How to Modify Your Home for Aging in Place

The Ultimate Guide to Home Accessibility and Wheelchair Modifications

Navigating the complexities of home design for individuals with physical limitations requires a precise, strategic approach to architecture and interior layout. Standard residential construction rarely accounts for the biomechanics of wheelchair users, the balance requirements of those with limited mobility, or the spatial needs of caregivers. As a result, implementing limited mobility home modifications is not merely about convenience; it is a fundamental requirement for safety, independence, and long-term health.

Whether adapting a multi-level family estate or optimizing a single-story residence for aging-in-place, accessible home modifications transform obstructive environments into seamless, supportive living spaces. This comprehensive guide details the technical specifications, architectural adjustments, and financial considerations required to execute effective wheelchair home modifications. By bridging the gap between clinical necessity and residential design, homeowners, families, and property managers can make informed decisions that fundamentally improve day-to-day usability.

Understanding Home Accessibility: Beyond Basic Accommodations

Before undertaking structural changes, it is necessary to establish a clear framework for what accessibility actually entails. Many individuals ask, "Is accessibility the same as disability?" The straightforward answer is no. Disability refers to a physical or cognitive condition that limits one or more major life activities. Accessibility, conversely, is the design of environments, products, and services that enables people with diverse abilities to interact with them effectively.

The Four Types of Accessibility

When evaluating a living space, architectural and occupational therapy professionals generally categorize accessibility into four distinct types:

Physical Accessibility: The most common focus for home modifications, physical accessibility involves removing architectural barriers to accommodate wheelchair users, individuals using walkers, and those with generalized limited mobility. This includes step-free entrances, widened doorways, and specialized plumbing fixtures.
Sensory Accessibility: Modifications designed for individuals with visual or auditory impairments. Examples include installing high-contrast step edges, tactile indicators, and visual smoke alarms or doorbell alerts.
Cognitive Accessibility: Environmental adaptations that assist individuals with memory disorders, autism, or cognitive impairments. This might involve labeling cabinetry, implementing smart home safety shut-offs for appliances, and simplifying wayfinding within the home.
Communication Accessibility: Systems that facilitate interaction for those with speech or profound hearing limitations, often overlapping with sensory accessibility through the use of assistive smart home technologies.

Universal Design vs. Accessible Design

When planning wheelchair accessibility, it is crucial to understand the distinction between Universal Design and Accessible Design. Accessible design typically refers to specialized modifications created specifically for people with disabilities—such as a clinical-looking metal ramp or a mechanical stairlift. Universal Design is a broader architectural philosophy aimed at creating environments that are inherently accessible to all people, regardless of age or ability, without requiring specialized adaptation. Examples of Universal Design include open floor plans, zero-step thresholds integrated into the home's natural landscaping, and lever-style door handles that benefit a child, an elderly parent, or a wheelchair user equally.

ADA Guidelines and Residential Wheelchair Accessibility

When evaluating how to modify a home for a wheelchair, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides the benchmark for spatial planning. People often ask, "What are the ADA guidelines for wheelchair accessibility?" The ADA outlines rigorous, federally mandated design standards for public and commercial spaces. For a more detailed overview of ramp-specific requirements, see ADA Specifications for Wheelchair Ramps.

While private, single-family homes are not legally required to be ADA-compliant, utilizing these federal guidelines during residential renovations ensures that the modifications will genuinely accommodate mobility devices. Failing to follow these proven metrics often results in costly renovations that are still too tight or unsafe for day-to-day use.

Critical Spatial Metrics for Wheelchair Users

To achieve true wheelchair-friendly environments, contractors and homeowners must adhere to the following spatial requirements derived from ADA standards:

Clear Floor Space: A standard manual or power wheelchair requires a minimum clear floor space of 30 inches by 48 inches to remain stationary and allow the user to reach forward or to the side. This metric dictates where appliances, bathroom fixtures, and furniture can be placed.
Turning Radius: A wheelchair requires a circular space of at least 60 inches (5 feet) in diameter to make a 180-degree or 360-degree turn. Alternatively, a T-shaped turning space can be utilized in tighter areas, allowing the user to perform a three-point turn. If a bathroom or kitchen lacks a 60-inch turning radius, a wheelchair user will be forced to back out of the room, which can be highly dangerous.
Reach Ranges: For an individual seated in a wheelchair, the maximum forward reach is typically 48 inches from the floor, and the minimum low forward reach is 15 inches. This affects the placement of light switches, electrical outlets, thermostat controls, and shelving. Standard homes place outlets at 12 inches from the floor, which is often entirely inaccessible for someone with limited mobility.

