Quick answer: Aging-in-place home modifications cost $12,000–$28,000 for a bathroom safety retrofit alone, or $40,000–$100,000+ for a full single-level living package. APLA Construction (CA Lic #1136359) modifies existing homes across Greater Los Angeles so homeowners can stay safely in the house they already own as they age.
This guide is about modifying your own home so you or a family member can live there safely long-term — different from building a separate unit for a relative. If you’re planning a detached or attached unit for an aging parent instead, see our ADU for aging parents guide. Both are common paths in Los Angeles; the right one depends on whether the person aging in place wants full independence in a separate structure, or wants to keep living in the family home with safety upgrades.
| Modification | Typical Cost |
| Bathroom safety retrofit (curbless shower, grab bars, non-slip flooring) | $12,000–$28,000 |
| Doorway widening (per doorway) | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Entry ramp (permanent, code-compliant slope) | $4,000–$12,000 |
| Full single-level living package (ground-floor primary suite + above items) | $40,000–$100,000+ |
The bathroom is almost always the highest-priority room, since slip-and-fall injuries most commonly happen there — most homeowners start with a curbless shower conversion and grab bars even if they aren’t ready for a full-home retrofit.
If budget is limited, APLA generally recommends this order: bathroom safety upgrades first (highest injury risk), then entry access (a ramp or graded path to eliminate steps at the main entrance), then doorway widening throughout the main living areas, and finally a full single-level living conversion if the primary suite is currently upstairs. Tackling projects in this order addresses the highest-risk areas first even if the full retrofit happens in phases over a few years.
Most aging-in-place modifications — widening a doorway, converting a shower, adding a ramp — require a building permit if they involve structural, plumbing, or electrical changes. Grab bar installation alone is typically minor enough not to require a permit, but should still be done by a licensed contractor to ensure it’s anchored into structural blocking, not just drywall. APLA pulls all required permits and coordinates inspections for any structural or plumbing work.
A curbless shower conversion with grab bars, since the bathroom is where most falls happen for older adults living at home. It’s also one of the more affordable individual modifications at $12,000–$28,000 for a full bathroom retrofit.
A 32-inch clear opening is the minimum generally recommended for wheelchair access, though 36 inches provides more comfortable clearance. Widening an existing doorway typically costs $1,500–$3,500 depending on whether the wall is load-bearing.
They should be. A grab bar has to be anchored into solid wall blocking, not just drywall or tile, to safely hold a person’s full weight. APLA installs grab bars with proper structural blocking as part of any bathroom safety retrofit.
Yes — if your home doesn’t already have a ground-floor bedroom and bathroom, APLA can evaluate converting an existing downstairs room (den, office, formal dining room) into a primary suite, or adding one, so you don’t have to use stairs daily. See our legal bedroom conversion guide if the space already exists but needs code upgrades.
Generally no for the construction itself, though some grab bars and medical equipment may be covered separately through Medicare or supplemental insurance. Some homeowners use a HELOC or cash-out refinance to fund larger aging-in-place projects. APLA provides detailed written estimates you can use for financing conversations.
APLA Construction evaluates homes throughout Greater Los Angeles for aging-in-place modifications — Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Pasadena, Glendale, Culver City, and beyond — and provides free, itemized estimates so you can plan upgrades in phases if needed.
Call: (818) 818-4419
Email: info@aplaconstruction.com
CA General Contractor License #1136359 — verify on CSLB