When a family’s living situation suddenly changes, it may become necessary to modify the home to meet new needs. These adjustments often result in the creation of multi-generational homes, where comfort, safety, and independence are balanced for all ages.

The specific modifications depend on the situation — whether a parent is moving in, a child returns home, or a family member faces new mobility challenges. Below are common areas to consider when adapting your home for multiple generations.

Common Home Modifications for Changing Family Needs

Additional Bedrooms
When the family expands or someone new moves in, you may need extra bedrooms or sleeping areas. Consider converting a home office, den, or unused space to accommodate the change.

Bathroom Accessibility
For elderly or disabled family members, safety and convenience are priorities. Modifications may include:

• Installing grab bars

• Adding a roll-in or walk-in shower

• Lowering sinks and countertops

• Replacing toilets with accessible-height models

Kitchen Modifications
A larger or more diverse household benefits from flexible, inclusive kitchen design. Options include:

• Adjustable-height work surfaces

• Roll-under access at the sink or cook top

• Additional seating and storage

• Expanding the kitchen footprint for easier movement

Safety Features
Depending on your situation, you may need to add:

• Childproof or adult-proof features

• Non-slip flooring

• Improved lighting

• Smart home security or monitoring systems

Storage Solutions
More people often means more belongings. Add closets, built-ins, or cabinetry to maintain organization and reduce clutter.

Accessibility Ramps and Entries
For anyone with limited mobility, ramps and zero-threshold entries provide essential independence and safety.

Private Living Suites
In multi-generational households, separate living areas with their own entrance, kitchenette, and bathroom help maintain privacy and autonomy while keeping family close.

Heating and Cooling Considerations
If you’re adding square footage or an in-law suite, ensure your HVAC system can handle the increased demand efficiently.

The Aging in Place Mindset

Designing a multi-generational home is deeply connected to the philosophy of Aging in Place — a practice centered on usability, comfort, and independence for everyone, regardless of age or ability.

Aging in Place design is not about age — it’s about universal usability. It focuses on long-term livability, ensuring that the home adapts as life changes.

The first step toward creating an adaptable home is a self-assessment. Walk through your house and identify potential problem areas:

• Tripping or slipping hazards

• Poor lighting or hard-to-reach switches

• Narrow doorways or tight spaces

• Difficult-to-maintain areas

Who better to identify problem spots than the person who uses the space daily? Many organizations, including AARP, provide Aging in Place checklists that highlight potential issues and suggest practical solutions. Once your initial assessment is complete, the next step is to seek the guidance of a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS).

Working with a CAPS Professional

Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) are trained builders, remodelers, and designers who understand the construction and emotional aspects of creating accessible homes. The CAPS designation, offered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in partnership with AARP, connects responsible professionals with homeowners seeking these services.

A CAPS professional can:

• Evaluate your home’s current accessibility

• Recommend modifications tailored to your needs and budget

• Coordinate with occupational or physical therapists when necessary

• Manage projects with compassion, professionalism, and precision

You can find certified specialists for your specific location at nahb.org/CAPSdirectory.

Three Types of Aging in Place Clients

Understanding which group you fall into can help determine your home’s design priorities:

1. Proactive Planners – Individuals preparing wisely for the future to remain safely in their homes.

2. Chronic Condition Adapters – People managing ongoing medical issues who need to plan for future accessibility challenges.

3. Crisis Responders – Individuals facing sudden or severe mobility changes after illness, injury, or life-altering events.

All three groups represent the growing need for accessible remodeling and will continue to shape the future of residential design.

What Happens During a Professional Home Assessment

During a professional assessment, your CAPS professional will document the home’s current conditions and make detailed notes through sketches, measurements, and conversation. They’ll evaluate everything from flooring to lighting to ensure the layout fits the occupants’ physical and emotional needs.

They’ll also take into account:

• Mobility and reach range

• Sensory or cognitive challenges

• Caregiver involvement

Collaboration with occupational or physical therapists often adds valuable insight. The goal is a customized design that enhances independence, safety, and comfort — not a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

The three primary spaces typically involved in aging in place remodels are:

• Bathrooms — safety and ease of use

• Kitchens — independence and flexibility

• Living Areas — connection and comfort

These spaces are united by a clearly defined accessible route with wider doorways, non-slip flooring, and sufficient maneuvering space for mobility devices.

The Importance of Inclusive Design for All Ages

If children are part of the household, their height, reach, and mobility also influence the home’s design. Likewise, adults moving in may face challenges from common conditions such as arthritis, which can cause stiffness, joint pain, and reduced grip strength.

Designing for these realities doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty — it means integrating innovative universal design concepts that allow everyone to thrive. Features like lever handles, adjustable lighting, touch-control faucets, and curbless showers can make life easier for every family member.

Bringing It All Together

Creating a multi-generational home that supports aging in place is both a practical and compassionate decision. It’s an investment in your family’s future and quality of life.

