The Core Principle
Every aging-in-place feature costs a fraction at design time compared to retrofitting later.
A curbless shower costs $500–$1,500 more than a standard shower at build time. Converting an existing shower to curbless costs $3,000–$8,000. Widening a doorway from 32" to 36" costs $200–$500 on paper. Retrofitting a wider door into a framed wall costs $800–$3,000. The same logic applies to every feature on this list. Design it right once.
9 Must-Have Features for an Aging-in-Place Home
Include these in your design brief before any plans are drawn. Each one is dramatically cheaper at design time than as a retrofit.
Stairs are the single biggest mobility barrier as we age. A single-story plan eliminates this permanently. If you must have two stories, put the primary suite, a full bathroom, laundry, and kitchen all on the main floor.
A no-step entry at the front door, garage entry, and at least one exterior door is one of the highest-value accessibility features. Retrofitting a step-free entry into an existing home costs $3,000–$15,000.
Standard 32" doors are tight for wheelchairs and walkers. 36" doors allow easy passage with any mobility aid. Specify this at design time — it costs almost nothing to widen a doorway on paper.
The primary bathroom is where most home modifications are needed as mobility changes. Design it right from the start: curbless shower, blocking for future grab bars, comfort-height toilet, and enough turning radius for a wheelchair (60" circle).
Carrying laundry up and down stairs is one of the first daily tasks that becomes difficult. A main-floor laundry room is worth planning for even if you use stairs easily today.
Open floor plans require fewer tight turns and allow easier navigation with mobility aids. Avoid long narrow hallways, multiple level changes, and rooms with tight entries.
Round door knobs and small light switches are hard to operate with arthritis or reduced grip strength. Lever door handles and rocker light switches cost almost the same and work for everyone.
Grab bars require solid blocking behind drywall to be safe. Installing blocking during construction costs almost nothing. Retrofitting grab bars into existing walls requires opening and patching drywall.
Direct garage access to the main house at the same level means you never need to navigate outdoor weather to get inside. In cold or wet climates, this becomes essential as mobility changes.
7 Things to Check When Choosing or Designing a Plan
Use this checklist when reviewing any house plan for aging-in-place suitability.
Choose a single-story plan as your starting point — retrofitting stairs out of a two-story plan is expensive
Prioritize primary suite on the main floor if a two-story plan is unavoidable
Select a plan with an open-concept kitchen/living/dining — easier navigation now and later
Verify hallway widths are 42" minimum on the main floor
Confirm the plan has at least one zero-step exterior entry
Check that the primary bathroom has room for a curbless shower and 60" turning radius
Add a note to your design brief: "Design for accessibility — wide doors, no-step entries, open layout"
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "aging in place" mean in home design?
Aging in place means designing a home so you can continue to live there comfortably and safely as you get older, without needing to move to assisted living or make expensive renovations. Key features include single-story living, zero-step entries, wide doorways, accessible bathrooms, and open-concept layouts.
How much more does it cost to design a house for aging in place?
When designed from the start, aging-in-place features add $5,000–$25,000 to a new build. The most expensive features are the accessible primary bathroom ($3,000–$12,000 above standard) and zero-step entries ($500–$2,000). Retrofitting these same features into an existing home typically costs $30,000–$80,000+.
What is the most important aging-in-place feature in a new home?
Single-story layout is the single most important decision — it eliminates stairs permanently and makes every other accessibility feature easier to implement. After that, zero-step entries and an accessible primary bathroom have the highest impact on long-term livability.
Can I get a custom house plan designed specifically for aging in place?
Yes. When using a custom design service, you can specify your accessibility requirements in your brief — single-story, wide doorways, accessible bathroom, open layout, zero-step entries. The designer incorporates these from the start, which costs far less than retrofitting them later.
What is a universal design home?
Universal design is an approach to home design that makes a home usable by people of all ages and abilities without specialized adaptation. It overlaps significantly with aging-in-place design — wide doorways, zero-step entries, lever hardware, accessible bathrooms, and flexible open layouts.
Kerem is a construction cost analyst and architectural graduate with a degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He has spent over a decade analyzing residential and commercial build costs across all 50 U.S. states, and leads the cost methodology team at Equin Global LLC — the company behind CostToBuildHouse.com.
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