--- title: "Aging in Place: A Practical Plan for Staying Home" description: "Aging in place: a practical plan for staying home safely, covering home changes, daily help, health, transportation, money and when to reconsider." url: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/aging-in-place/ updated: 2026-10-09 site: Senior Transition Assistance --- Care at home # Aging in place: a practical plan for staying at home Most older adults want to stay in their own homes. Doing it well takes planning: a safe house, help when needed, a way to get around, and a budget that works. Talk it through with a person[ (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388) Free. We listen, explain your options, and introduce you to a few that fit. You decide. Quick answer Aging in place means living safely and comfortably in your own home as you get older. A good plan covers five things: a safe home (lighting, grab bars, no trip hazards, a bedroom and bath on the main floor), help with daily tasks, health care and medications, transportation, and money. Revisit the plan as needs change. [(800) 614-8388](tel:+18006148388) to talk through care at home. **Last updated October 9, 2026** Costs are published medians or typical ranges with a named source, never quotes. Every community and agency prices differently. **On this page** 1. [ 1. Make the home safe](#g-1-make-the-home-safe) 2. [2. Plan for help with daily tasks](#g-2-plan-for-help-with-daily-tasks) 3. [3. Keep health on track](#g-3-keep-health-on-track) 4. [4. Get around](#g-4-get-around) 5. [5. Make the money work](#g-5-make-the-money-work) 6. [When to reconsider](#g-when-to-reconsider) 7. [Questions](#g-faq) ## 1. Make the home safe - Remove trip hazards; add lighting and night lights. - Grab bars in the bathroom; a shower chair. - Railings on both sides of stairs. - Bedroom and bathroom on the main floor if possible. Use our [home safety checklist](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/home-safety-checklist/). ## 2. Plan for help with daily tasks - Family and friends for some tasks. - Paid [in-home care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/in-home-care/) as needs grow. The 2025 median was $34 an hour in Kansas and $33 in Missouri. - Meal delivery, housekeeping, lawn and snow services. - [Adult day care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/adult-day-care/) for company and supervision. ## 3. Keep health on track - A current list of medications and doctors. - Pill organizers or reminders. - A medical alert device for falls. - Regular checkups, including vision and hearing. ## 4. Get around - Plan for when driving stops: family, rides, senior transportation. - Your Area Agency on Aging knows local transportation options. ## 5. Make the money work - Add up the true cost of staying home: housing, upkeep, help. - Compare with alternatives. See [in-home care vs. assisted living](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/vs-assisted-living/). - Check help: Medicaid waivers (such as Kansas's Frail Elderly waiver), VA benefits, long-term care insurance. ## When to reconsider - Falls or near-falls are happening. - Help is needed at night or around the clock. - Loneliness or poor nutrition is setting in. - Caregivers are worn out. Then it may be time to look at [senior living options](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/senior-living-options/). ### Want to stay home safely? We'll help you plan care at home and find help near Kansas City. Free. [ (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388)[Have us call you](#g-form) ## Questions families ask ### What does aging in place mean? Living safely in your own home as you age, with the right home changes and help. ### What home changes help most? Grab bars, good lighting, removing trip hazards, and a main-floor bedroom and bath. ### How much does aging in place cost? It depends on home changes and how much help is needed. Home care had a 2025 median of $34 an hour in Kansas. ### When is aging in place no longer safe? When help is needed around the clock, falls keep happening, or caregivers can't keep up. ## Sources - [Eldercare Locator (U.S. Administration for Community Living), 1-800-677-1116](https://eldercare.acl.gov/) - [National Institute on Aging: Caregiving](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving) - [CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, Median Cost Data Tables (survey July to November 2025; median cost data tables, published March 2026)](https://pro.genworth.com/riiproweb/productinfo/pdf/282102.pdf) - [KDADS: Frail Elderly (FE) waiver](https://www.kdads.ks.gov/services-programs/long-term-services-supports/home-and-community-based-services-hcbs-programs/hcbs-programs/frail-elderly-fe) ## More guides in this section - [Home safety checklist](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/home-safety-checklist/) ## Related guides - [Care at home](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/) - [Home safety checklist](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/home-safety-checklist/) - [In-home care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/in-home-care/) - [Stair lifts](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/costs/stair-lift/) - [In-home care vs. assisted living](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/vs-assisted-living/) - [PACE](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/pace-program/) - [Home care vs. home health](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/home-care-vs-home-health/) - [Dementia home care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/dementia-home-care/) - [Finding a caregiver](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/finding-a-caregiver/) --- Canonical page: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/aging-in-place/