As a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (#1636580), T-Square Company in Austin, Texas, helps families design and remodel homes that grow with them — ensuring safety, comfort, and independence for years to come.

For more information or to schedule an assessment or consultation, visit www.tsquareco.com or call 512-444-0097.

About CAPS Certification

Knowledgeable design and construction professionals nationwide are applying their Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) training — developed through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and AARP — to help families live better, longer, and safer in their homes.

CAPS connects qualified professionals with homeowners seeking trustworthy, thoughtful remodeling solutions for accessible and universal design.

Closing Thought

Innovative aging-in-place design goes beyond accessibility — it’s about dignity, comfort, and belonging. Whether you’re modifying for a loved one, planning for the future, or creating a flexible family home, the right design can turn change into opportunity. To find out more:

After over a year of writing to fulfill my customers' requests, my book, "Age in Place At Home: Adapting the Home Environment for All Generations", is available for purchase on Amazon.  Go to the link to order my paperback or e-book, which was released in late November, 2022. Additionally, an audiobook will also be available soon. The book provides a great guideline for using the principles of Universal Design in new home construction and/or remodeling for every room in your home when Aging in Place. Get your copy today.

At T-Square Company, we’ve spent more than 30 years helping families create homes that are safe, comfortable, and built for every stage of life. Now, our President and Owner, David L. Traut, has brought that same experience and passion to the page in his book: Age in Place at Home: Adapting the Home Environment for All Generations.

Why This Book Matters

The concept of “aging in place” is simple but powerful: with the right planning and design, people can continue living independently in the homes they love, even as their needs change. For many, staying home means holding on to dignity, comfort, and treasured memories.

Drawing on his decades of work as a builder and CAPS-certified professional, David wrote Age in Place at Home to be more than just a construction guide. It’s a roadmap for homeowners, families, caregivers, and professionals who want practical solutions and peace of mind.

What You’ll Learn Inside

• Home Modifications That Matter Most — from safe bathrooms to wider doorways, grab bars, and better lighting.

• Universal Design Principles — creating beautiful spaces that work for everyone, not just those with special needs.

• Fall Prevention & Safety Tips — simple adjustments that make a big difference in daily life.

• Planning for the Future — how to think ahead so your home adapts gracefully as life changes.

• Resources & Guidance — including checklists, questions to ask contractors, and financial assistance options.

Who Should Read It

• Homeowners who want to prepare their house for the future.

• Families caring for aging loved ones.

• Builders, designers, and architects interested in Universal Design.

• Anyone who believes that home should always be a place of safety, dignity, and belonging.

Where to Find the Book

Age in Place at Home is now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions.

👉 Click here to view the book on Amazon

Final Thoughts

This book is more than a professional resource — it’s a personal mission. As David often says, “Home isn’t just where you live. It’s where you belong.”

At T-Square Company, we’re proud to bring that philosophy to life every day — and now, through Age in Place at Home, we’re excited to share it with readers everywhere.

When a family's living situation suddenly changes, it may be necessary to make various home modifications to accommodate the new circumstances. This process will in turn create  multigenerational homes. The specific modifications required can vary widely based on the nature of the change, but here are some common considerations:

1. Additional Bedrooms: If the family is growing or if someone new is moving in, you may need to create additional bedrooms or sleeping areas. This might involve converting a home office, den, or other space.
2. Bathroom Accessibility: If there are elderly or disabled family members moving in, you may need to modify bathrooms to make them more accessible. This could include installing grab bars, a walk-in shower, or a wheelchair-accessible sink and toilet.
3. Kitchen Modifications: A larger family might require changes in the kitchen to accommodate more people. This could involve adding extra seating, variable-height working surfaces, roll-under ability at the sink or stovetop, increasing storage space, or even expanding the kitchen.
4. Safety Features: Depending on the situation, you may need to add safety features like childproofing, adult proofing, slip-proof flooring, or installing security systems.
5. Storage: If you have more people living in the home, you might need additional storage space for their belongings. This could mean adding closets, shelves, or cabinets.
6. Accessibility Ramps: For individuals with mobility issues, installing ramps at entrances can be essential.
7. Separate Living Spaces: If you're accommodating multiple generations under one roof, consider creating separate living spaces with their own entrance, kitchenette, and bathroom to provide privacy and independence.
8. Heating/Cooling: Ensure your HVAC system can handle the increased load if you are adding square footage to your home.

The design will involve the practice of Aging in Place which has little to do with age and much to do with usability for everyone on a universal basis.  Once you have decided to Age in Place in your existing home with an expanding family, the first thing you can do to make your home more age-friendly and adaptable is to do a self-assessment. Go through your house, identifying known problem areas like potential tripping or slipping hazards and areas that are hard to access and maintain. Who would be better at pointing out problem areas than the person needing the home modifications according to their physical wellbeing? To help with this, several organizations have Aging in Place checklists pointing out potential problems in some regions of the home and suggesting modifications and solutions. Once you have completed your initial Aging in Place checklist, it is time to seek the advice of trained Aging in Place specialist.

