GUIDANCE
Guidance: Start With What You Need
You do not need to know the name of a service before you begin. Start with the part of daily life or the home that feels most difficult, then use AIPUSA guidance to understand possible next steps, relevant services and where to look for local help.
Start with what you need
If you know the problem but not the solution, begin with the pathway that most closely matches what you are trying to do. Each pathway helps narrow a broad concern into practical services and next steps.
Make My Home Safer
Review hazards, everyday risks and practical changes across the home.
Access & Mobility at Home
Explore difficulties with entrances, stairs, movement and mobility around the home.
Adapt My Bathroom
Focus on bathing, toileting, transfers and bathroom access.
Assess & Plan My Home
Start with a broader review when several needs or priorities need to be understood.
Understand Costs & Funding
Review cost drivers, questions to ask and possible sources of support.
Find Local Professionals
Understand what to compare before searching providers serving your area.
Already know which service you need?
If you already know the type of help you are looking for, go directly to the relevant service guide. Each guide explains when the service may be useful, common options, practical considerations, costs, possible funding routes and questions to ask providers.
Home Safety Assessments
Identify hazards and practical priorities across the home.
Occupational Therapy Home Assessments
Connect mobility, transfers and daily activities with the home environment.
Grab Bars & Handrails
Add targeted support at bathrooms, stairs, entrances and transitions.
Accessible Bathroom Remodeling
Plan larger changes to bathing, toilet access and bathroom layout.
Stairlifts
Explore equipment for an internal staircase that has become a barrier.
Wheelchair Ramps
Explore step-free access where entrance steps or level changes limit access.
Trying to understand costs or help paying?
Costs can vary considerably depending on the service, the scale of the work and the home itself. Possible funding or assistance also varies by program, eligibility and location, so it is useful to understand the project before relying on a particular funding route.
Practical guides and resources
AIPUSA is building practical, evidence-led guides around the questions people commonly face when planning for safer and more accessible living at home.
Is Your Home Ready for Aging in Place?
Review entrances, stairs, bathrooms, everyday hazards and when a professional assessment may help.
How Much Do Home Modifications Cost?
Compare 2026 planning ranges for common modifications and understand what can make quotes vary.
Medicare, Medicaid and VA Help Explained
Understand how Medicare, Medicaid and VA programs may relate to home modifications, equipment and assessments.
Not sure whether you need an assessment or a modification?
When the right physical change is not obvious, an assessment may be a useful starting point. A broad Home Safety Assessment can help identify hazards and priorities, while an Occupational Therapy Home Assessment may be more appropriate when mobility, transfers, cognition or daily activities need to shape the recommendations.
Make My Home Safer
Start with broad home-safety concerns.
Assess & Plan My Home
Work out priorities when several needs interact.
Occupational Therapy Home Assessments
Explore individualized assessment when daily activities and functional needs matter.
Ready to find local help?
Choose the service that best matches your need, then enter your ZIP to search AIPUSA providers with approved coverage for that service and location.
How AIPUSA guidance works
AIPUSA guidance is designed to help people understand practical options and navigate toward appropriate services. Evidence-led pages use authoritative government, professional and technical sources where relevant, with review dates shown on guidance that depends on current policy, funding, safety or professional information.
Guidance is informational rather than an endorsement of a particular provider, product or funding route. Eligibility, availability and the suitability of a particular solution should still be confirmed for the individual situation.