Exterior Accessibility: Creating Step-Free Entries

The first and most critical barrier to home accessibility is the transition from the exterior environment to the interior living space. Standard residential architecture relies heavily on steps and raised foundations to prevent moisture intrusion, creating an immediate obstacle for mobility devices.

Wheelchair Ramps: Specifications and Materials

Installing a wheelchair ramp ramp is the most recognizable accessible home modification. However, a poorly designed ramp is more dangerous than no ramp at all. The ADA mandates a strict slope ratio for ramps: 1:12. This means that for every one inch of vertical rise, there must be 12 inches (one foot) of horizontal ramp run. If a front porch is 24 inches above the ground, the ramp must be a minimum of 24 feet long. For help determining the appropriate ramp length for a particular entryway, see How to Determine Proper Wheelchair Ramp Length.

Additionally, ramps must feature:

A minimum clear width of 36 inches.
Flat, level landings at the top and bottom, typically 60 inches by 60 inches, to allow for safe door operation.
Resting platforms every 30 feet of continuous run.
Handrails on both sides if the ramp has a rise greater than 6 inches or a horizontal length greater than 72 inches.
Edge protection to prevent wheelchair casters from slipping off the sides.

Platform Lifts and Multi-Level Entrances

When a property lacks the physical space required for a properly sloped ramp—such as a steep hillside lot or a townhouse with a highly elevated first floor—vertical platform lifts (VPLs) become necessary. A VPL operates similarly to an open-air mini-elevator, safely lifting a wheelchair user from the ground level to the porch or deck level. While the upfront cost is higher than a modular ramp, a VPL preserves yard space and eliminates the physical exertion required to navigate a long incline.

Furthermore, traditional door hardware must be replaced. Heavy, highly insulated exterior doors can be difficult to pull open from a seated position. Installing automated door openers, activated via a push-button, key fob, or smartphone application, provides ultimate independence. At a minimum, round doorknobs should be replaced with lever-style handles, which require no gripping or twisting and can be operated with a closed fist or an elbow.

Navigating the Interior: Hallways, Doors, and Flooring

Once inside the home, the layout must facilitate smooth, uninterrupted movement. Many older homes, and even modern constructions, feature narrow hallways, tight corners, and restrictive doorways that make day-to-day navigation highly frustrating for wheelchair users.

Widening Doorways and Offset Hinges

The standard interior residential doorway is typically 28 to 30 inches wide. However, a standard wheelchair is roughly 24 to 27 inches wide, and the user's hands and elbows add several inches to that footprint. To maneuver safely without scraping knuckles or damaging doorframes, the absolute minimum clear width for a doorway should be 32 inches, with 36 inches being the preferred standard for optimal wheelchair accessibility.

Widening a doorway is a structural modification that involves removing drywall, expanding the framing, installing a new header, and replacing the door and trim. If widening the doorway is structurally impossible due to load-bearing constraints or electrical routing, homeowners can utilize offset hinges (also known as "Z" hinges or swing-clear hinges). These specialized hinges allow the door to swing entirely clear of the frame, instantly adding about two inches of clearance to the existing opening—a low-cost solution that can make a substantial difference.

Hallway Clearances and Turning Space

Navigating a hallway requires distinct spatial planning. A straight hallway should be a minimum of 36 inches wide. However, if a wheelchair user must turn from the hallway into a doorway, the required width depends on the door's dimensions and the angle of the turn. Often, widening the hallway to 42 or 48 inches is necessary to allow for the sweeping turn of a power wheelchair or mobility scooter.

Accessible Flooring: Minimizing Rolling Resistance

Flooring choices drastically impact the usability of a home for someone with limited mobility. The primary goal is to reduce rolling resistance for wheelchairs and eliminate tripping hazards for those with unstable gaits.

