved 2026-07-25
- U.S. Access Board - Chapter 4: Accessible Routes (§403.5 clear width) · retrieved 2026-07-25
- U.S. Access Board - Chapter 5: Stairways (handrails, §504, §505) · retrieved 2026-07-25
- NCOA - Get the Facts on Falls Prevention · retrieved 2026-07-25
You know more than the last homeowner they quoted.
That is worth something only while you are still choosing. Tell us what is going on and we will match you with a few aging in place pros whose licence and insurance we have already checked - free, no obligation.
Free · No pressure · Only your matched pros get your details