According to the AARP Home and Community Preferences Survey, 77% of people age 50-plus want to keep living in their current home. 

The AARP HomeFit Guide is about homes — not houses. Most of the suggestions in the guide are doable regardless of home type or ownership status.

The AARP HomeFit Guide features a wide range of home safety solutions. While some solutions can be complicated and costly, there are many simple, affordable ways to help make a home safer and more comfortable for aging in place.

A zero-step entrance and exit can be located at any suitable doorway, including one inside a garage, which provides the bonus of protection from inclement weather. See page 4 of the AARP HomeFit Guide for more about step-free access into and out of a house or apartment building.

The ideal height for a light switch is 36” to 44” from the floor. See page 15 of the AARP HomeFit Guide for more information about lighting, including about today's variety of light bulbs. 

A grab bar, sometimes called an assist bar, is secured to a surface that's backed by a wooden stud. That way, the bar won't detach when gripped, such as to prevent a fall. Grab bars are increasingly available in decorative, dual-purpose styles and some do include or double as a towel bar. See page 22 of the AARP Home Fit Guide to learn more about bathroom safety, including about grab bars.

All three placements are options. Vertical grab bars help with balance and are easiest to grip. A horizontal placement helps with forward and backward movements. A diagonal installation is useful for getting into a seated or standing position.  

When a shower valve is pressure balanced, the cold water won't be diverted away when a toilet is flushed, a dishwasher turned on or a washing machine started elsewhere in the home. Another safety measure is to have a plumber install a thermostatic value, so the temperature of the water, not simply the balance of hot and cold water, is controlled. Find more home safety information on page 30 of the AARP HomeFit Guide.

Carbon monoxide detectors come in battery-powered, plug in and hardwired versions and are most effective when placed 5 feet from the ground or a few feet from the ceiling. Learn more about CO detectors on pages 19, 26 and 31 of the AARP HomeFit Guide. 

The AARP Home Fit Guide and its collection of eight worksheets are available in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese. Follow the links below to find the guide and its resources in the language of your choice.