Carpet Constraints: Thick, plush carpeting with deep padding is detrimental to mobility. Wheelchair casters sink into the padding, requiring immense upper body strength to push and rapidly draining the batteries of power chairs. If carpet is desired, it must be commercial-grade, low-pile (less than 1/2 inch thick), and installed without a pad or with a highly dense, firm pad.
Hard Surfaces: Hardwood, luxury vinyl plank (LVP), laminate, and ceramic tile are superior options for mobility devices. However, these surfaces must be slip-resistant. High-gloss tiles become dangerous when wet, particularly for individuals using crutches or walkers. Utilizing matte-finish tiles with a high dynamic coefficient of friction, or textured LVP, provides the necessary grip.
Transitions: The thresholds between different types of flooring (e.g., from hardwood to tile) must be flush. If a height difference exists, it cannot exceed 1/4 inch without a beveled transition strip. Any transition exceeding 1/2 inch requires a small threshold ramp to accommodate wheels and prevent stumbling.

The Accessible Bathroom: Safety and Independence

The bathroom is statistically the most dangerous room in the house, presenting compounding hazards of hard surfaces, tight spaces, and standing water. Modifying a bathroom for disabilities goes far beyond simple aesthetic updates; it requires a complete rethinking of how the user interacts with plumbing fixtures.

Roll-In Showers vs. Walk-In Tubs

Standard bathtubs with high walls are largely inaccessible and highly hazardous for those with limited mobility. Two primary alternatives dominate bathroom home modifications: walk-in tubs and roll-in showers.

Walk-In Tubs: These fixtures feature a watertight door, allowing the user to step over a very low threshold (typically 2-4 inches) rather than lifting their leg over a standard 15-inch tub wall. They often feature built-in seating, hydrotherapy jets, and hand-held showerheads. While excellent for individuals with generalized weakness or balance issues, walk-in tubs are generally unsuitable for full-time wheelchair users, as transferring from a chair into the tub's seat remains highly difficult. Additionally, the user must sit inside the tub while it fills and while it drains, which can lead to chilling.
Roll-In Showers (Curb-Free Showers): The gold standard for wheelchair home modifications is the roll-in shower. These feature absolutely zero-step thresholds, allowing a rolling shower chair or wheelchair to enter seamlessly. A proper roll-in shower requires a minimum dimension of 36 by 36 inches, but a 60 by 30-inch footprint is necessary if the user needs to turn around inside the enclosure. Constructing a roll-in shower often involves structural work to recess the floor joists so the shower pan sits flush with the rest of the bathroom floor. Trench drains (linear drains) are frequently placed at the entrance or rear of the shower to efficiently manage water runoff.

Grab Bars: Placement and Structural Reinforcement

Installing grab bars is one of the most critical and cost-effective limited mobility home modifications. However, a grab bar is only as secure as the structure holding it. Standard drywall anchors will tear out under the full weight of a falling adult. Grab bars must be anchored directly into wall studs. If the studs do not align with the required placement, the walls must be opened to install solid wood blocking behind the drywall or tile.

ADA guidelines dictate that grab bars in showers should be mounted horizontally between 33 and 36 inches above the finished floor. Vertical grab bars can also be added to assist with standing from a seated position.

Toilets and Transfer Spaces

Standard residential toilets sit approximately 14 to 15 inches from the floor, requiring deep knee flexion that is difficult for those with arthritis or weakness. ADA-compliant toilets, measure 17 to 19 inches from floor to bowl rim. This elevation closely matches the seat height of a standard wheelchair, making lateral transfers significantly easier and safer.

Alongside the elevated toilet, proper clear floor space must be maintained adjacent to the fixture to allow the wheelchair to park parallel to the seat. Bidet attachments or integrated smart toilets further enhance independence for users who struggle with manual dexterity or twisting motions.

Accessible Vanities and Sinks

Standard bathroom cabinetry blocks a wheelchair user from getting close to the sink, forcing them to twist and reach awkwardly over the counter. A wheelchair-accessible bathroom utilizes a wall-mounted sink or a specialized roll-under vanity.

A roll-under vanity removes the lower cabinetry, providing a minimum of 27 inches of vertical knee clearance and 9 inches of toe clearance. Because the plumbing pipes are exposed beneath the sink, they must be wrapped in insulated, protective covers to prevent the wheelchair user's legs from being burned by hot water pipes or scraped by sharp fittings. Faucets should feature single-lever controls or motion-sensor technology rather than dual twisting knobs.

