Most aging-in-place jobs can be done by any competent tradesperson. The hard part is knowing what to ask for: where exactly the grab bar goes, how wide the shower entry needs to be, whether the ramp will meet 1:12. That is the gap the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist credential is meant to fill.
What CAPS is
CAPS is a credential from the National Association of Home Builders. According to NAHB, it requires three courses:
- Marketing and Communicating with the Aging in Place Client (CAPS I)
- Design Concepts and Methods for Livable Homes and Aging in Place (CAPS II)
- Details and Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging in Place (CAPS III)
Graduates submit an application and sign a CAPS code of ethics pledge. Remodelers and contractors must also provide proof of liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance (or work for a company that holds both, where required locally) and a valid business license if the state requires one.
What CAPS is not: a contractor’s license, a guarantee of quality, or a clinical qualification. Designers, therapists and builders can all hold it. Check state licensing separately, and read reviews as you would for any contractor.
Demand is real but the field is not crowded with specialists. NAHB’s Q1 2025 survey found 56% of remodelers had done aging-in-place work in the period surveyed, the lowest share since NAHB began asking in 2004.
When to hire a CAPS professional
| Job | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Grab bars, lever handles, a second stair rail | A careful handyman is usually fine; ask how they will anchor |
| Three-way stair switches, moving outlets, outdoor lights | Licensed electrician |
| Tub-to-shower conversion, curbless shower | CAPS remodeler or a remodeler with a track record of accessible bathrooms |
| Ramp or platform lift | CAPS remodeler or ramp specialist; check permits |
| Widening doorways, first-floor suite | CAPS remodeler or design-build firm, possibly an architect |
Find credential holders in NAHB’s directory of professionals with home building credentials, filtered to the CAPS designation and your area. For bigger projects, ask the person’s doctor about an occupational therapy evaluation as well: the therapist sets the heights and clearances, and the contractor builds to them.
The questions to ask
Keepstead’s contractor brief prints these on one page under your list of jobs and measurements.
1. Do you hold the CAPS designation, and can I see it? Then check it in the NAHB directory.
2. Are you licensed and insured here, and will you pull the permits this work needs? Ramps, electrical work and plumbing changes often need permits; unpermitted work can cause problems at resale.
3. How will grab bars and rails be anchored, and what are they rated for? The right answer mentions studs, added blocking or anchors made for grab bars. A vague answer is a warning sign.
4. Can you price each line separately, naming the products? Line items let you compare quotes and drop or defer items, and they make invoices usable for tax records and grant programs.
5. Which items could a handyman do for less, and which need a licensed plumber or electrician? An honest specialist will tell you.
6. How long will the bathroom or entrance be out of use? If it is the only bathroom, plan a commode chair or a stay elsewhere.
7. What warranty covers labor, and the motor and batteries on any lift?
8. Have you worked with an occupational therapist, and will you set heights to the person rather than a standard? The ADA numbers (grab bars 33 to 36 in, toilet seats 17 to 19 in, doors 32 in clear) are good starting points, not the last word.
9. Can the invoice list accessibility work on its own lines? IRS Publication 502 treats many accessibility changes as medical expenses, and programs like VA HISA need clear paperwork.
How to compare quotes
Send every contractor the same written scope. A one-page brief with the jobs, quantities and measurements stops each quote from covering something different. Then compare:
- Line by line, not just the total.
- Products named, not “grab bar, standard”.
- What is excluded: patching tile, painting, disposal, permits.
- Against national ranges. Keepstead’s cost guides show typical ranges with sources; a quote far above them deserves a question, and one far below deserves two.
If funding is involved, check its rules first. VA HISA, for example, needs approval before work starts; see the grants guide.
Red flags
- No written scope or line items. A single lump sum makes it impossible to compare, drop items or claim grants.
- Suction-cup or towel-bar “grab bars”. Anyone who suggests them for support does not understand the job.
- Pressure to buy the biggest fix. A walk-in tub or full remodel is not the answer to a missing grab bar. Ask what the cheapest effective option is.
- No questions about the person. Good aging-in-place work starts with who lives there: their height, which side is stronger, whether they use a walker or wheelchair, and what is likely to change.
- Large deposits in cash. Pay by traceable methods, in stages tied to completed work, and check what your state allows for deposits.
What a good first visit looks like
A good aging-in-place contractor spends as much time watching and asking as measuring. Expect them to ask the person to show how they get in and out of the tub or up from the toilet, to check stud positions where bars will go, to measure door clear widths and step heights, and to talk through what might change in the next five years. They should leave you with a written scope you recognize from the visit, and they should be comfortable with you getting other quotes.
Before the visit
Walk the home with the home check and take the measurements it asks for: doorway clear widths, toilet seat height, entry step rise, stair run and tub wall height. Contractors quote faster and more accurately when they arrive to a clear scope, and you will know whether their recommendations match the hazards you found.