Aging-in-Place Contractors

Across Marion County and the surrounding Central Indiana counties, many older homeowners would rather stay in the house they have lived in for decades than move to assisted living. Much of the region’s housing stock — mid-century ranches, split-levels, and two-story homes with the only full bathroom upstairs — was never designed for someone using a walker, a wheelchair, or a shower chair. Aging-in-place contractors are the tradespeople who reshape those homes: widening doorways, building zero-step entries, converting a main floor into complete one-level living, and remodeling bathrooms so a shower is reachable without stepping over a tub wall.

Indiana’s population is aging steadily, and demand for this work has grown with it, so quality and pricing vary widely from one contractor to the next. When hiring in Indiana specifically, ask whether the contractor holds the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation from the National Association of Home Builders, confirm they pull the proper local permits — Indianapolis and most suburbs require permitted, registered contractors for structural work — and make sure they have worked in occupied homes where an older adult stays on-site during the remodel. It is also worth arranging a home safety assessment or an occupational therapy evaluation first, so the modifications match the household’s real mobility needs rather than a generic template.