The Wheelchair-Accessible Kitchen: Functional Design

Kitchens demand complex orchestration of space, storage, and appliances. A standard kitchen requires a user to reach high into upper cabinets, bend low into ovens, and stand for extended periods at counters—all of which are exclusionary for those seated in a wheelchair.

Multi-Level and Lowered Countertops

The standard countertop height is 36 inches, which is generally too high for comfortable food preparation from a seated position. Wheelchair-friendly kitchens frequently incorporate multi-level countertops. The primary cooking and prep surfaces are lowered to a height of 30 to 34 inches, accompanied by roll-under knee space similar to the bathroom vanity. Maintaining some sections at the standard 36-inch height ensures the kitchen remains functional for standing family members or caregivers, exemplifying the principles of Universal Design.

Cabinetry and Storage Solutions

Upper wall cabinets, typically mounted 18 inches above standard counters, are completely out of reach for someone in a wheelchair. To accommodate, an accessible kitchen strategy relies heavily on maximizing lower storage and bringing items down to the user.

Pull-Out Shelving and Drawers: Base cabinets should be retrofitted with heavy-duty, full-extension pull-out shelves, or replaced entirely with deep drawer banks. This prevents the user from having to reach blindly into the dark recesses of lower cabinets.
Pull-Down Shelving: For upper cabinets, specialized pull-down hardware mechanisms can be installed. By pulling a handle, the entire shelving unit swings down and out of the cabinet to counter height, allowing easy access before being pushed back up into place.
Lazy Susans and Blind Corner Pull-Outs: Corner spaces are notoriously difficult to access. Incorporating multi-tiered lazy Susans ensures every inch of storage can be rotated to the front.

Appliance Selection and Placement

Traditional kitchen appliances must be re-evaluated.

Ovens and Ranges: Standard ranges with rear controls are hazardous, requiring the user to reach across hot burners. Accessible kitchens utilize separate cooktops and wall ovens. Cooktops should feature front-mounted controls and staggered burner layouts. Wall ovens should be installed at a customized height, often side-opening rather than drop-down, allowing the user to roll close to the oven cavity without the hot door blocking their path.
Refrigerators: Side-by-side refrigerators or French door models with lower freezer drawers are the most accessible options, ensuring that both frozen and fresh foods are available within the ADA reach ranges.
Microwaves: Over-the-range microwaves are entirely inaccessible. Instead, install microwave drawers in the lower cabinetry or utilize countertop models placed on lowered prep surfaces.
Sinks: Accessible kitchen sinks should be shallow—no more than 5 to 6 inches deep—to allow for proper knee clearance underneath while keeping the bottom of the sink within easy reach from a seated position.

Bedroom and Living Area Modifications

While bathrooms and kitchens require heavy plumbing and structural alterations, living rooms and bedrooms focus more on space planning, furniture heights, and environmental controls.

Bedroom Clearances and Bed Heights

In the bedroom, a clear floor space of at least 36 inches must be maintained on both sides of the bed and at the foot of the bed to allow for wheelchair maneuvering and safe lateral transfers.

The height of the bed is critical. If a bed is too low, standing up requires immense leg strength; if it is too high, transferring from a wheelchair requires pulling one's body weight upward. The optimal bed height should match the height of the wheelchair seat pad, generally around 18 to 22 inches from the floor. Adjustable hospital-style beds provide the ultimate flexibility, allowing the user to raise the head, elevate the legs, and adjust the overall height of the mattress mechanically.

Accessible Closets

Standard closet configurations feature a single hanging rod placed at approximately 66 inches from the floor, entirely out of reach for a seated individual. Accessible closet modifications involve lowering rods to a height of 48 inches or utilizing pull-down closet rod mechanisms. Additionally, removing restrictive bifold or sliding closet doors and replacing them with curtains or widened swing-clear doors improves access to clothing and storage.

