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 to talk through care at home.
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.
2. Plan for help with daily tasks
- Family and friends for some tasks.
- Paid 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 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.
- 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.
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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.