Is there some kind of assistance for home modifications so a parent can remain in their home? We need to add stairs and modify the bathroom.

I have a split level. It has 4 levels. I have my lower level where Mom was. It was the former family room. Had a 1/2 bath we put a walk in shower in. It took up 1/2 the laundry room but was able to reposition the washer and dryer. Mom's had a single bed, lounge chair, dresser and closet.

From that level u went up 6 stairs to kitchen, dining and living area. Up six more to 2 bedrooms and bath, up six more to 2 bedrooms. So 3 sets of stairs. I don't understand "inside safe stairs" other than what has been suggested with installing a stair lift.

When PT was at my house for Mom, it was suggested that I install hand rails on both sides of the steps. My Mom didn't do stairs well. Thats why she was in the lower level. Easy excess to the outside. I gated her in at night so she wouldn't be roaming my house going up and down stairs. With her Dementia she didn't understand she couldn't do steps. To tell you the truth, a split level is not conducive for someone who no longer does stairs well. I eventually placed Mom in an AL. One level. She walked around the building all the time with a walker.

My husband and I know we won't be able to stay here the rest of our lives.

My dad also lived in a split level home. We put in a stairlift (chair that runs on a track) to each level. In a split level you need two units so it's a bit more expensive. The total cost was very reasonable as I recall. They have a battery back-up in cast of power outage. It doesn't interfere much with others using the stairs as it folds against the wall. It was very helpful to my dad when he was in his home. Although he liked taking the stairs for the exercise, having the stairlift allowed him to carry things between floors, like the laundry basket in his lap, which he couldn't do if he was walking up the stairs.

We also had his bathtub modified to be able to walk into it instead of step over the high wall. This company literally just cut a 15-18 inch opening into the tub and then refinished the surface. It wasn't Bathfitters but it was a similar company. It looked fine and with a couple of grab bars worked very well. You could even keep the cut-out part and they would reinstall it if you ever wanted to convert it back to a bathtub. This was again very reasonable - maybe $2000 including grab bars and some other tile, and repairs to the bathtub area.

For the toilet just get one of the add-on extenders at the pharmacy or medical supply place to make it high and put in a solid grab bar.

These two modifications in his home were probably a total of $5000 and were well worth it. He claimed not to need them but then he would recommend them to friends who also were aging in place so I know that he appreciated them.

You might talk to your local homebuilding Association. If you live in a metro area there is one. Otherwise call your county area council on aging. There may be some ideas and assistance. Let us know. Best to you.

How wide are the existing stairs? It may be easier and less expensive to add a stair lift (like Acorn) than trying to add or rework the stairs inside the existing structure. I saw a split level with the laundry and garage on the lower level that converted coat closets adjacent to the stairs into a dumb waiter to move things (laundry and groceries mostly) between levels and added a stair lift to move people.