Practical guides on funding programs (VA HISA, Medicaid), costs, accessibility standards, and how to plan a safe, accessible home for aging in place. From grab bars to showers to stair lifts — everything you need to know before you call.
Start here: Most families ask two things: What will this cost? and Who pays for it? Our guides answer both. Then we walk you through every decision — from grab bar placement to choosing between a walk-in tub and shower conversion to understanding ramp codes and comparing stair lifts with elevators.
Our CAPS-certified team serves Austin, Dripping Springs, San Marcos, Georgetown, New Braunfels, Kerrville, Marble Falls, and the surrounding Hill Country. The information here reflects what we see in homes across Central Texas every week. Nothing in these guides substitutes for a licensed professional's on-site assessment — but they will help you ask better questions and walk into any conversation prepared.
Questions as you read? Call or text us at (512) 797-6518. We're glad to talk through anything, no obligation.
Funding & Financial Help
Grants, benefits, and programs that may offset the cost of accessibility work — explained honestly, without overpromising.
A thorough look at every major funding source available to Central Texas homeowners: VA HISA grants for veterans, Texas Medicaid STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver Minor Home Modifications, Medicare Advantage home-safety benefits, and local Area Agency on Aging programs. We walk through eligibility basics and how to start each application.
Realistic Pricing
Typical Central Texas ranges to help you plan and budget. A free in-home assessment gives you an exact quote for your specific home.
Typical price ranges for grab bars, curbless showers, wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, walk-in tubs, doorway widening, and full accessible bathroom remodels in the Austin metro and Hill Country. Includes factors that raise or lower costs, and tips for making the most of your budget.
How-To & Specifications
The measurements, code requirements, and grab bar placement that make home modifications safe and effective. Know exactly what to ask for — and what to watch out for.
The ADA's 1:12 slope rule explained in plain English — plus when a gentler slope is better for older adults, how to calculate run length, handrail requirements, landing dimensions, and what Texas residential construction codes require. Includes a quick-reference table so you can estimate ramp length before you call us.
Where grab bars should go in the toilet area, shower, and tub — with heights that match real-world use, not just code minimums. Covers blocking requirements for future installs, the difference between grab bars and towel bars, and why professional installation matters for safety.
The difference between standard and comfort-height (ADA-height) toilets, seat height ranges, how toilet height affects ease of standing up and sitting down, and when a raised seat is a better short-term option. Includes guidance on clearance space and the grab bars that work alongside a toilet upgrade.
How a curbless or roll-in shower is built, why the linear drain matters, minimum clear floor space for a wheelchair, bench and grab bar placement, tile slope requirements, and how this compares to a standard tub-to-shower conversion. Includes what to expect during installation in a Central Texas home.
Side-by-Side Comparisons
Not sure which solution fits your situation? These guides walk through the trade-offs honestly so you can decide before you call anyone.
Walk-in tubs are heavily marketed but may not be the right fit for everyone. This guide compares entry door design, soaking time, water temperature challenges, total cost, and long-term usability. A tub-to-shower conversion is often safer and more practical for many households — we explain when each option makes sense.
If stairs are becoming a barrier, you have more options than you may realize. This guide compares stair lifts and residential elevators across cost, installation time, space requirements, power needs, resale value, and suitability for different mobility situations — including those who use a walker or wheelchair. Helps you narrow down the right choice before your free assessment.
Planning & Decision-Making
Whether you are planning ahead for yourself or helping a parent think through their options, these guides give you a clear starting point.
A room-by-room checklist of the most common fall hazards and accessibility gaps found in Central Texas homes. Covers the bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, entryways, stairs, and outdoor spaces. Useful to walk through on your own before scheduling a professional assessment — or to share with a parent who may be resistant to making changes.
A guide for the adult children — the 45 to 65 year olds who are trying to have a hard conversation with a parent who wants to stay independent. Covers how to raise the topic without triggering defensiveness, which modifications make the biggest difference early on, how to involve an occupational therapist, and how to coordinate among siblings when everyone has a different opinion.
Sourced data on falls, aging-at-home preferences, and the growth of Central Texas's senior population — with context that helps families and their advisors understand why proactive home modification matters. Draws on publicly available data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, CDC, AARP, and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Every home is different. Our CAPS-certified team does a free in-home safety assessment — no pressure, no obligation. We walk every room with you, identify the modifications that will make the biggest difference, and give you a clear written estimate. Most assessments take about an hour.
We serve Austin, Dripping Springs, San Marcos, Wimberley, Buda, Kyle, Georgetown, Cedar Park, New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Kerrville, Marble Falls, Burnet, and surrounding communities in the Hill Country.
Yes. We serve Austin, Dripping Springs, San Marcos, Georgetown, New Braunfels, Kerrville, Marble Falls, and the surrounding Hill Country. Building codes and accessibility standards are the same across Central Texas, and our guides reflect what we see in homes here every week. If you have questions about your specific location, call us at (512) 797-6518.
Yes — but eligibility varies. VA HISA grants help qualified veterans. Texas Medicaid STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver covers Minor Home Modifications for qualifying low-income older adults and people with disabilities. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer home-safety benefits. Our funding guide walks through every major program. Note: Program details change, so verify current eligibility directly with the agency. We help with paperwork, but we're not medical, legal, or financial advisors.
It depends on your mobility needs and budget. A free in-home safety assessment helps you prioritize. Most people see the biggest difference from grab bars, shower access (curbless or walk-in tub), and toilet height first. Our How-To & Specifications guides give you the details. Then your assessment tells you which changes matter most for your home and situation.
Grab bars run $200–$500 installed. Wheelchair ramps range from $800–$3,500 depending on slope and length. Curbless showers typically cost $4,000–$8,000. Walk-in tubs run $3,000–$7,000. A full accessible bathroom remodel can be $15,000–$40,000+. Our cost guide gives you typical Central Texas ranges and factors that raise or lower prices. A free assessment gives you an exact quote for your home.
Stair lifts are installed on existing stairs — lower cost, faster install, good if you use a walker. Home elevators serve multiple floors in a dedicated shaft — more expensive, higher resale value, necessary if you use a wheelchair. Our comparison guide walks through cost, installation time, space, power needs, and suitability. Your free assessment helps you choose what fits your home and mobility needs.
Every guide on this site is written by our CAPS-certified team, grounded in occupational-therapy-informed design principles, and reviewed for accuracy. We update them as codes, programs, and best practices change.
Honesty first: We don't invent statistics, fabricate reviews, or overstate what funding programs cover. VA HISA, Medicare Advantage, and Texas Medicaid STAR+PLUS program details change — we encourage you to verify current eligibility and benefit amounts directly with the relevant agency. We help with paperwork. We are not your medical, legal, or financial advisor.
Find an error or have a question a guide doesn't answer? Reach out directly. We want these resources genuinely useful — not just optimized for search rankings.
A free in-home safety assessment is the best way to turn these guides into an action plan for your specific home. Our CAPS-certified team will walk through your space, identify what matters most for your situation, and give you a written estimate with no pressure to move forward.
