Americans are choosing to stay in their homes longer than ever, but our existing housing stock is simply not keeping up. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, a staggering 90 percent of American homes are not considered “aging ready.” For Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) and remodelers, this massive gap between desire and infrastructure represents a large market opportunity. Addressing this need shouldn’t happen with clinical safety fixes after a health crisis occurs. Instead, it is about shifting the narrative toward proactive, high-design structural integrations that support multigenerational living and long-term independence.
Shifting from Reactive to Proactive Design
Accessibility renovations are driven by immediate medical necessity. The Home Improvement Research Institute’s Aging in Place Study reveals a clear shift in consumer mindset. Homeowners are increasingly looking ahead, with three-quarters of remodelers reporting a steady rise in requests over the past five years for features that support comfort and quality of life as residents grow older. Additionally, according to findings in HIRI’s Generational Differences in Home Improvement Activity Study, one-quarter or more of homeowners across age demographics completed home improvement activities and upgrades related to aging-in-place during the study period.
Design and building professionals are uniquely positioned to guide their clients toward proactive remodeling. By framing accessibility as a seamless extension of smart, universal design rather than an urgent necessity, professionals can help clients future-proof their homes while they have the time and budget to do it right.
Bigger Budgets and Expanded Project Scopes
Aging-in-place projects are not limited to minor, low-ticket tweaks. Older homeowners are highly committed to long-term reinvestment in their properties. Data from Shovels, included in the HIRI Aging in Place Study, shows that this demographic, on average, acquires more building permits than their peers across nearly every category, including exterior living and major structural modifications.
Additionally, homeowners who undertake accessibility upgrades tend to spend significantly more on home improvement projects overall, frequently in the higher-cost $5,000 to $24,999 project tiers. This opens a natural door for remodelers to expand project scopes or pitch additional work with existing clients. Rather than approaching upgrades in a piecemeal fashion, professionals can bundle accessibility features into holistic, high-ticket renovations. For example, when remodeling a primary bath or kitchen, high-demand aging-in-place features that the homeowner may not yet be thinking about can be seamlessly integrated into the design scheme:
- Zero-threshold, curb-less walk-in showers
- Comfort-height toilets and concealed structural blocking for future grab bars
- Layered, smart lighting designs to improve visibility
- Slip-resistant, low-maintenance flooring and walkways
The Multigenerational and ADU Boom
The definition of “aging in place” is also expanding beyond the single homeowner. Driven by a desire to care for aging parents, adult children moving back home, and general cost savings, multigenerational living is surging.
This trend is heavily influencing the rise of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and flexible suite additions. HIRI’s research highlights that non-spouse family members, specifically adult children, have substantial pull in these renovation decisions, and that ADU permit requests are equally common among younger and older homeowners, reflecting multigenerational aging in place planning. Delivering a beautiful, adaptive space that respects privacy while ensuring safety builds deep trust with the entire family, often securing your business for their future home improvement needs.
Elevating Client Satisfaction
Accessibility retrofits yield some of the highest customer satisfaction rates in the remodeling industry because they directly impact a client’s daily safety, mobility and emotional wellbeing. By helping bridge the 90 percent housing readiness gap with thoughtful, proactive design, architects and remodelers can craft homes that truly last a lifetime.