Living Room Layouts and Smart Home Integration

Living spaces should prioritize wide, unobstructed pathways. Large area rugs should be removed or securely taped down with double-sided carpet tape to prevent wheelchair casters from bunching the fabric and causing a tipping hazard. Furniture should be firm and elevated; soft, deep sofas are incredibly difficult to rise from for individuals with limited mobility.

Perhaps the most transformative modification for day-to-day comfort is the integration of smart home technology. Voice-activated assistants, smart thermostats, motorized window blinds, and Wi-Fi-enabled lighting systems allow individuals with limited mobility to control their entire environment without moving from room to room or struggling to reach switches that may be poorly placed.

Multi-Level Living: Stairlifts and Home Elevators

When a home features multiple stories or a sunken living room, stairs become an insurmountable barrier. Moving to a single-story home is not always financially viable or desirable. Therefore, mechanical lifting solutions must be implemented to maintain access to the entire property.

Stairlifts: Practical Multi-Level Access

A stairlift (or chairlift) is a motorized seat that travels along a rail mounted to the treads of the stairs. This is often the most cost-effective way to navigate multi-story homes.

Straight Stairlifts: If a staircase has no turns, landings, or curves, a straight stairlift can be installed quickly and relatively inexpensively. The rails are cut to length and bolted directly to the stair treads, not the wall, minimizing structural impact.
Curved Stairlifts: If the staircase features corners, intermediate landings, or spiral designs, a custom curved rail must be manufactured. These systems are significantly more expensive and require precise photogrammetry or laser measuring to ensure a perfect fit.

It is important to note that a stairlift requires the user to transfer out of their wheelchair, sit on the lift, ride to the next level, and transfer into a second wheelchair waiting on the other floor. Therefore, they are better suited for individuals who can walk short distances or safely perform independent transfers.

Platform Lifts and Home Elevators

For individuals who use heavy power wheelchairs and cannot perform lateral transfers, stairlifts are inadequate. In these scenarios, vertical platform lifts or residential elevators become necessary.

Inclined Platform Lifts: These function similarly to a stairlift, but instead of a seat, they feature a flat metal platform that carries the entire wheelchair up the staircase. These require highly robust, wide staircases, as the machinery takes up substantial space.
Residential Elevators: The most comprehensive solution for multi-level accessibility is a home elevator. Installing an elevator in an existing home is a major construction project. It requires excavating a pit beneath the lowest floor, constructing a structural hoistway (shaft) through the home, and reinforcing the roof to house the mechanical components (depending on whether the system is cable-driven, hydraulic, or pneumatic vacuum). While the upfront cost is severe, an elevator seamlessly integrates multi-level access and frequently adds tangible resale value to the property.

Financing Your Modifications: Grants, Medicare, and Assistance

Given the high costs associated with substantial renovations, families frequently ask, "How can I get a free home modification?" or "Are there grants available to renovate a bathroom for disabilities?" While completely "free" whole-home renovations are rare, numerous federal, state, and non-profit avenues exist to subsidize or fully cover specific projects.

Does Medicare Pay for Home Modifications?

A prevalent misconception is that Medicare will cover the cost of accessibility renovations. It is vital to understand the distinctions within the program. For additional information specifically addressing wheelchair ramp funding, see Wheelchair Ramps and Medicaid/Medicare: Understanding Accessibility and Health Insurance.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) generally does not pay for structural home modifications. Medicare Part B will pay for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) that is prescribed by a doctor for use in the home. This includes items like hospital beds, patient lifts (Hoyer lifts), commode chairs, and standard wheelchairs. However, Medicare rigidly defines DME as equipment, not architectural changes. Therefore, Medicare will not pay to build a ramp, widen a door, or install a roll-in shower.

However, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, which are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare, have recently been granted more flexibility by the federal government. Some premium Medicare Advantage plans now offer supplemental benefits that can include limited allowances for home safety modifications, such as grab bar installations or temporary ramps. Beneficiaries must carefully review their specific plan documents to determine eligibility.

Medicaid Waivers for Home Modifications

Unlike Medicare, Medicaid often provides substantial assistance for home modifications through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program designed for low-income individuals. The philosophy behind the HCBS waivers is that it is far more cost-effective for the state to pay for a $10,000 bathroom renovation that keeps a disabled individual in their home than it is to pay $80,000 a year to house them in a Medicaid-funded nursing facility.