Next, contact a builder or remodeler listed as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). CAPS are home remodelers and design-build professionals certified and knowledgeable about Aging in Place home modifications. The CAPS professional can suggest ways to modify or remodel your home to fit your needs and budget. CAPS professionals are generally paid by the hour or receive a flat fee per visit or project.

There are three categories of Aging in Place customers. Those who are simply and wisely planning for their futures to remain in their present homes. The second category concerns those who know they have a chronic medical disorder and need to prepare for accessibility issues resulting from their disease. People with diseases constantly causing increased physical or mental changes to their being are a good representative of this second group. The third group involves those who either have had a chronic problem that has progressed severely altering their mobility or those who have sustained a life-altering tragedy such as being involved in an accident.  All of these groups will drive the future metamorphosis of existing inaccessible dwellings.

During a professional home assessment for increasing accessibility, the structural needs of the clients will be noted and documented through sketches, photos, and conversation by a registered CAPS professional. All the surroundings will be considered, from the flooring to the layout of a specific room or location as it pertains to each inhabitant's size or ease of usability. The physical and emotional needs of the occupants will also come into play because of mobility, sensory, or cognitive concerns. Each individual with similar impairments describes his or her limitations differently when undergoing elder construction. The blind don't experience their world the same as a person with deafness. The ultimate goal is to modify the home in a custom manner to provide for the occupant's maximum health, independence, and safety. Often the input from any caretakers, like a physical or occupational therapist, during the assessment phase can prove invaluable. The three main rooms involved in aging in place home modifications are the bathrooms, the kitchen, and the family room. These areas make up the most occupied spaces of any home and will be connected by a designated accessible route. The basic needs involve access through wider doorways, nonslip floor surfaces, and adequate cabinet and plumbing fixture accessibility. More importantly, we must observe safety for everyone as the baby boomers choose to age in place within their homes. For more information about T-Square Company or Aging in Place services, visit www.tsquareco.com or call 512-444-0097. We are a certified Aging in Place contractor (#1636580).

Knowledgeable construction and design professionals are utilizing their CAPS training across the nation. CAPS stands for Certified Aging In Place Specialist. This designation is taught through the National Association of Home Builders in collaboration with AARP. CAPS connects responsible professionals with homeowners who need these services ever-increasingly. The CAPS designation program is a nationwide initiative, and all active CAPS members can be found at nahb.org/CAPSdirectory.

If children are moving into your home, their size and ability are major considerations for the Universal Design. In designing for specific physical conditions for an adult moving into your home, we realize that aging doesn't always bring on disease while the body declines to make certain physical limitations inevitable. Arthritis is the most common chronic condition as it restricts ordinary daily activities. The lack of hand strength and stiff knees are indicative of this illness. This most reported arthritic condition affecting people over 65 is followed by heart disease and vision loss in that order. Innovative aging design and concepts can compensate for frailty, lack of mobility, and blindness in Aging in Place extended families. We are constantly coming up with new methods for home modifications and household products to increase the comfort of our residential environments.

David L. Traut, CAPS, the owner of T-Square Company in Austin, Texas, is one of the select group of professionals nationwide to earn the Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation, identifying him as a home remodeler and builder with the skills and knowledge necessary to remodel or modify a home to meet the unique needs of the older population, disabled owners, or their visitors.  We offer a complete line of aging in place services using our design/build techniques and the principles of Universal Design. Everything we do is done on a customized turnkey basis.

After over a year of writing to fulfill my customers' requests, my new book, "Age in Place At Home," is finally available for purchase from Amazon.  Go to the link below to order my paperback book, which was released in late November, 2022. It provides a great guideline for using the principles of Universal Design in new home construction and/or remodeling for every room in your home. Get your copy today.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/r.html?C=2Z24ENUUAEWUK&K=13Y7YU7PKKYAC&M=urn:rtn:msg:20221010201802eb9acb7b24004a4785cd2ec1d4f0p0na&R=3R6MK9WDXJPH7&T=C&U=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0BHTV28RV%3Fref_%3Dpe_3052080_276849420&H=7FWEPMGCH0TT8LN6SKPMUOCVJNYA&ref_=pe_3052080_276849420

A home's adaptability is one of the most desired qualities within a person's home during some point in their life as their or their family's personal needs change. Specific needs to enhance a home's accessibility can be short term while recovering from an accident or illness at any age, or  these home alterations may become permanent. The special needs may concern an adult or a child. Universal design principles don't discriminate between any family members regardless of age, size, or ability. Every family member is included. Learn how to adapt your home environment to satisfy your family's needs in David Traut's new book, "Age in Place at Home".