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Start with the free fixes: a loose rug, a cord across a path, a dark hallway. Stair lifts and bathroom rebuilds come last. The checklist below sorts what you find into three tiers: free (Tier 1), a small purchase you can make yourself (Tier 2), and a job for a contractor or installer (Tier 3). It draws on CDC's falls advice and the ADA grab bar standard, linked where used.
CDC reports that more than one in four adults 65 and older falls each year. Falls led to about 4.5 million emergency department visits, 3.1 million of them treated and released, and 1.4 million hospitalizations (CDC fall facts, updated Sept. 2026). A first fall is a good reason to walk the house.
Three tiers: do every free fix before spending anything
Walk the rooms below with the person who lives there, because they know which stair they avoid and which corner they grab. Note each hazard, then do every Tier 1 item before spending anything.
| Tier | What it means | Published cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Free: move, remove, rearrange | None |
| 2 | Small purchase: bulbs, night lights, non-slip surfaces | No published prices found |
| 3 | Contractor or installer | Ranges below, per item |
Tier 3 ranges come from two secondary cost guides, Fixr (last updated August 2022) and NCOA, read on 2026-10-30. Neither is a quote. No published prices turned up for Tier 2 items or for adding a second handrail, so none are shown.
Entry, hallways and living areas
CDC's advice is to "get rid of things you could trip over" (CDC, preventing falls). That is Tier 1 work.
- Tier 1: remove loose rugs, move cords away from walking paths, clear the route from bed to bathroom, rearrange furniture that forces a zigzag.
- Tier 2: brighter bulbs, as CDC suggests, and night lights along the hallway.
- Tier 3: an extra light fixture or a switch at the far end of a hallway, if you must cross a dark room to reach one.
Stairs: check the handrails before pricing a lift
CDC recommends railings on both sides of stairs. Check that both sides have one, and that each is firmly fixed.
- Tier 1: clear every step of stored items.
- Tier 2: brighter bulbs at the top and bottom of the stairs.
- Tier 3: a second handrail (no published price found) or a stair lift. Fixr gives $4,000 to $8,000 for a stair lift as a single range, so treat it as a rough guide and get quotes for your own staircase. Check first whether the person can manage the stairs at all, or whether moving the bedroom downstairs is the cheaper answer.
Bathroom: where the costs cluster
CDC advises grab bars inside and outside the tub or shower and next to the toilet.
- Tier 1: put daily items within easy reach, so nobody stretches or stands on the tub edge.
- Tier 2: a non-slip surface inside the tub or shower, and a night light between bedroom and bathroom.
- Tier 3: grab bars at $90 to $300 for installation (Fixr). A curbless shower runs $2,500 to $9,000 (Fixr). A basic soaker walk-in tub is $3,000 to $10,000 including installation (NCOA). The curbless shower and the walk-in tub solve the same problem, so pick one. Prices differ by region and house, so get at least two local quotes.
Use a bar made to carry body weight, not a towel bar. The ADA standard for public buildings gives a usable spec: a bar 1-1/4 to 2 inches in diameter, mounted 33 to 36 inches above the floor, with a 1-1/2 inch gap to the wall, strong enough for 250 pounds of force at any point (ADA 2010 Standards, section 609). A private home is not bound by those rules, but they are a sensible spec to hold an installer to.
Kitchen and bedroom: mostly free fixes
- Tier 1: move everyday items to between knee and shoulder height, retire the step stool used as a ladder, and put a phone within reach of the bed.
- Tier 2: a light or lamp the person can switch on from bed.
Outside: rails and lights before ramps
Check the steps at each door, the handrail, the porch light and the path from the car.
- Tier 1: clear leaves, ice and clutter from steps and paths.
- Tier 2: a brighter porch bulb or a motion light.
- Tier 3: a handrail (no published price found), or a ramp at $1,400 to $3,000 (Fixr). A ramp is for a wheelchair or walker. If the person walks unaided, start with the Tier 1 and Tier 2 items: a clear path, a rail and a light.
Risks a tidy home does not fix
CDC also recommends strength and balance exercise such as Tai Chi, asking a doctor or pharmacist whether any medicine can cause dizziness or drowsiness, and a yearly eye exam. Add those to the list.
CDC's long-standing "Check for Safety" brochure is another room-by-room checklist (CDC Stacks record); use it alongside this one. For medical concerns about falls, talk to a doctor.