Waivers vary heavily by state, but they frequently cover ramps, widened doorways, specialized bathroom equipment, and sometimes stairlifts. These programs often have long waitlists and strict income and asset limits.

Veterans Affairs (VA) Grants

For military veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers some of the most robust funding for accessible home modifications, categorized by whether the disability is service-connected or non-service-connected.

Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant: This is available to veterans with severe service-connected disabilities (such as the loss of multiple limbs, blindness, or severe burns). The grant provides substantial funding—often exceeding $100,000—to build a specially adapted home from the ground up or remodel an existing home to accommodate wheelchairs.
Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) Grant: Also for service-connected disabilities, this grant is slightly smaller and is designed for veterans who need adaptations but are capable of moving throughout the home with slightly more independence (e.g., severe blindness or loss of hands).
Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant: This grant is incredibly valuable because it is available to veterans regardless of whether their disability is service-related or non-service-related. The HISA grant pays for medically necessary improvements to a primary residence, such as improving entrance paths, upgrading bathroom facilities for sanitary purposes, or modifying kitchens. Veterans with service-connected conditions receive a higher lifetime limit, while those with non-service-connected conditions receive a lower, but still substantial, allowance.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Evaluate and Modify Your Home

Undertaking a comprehensive accessibility renovation requires methodical planning. Rushing into construction without fully assessing long-term needs often results in wasted money and inadequate solutions.

Step 1: Professional Assessment and Occupational Therapy

The first step in any major modification journey should be consulting with an Occupational Therapist (OT) or a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). An OT evaluates the individual's specific biomechanical limitations, strength, reach, and progressive prognosis (how a degenerative disease might advance over time).

The professional will walk through the home and identify barriers that the family might not have recognized. For instance, a homeowner might know they need a ramp, but an OT will notice that the glare from highly polished floors creates a sensory hazard, or that the specific grip strength of the individual requires custom door hardware rather than standard levers. This customized evaluation ensures that the ensuing architectural plans directly address the unique user.

Step 2: Hiring Specialized Contractors

Standard general contractors excel at aesthetic remodels, but they often lack the nuanced understanding of ADA compliance, clear floor space, and mobility biomechanics. When soliciting bids, it is imperative to search for builders who hold the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation from the National Association of Home Builders, or those who explicitly specialize in accessible design.

A specialized contractor will know precisely how to install wood blocking for grab bars, how to slope a trench drain in a roll-in shower without compromising the floor joists, and how to source the specific offset hinges required for wheelchair passage. Requesting a portfolio of past accessibility projects is essential to verify their expertise.

Step 3: Phasing the Project and Prioritization

Because limited mobility home modifications can be intensely expensive, it is often necessary to phase the projects.

Phase 1 (Immediate Safety and Egress): The absolute priority must be the ability to safely enter and exit the home, and access a functioning bathroom. This means installing exterior ramps, widening the front door, widening the bathroom door, and installing a roll-in shower or necessary grab bars. Without these basics, the home is uninhabitable for a wheelchair user.
Phase 2 (Daily Living and Independence): Once basic egress and hygiene are secured, the focus shifts to the kitchen and living areas. Lowering prep counters, adjusting closet rods, and removing high-pile carpeting fall into this secondary phase.
Phase 3 (Long-Term Comfort and Convenience): The final phase involves luxury or high-cost convenience items, such as installing comprehensive smart home environmental controls, upgrading to a residential elevator instead of a stairlift, or building custom multi-level outdoor decking.

Conclusion

Adapting a residential space to accommodate limited mobility is a profound undertaking that fundamentally reshapes the relationship between an individual and their environment. By strictly adhering to ADA spatial guidelines, selecting specialized fixtures, and strategically utilizing available grants and financial aid, property owners can dismantle the architectural barriers that restrict daily life.

Wheelchair home modifications go far beyond clinical necessity; they restore dignity, ensure safety, and empower individuals to navigate their living spaces with absolute confidence. Through careful planning, specialized labor, and a deep understanding of universal design principles, any home can be transformed into an accessible, deeply supportive sanctuary.

For homeowners beginning the process of aging in place, exploring practical accessibility solutions such as ramps, threshold ramps, and modular access systems can be an important first step toward creating a safer, more accessible home.