The 50-Item Aging-in-Place Home Assessment Checklist

How to use this checklist

Walk through each room with this list and a pen. Mark each item ✅ if it’s already in place, ⚠️ if it needs attention soon, ❌ if it’s a known problem. At the end, transfer the ⚠️ and ❌ items to a project list with priorities.

Triage by impact:

• Bathroom items: highest priority. 80 percent of senior household falls happen here.²
• Bedroom-to-bathroom path: second priority. Night-time bathroom trips are a high-frequency fall scenario.
• Stairs: third priority. Lower frequency but higher severity.
• Kitchen and living areas: important but rarely cause acute injury. Address as part of a planned remodel rather than urgent fixes.

Entry and approach

1. Front walkway is even, no cracks or heaves above 1/2 inch.
2. Front steps have a railing on at least one side; ideally both.
3. Porch is well-lit at night; motion-activated light covers the front door.
4. House number is visible from the street day and night (matters for emergency response).
5. Mailbox is reachable without bending below the waist.
6. There’s a way for emergency responders to enter without breaking a door. Lock Box, hidden key with a trusted neighbor, or smart lock with shared code.

Living room and main path

7. Pathways through the room are 36 inches wide minimum.
8. No throw rugs or area rugs without rubber backing.
9. Cords are routed along walls, not across walking paths.
10. Sitting furniture has armrests for sit-to-stand assist.
11. Couches and chairs are at the right height (knees at 90 degrees) for the user.
12. Lighting can be operated from each entry point of the room (3-way switches or smart lights).

Kitchen

13. Most-used cookware is at counter height, not in low cabinets or high shelves.
14. Faucet has a lever handle, not a knob.
15. Smoke alarm in the kitchen is a photoelectric type (less prone to nuisance alarms from cooking).
16. Stove has automatic shut-off (induction or gas with timed safety), reduces fire risk if user forgets.
17. Cabinet pulls are full handles, not knobs (easier for arthritic hands).
18. There’s a stable seat in the kitchen for resting during long cooking.

Bathroom: primary

19. Grab bar at the toilet, ANSI A117.1 rated, mounted into framing.¹
20. Grab bar at the shower entry (vertical) and inside the shower (horizontal).
21. Non-slip mat in tub or shower; replaced within the past 18 months.
22. Raised toilet seat if the user has knee pain or hip replacement history.
23. Shower chair or transfer bench, sized to user’s weight (250 lb minimum).
24. Hand-held shower head with adjustable slide bar.
25. Anti-scald valve on the shower (most US states require this; check yours).
26. Water heater set to 120 F maximum.
27. Bathroom is well-lit at night; motion-activated nightlight on the floor or near the door.
28. Door swings outward, or has a way to open from outside in case of emergency.
29. No throw rug at the bathroom door.

Bedroom

30. Bed height matches user’s knees-at-90-degree sit-to-stand position.
31. Bedside lamp has a touch base or motion sensor for night use.
32. Path from bed to bathroom is unobstructed and well-lit at night.
33. Phone or medical alert pendant within arm’s reach of the bed.
34. Smoke alarm and CO detector in the bedroom.

Stairs

35. Handrail on both sides; firmly mounted, ends in a post or scroll (not abrupt).
36. Stair treads have visible nose strips or contrasting edges.
37. Stairs are well-lit; ideally with switch at top and bottom (3-way).
38. Stairwell has a clear path; no stored items on the stairs.
39. If the user climbs stairs daily, consider a stair lift quote: see best stair lifts.

Hallways and transitions

40. Hallways are 36 inches wide minimum.
41. Threshold heights at doorways are under 1/2 inch.
42. Floor transitions (carpet to tile, tile to wood) are smooth, no abrupt level changes.
43. Hallway has nightlights for the bedroom-to-bathroom path.
44. Light switches are reachable from doorway entry (about 36 inches off the floor).

Smoke and carbon monoxide

45. Smoke alarms are interconnected, when one fires, all fire.
46. Smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, on every floor.
47. CO detector on every floor where there’s a fuel-burning appliance.
48. Alarms are tested monthly; batteries replaced annually if not hardwired with battery backup.

Emergency preparedness

49. User has a plan for power outage in extreme weather (heat or cold). For users on medical equipment, this includes battery backup or generator.
50. User has a list of emergency contacts and medical info accessible to first responders. Vial of Life, In Case of Emergency contact, refrigerator-magnet card, or smart-home equivalent.

What to do with the results

After walking the list, you’ll have a triage:

• Easy fixes (do this weekend): throw rugs, water heater temperature, light bulbs, batteries.
• Cheap projects (do this month, $50-$500 each): grab bars, raised toilet seat, non-slip mats, motion lights, smart lock.
• Medium projects (plan within 6 months, $500-$5,000): shower chair, lighted mirror, smoke alarm interconnect, lever-handle faucets.
• Big projects (plan within 12-24 months, $5,000+): walk-in shower, stair lift, kitchen accessibility, bathroom remodel.

Pull the easy fixes and cheap projects into a 2-week sprint; you can knock out 70 percent of the gap fast. The medium and big projects deserve a CAPS evaluation to scope and plan.

What to do next

Walk this checklist with the user this weekend. Bring a notepad. Mark the ✅ / ⚠️ / ❌ for each item.

If the user has more than 10 ⚠️ or ❌ items in the bathroom or stairs sections, get a CAPS evaluation within 30 days.

For the bigger picture, see the aging-in-place bible and bathroom safety 7-step plan.

For state-specific funding for the bigger projects, see senior programs by state.