Home Modifications for Aging in Place
The home modifications for aging in place priced here cover two parts of the house: the bathroom, where getting over the side of a tub becomes the problem, and the stairs. Each calculator prices one of those changes, with the installation and the add-ons a contractor is likely to quote.
The bathroom
The type of tub drives most of the price, from a basic soaking tub through hydrotherapy jets to wheelchair-accessible, bariatric and two-seat models, and the door style changes it again. Plumbing upgrades and a separate water heater are add-ons you may be quoted. See the walk-in tub calculator.
Paying for home modifications for seniors
Original Medicare does not cover home modifications. The VA's HISA grant can help veterans up to a lifetime cap, but its own page lists stair glides among the items it does not cover and excludes spa-type tubs. Under IRS Publication 502, lifts generally count in full as a medical expense, while an elevator's cost is reduced by any increase in the home's value.
Planning home modifications for aging in place
For accessibility home modifications of any kind, measure doorways and the staircase before asking for quotes, and ask each installer what the price leaves out: electrical work, a permit, or reinforcement under the floor for a filled tub.