Aging in Place Remodeling: Creating a Home That Grows With You

Your home holds years of memories — laughter around the kitchen table, quiet mornings with your coffee, family gatherings in the backyard. It’s only natural to want to stay where you feel most comfortable, even as your needs change.

That’s the heart of aging in place remodeling: adapting your home so it continues to support your independence, safety, and comfort at every stage of life. With thoughtful planning, your space can evolve with changing mobility, health needs, and lifestyle preferences, keeping you and your loved ones safe and happy for years to come.

At Aaron & Co, we help Tucson homeowners reimagine their spaces through practical, beautiful designs that grow with them, whether that means subtle safety updates or full-scale accessibility remodeling.

What Does Aging in Place Really Mean?

Aging in place simply means choosing to stay in your own home as you grow older, rather than moving to a retirement community or assisted living facility. It’s a choice many older adults prefer, and for good reason. Home represents familiarity, connection, and stability. Aging in place is about preserving a sense of independence and dignity while ensuring your surroundings continue to support your physical, emotional, social, and practical needs.

Thanks to thoughtful, accessibility-focused remodeling, that goal is now more achievable than ever. Aging in place renovations are among the most in-demand home improvements, as more families look for ways to create homes that make life easier, not limit it. This is especially true in Tucson, where many homes weren’t originally designed with aging in mind, but the need continues to grow as more residents join the “Silver Tsunami”.

Aging in place isn’t just practical, it’s personal. It’s a way to keep enjoying the routines and lifestyle you love amid Tucson’s sunny weather, relaxed pace, and strong sense of community. These updates make daily living easier and safer, offering peace of mind today and flexibility for the future.

Aging in Place vs. Assisted Living: Why Many Choose Home First

The biggest motivators for aging in place are cost and freedom. Assisted living often involves continuous monthly fees, while aging in place typically requires only periodic or one-time updates to make your home safer and more comfortable.

Although in-home care and maintenance expenses can add up in some cases, aging in place offers emotional and social value that’s hard to quantify, including familiar surroundings, established routines, and a sense of ownership. Many homeowners would rather invest in remodeling a home that fits their needs than pay recurring fees for a space that never quite feels like their own.

When the remodel is thoughtful and strategic, it truly feels like the best of both worlds: a safe, functional home and a smart long-term investment.

Key Features That Make a Home Age-Friendly

Every homeowner’s needs are unique, but certain design principles, known as universal design, make living spaces easier, safer, and more intuitive for everyone, regardless of age or ability. The goal is a home that feels effortless to live in and designed for lasting independence.

The Power of Universal Design

Universal design isn’t just about accessibility; it’s about creating spaces that work beautifully for everyone. These design principles blend seamlessly into any architectural style, whether modern desert, Santa Fe, or classic Tucson ranch.

Even better, they’re a smart investment, often increasing resale value by appealing to a broader range of buyers who appreciate flexibility, safety, and thoughtfully designed spaces.

It’s one of those choices that feels good now and pays off later.

Safer Bathrooms for Daily Confidence

More than 80% of home accidents among seniors occur in the bathroom, but smart design can greatly reduce that risk. Consider:

  • Walk-in showers or bathtubs that eliminate the trip hazard of a curb
  • Hand-held showerheads and a built-in or fold-down shower bench for safe bathing
  • Grab bars that blend with the décor
  • Comfort-height toilets and accessible sinks
  • Lever-style and motion activated faucets for easier use
  • Slip-resistant flooring for steady footing
  • Automatic or motion-sensor lighting for better visibility

Kitchens Designed for Ease and Accessibility

The kitchen should remain the heart of your home, not a source of frustration. Remodeling for accessibility focuses on layout and function, helping you move freely and cook comfortably:

  • Pull-out drawers and shelves to reduce bending or reaching
  • Lever handles and D-shaped pulls for easier grip
  • Adjustable-height counters and lowered cooktops
  • Open layouts for clear sight lines and easy wheelchair movement

Whole-Home Adjustments for Comfort and Mobility

Beyond individual rooms, whole-home updates can make daily living truly effortless:

  • Zero-step entries and wider doorways for easy access
  • Improved lighting with motion sensors and layered brightness
  • Smart home systems to control lights, locks, and temperature by voice
  • Lever-style handles, rocker switches, and easy-grip hardware
  • Low-maintenance materials for simpler upkeep
  • Main-level laundry, bedroom, and living spaces for convenience
  • Stair lifts or ramps for multi-level access
  • Wider hallways and bedroom doors to accommodate mobility aids

Custom Plans for Every Stage of Life

At Aaron & Co, we know no two homeowners are alike. Maybe you’re caring for an aging parent, planning ahead for yourself, or simply making your home more adaptable — our team starts by understanding how you live day by day. From there, we create a design plan that balances form, function, and future needs. That could mean:

  • Converting a guest room into an accessible main-level suite
  • Adding grab bars or better lighting in key areas
  • Expanding hallways or entries to improve mobility
  • Designing an ADU (casita) for a loved one to live independently nearby

Our mission is simple: to make your home safe, stylish, and ready for whatever life brings next.

Work with a Local Remodeling Contractor That Knows Tucson, and You

Working with a local team means partnering with people who understand Tucson’s building codes, desert climate, and the way locals live day to day. As a certified NARI Universal Design and Aging in Place professional — recognized for upholding the highest standards in remodeling — Aaron & Co takes the time to sit down with you, listen to your needs, and explore with you the best solutions.

With Aaron & Co, you can expect clear communication, expert craftsmanship, and a process built around care, collaboration, and transparency. From the first conversation to the final walk-through, we make remodeling as simple and stress-free as possible. We handle every detail in-house, from feasibility to permits to construction, so you can focus on enjoying a home that grows with you. While universal design focuses on features that benefit everyone, our design-build approach goes one step further, tailoring every plan to your lifestyle, preferences, and health needs.

Ready to Create a Home That Grows With You?

Creating a home that grows with you isn’t just about safety; it’s about living life fully in a space that fits your needs, routines, and style. Whether you’re planning ahead or ready to begin, Aaron & Co can help you design a home that supports you at every stage.

Let’s start the conversation. Contact Aaron & Co today for a free virtual consultation, and let’s explore how your home can evolve beautifully with you.

Get a Free Consultation

New Sidebar Consultation Form

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*

  • “You and your team made it possible – all the way from help creating the plans, drafting the architectural drawings, and of course building our spaces. Your professional approach built confidence from the beginning. Everyone that worked on our project added to a great final product. Finishing the project for the same price that you quoted at the beginning was a pleasant surprise. Tieraona and I appreciated how you kept us informed, and completed work with the quality that you promised at the beginning of the process. You can count on us to recommend your company.”

    Jim Carnazzo

  • “Aaron designed plans for my wife and me that combined a 3-room casita with attached 2-car garage. His comprehensive knowledge and attention to the smallest details were enormously helpful. From structural considerations to aesthetics, from siting to permitting, he made a complex process simple, providing multiple iterations until the vision we had for this space was realized. His focus on cost-savings as well as quality were greatly appreciated. Aaron was a pleasure to work with and we highly recommend him.”

    Randy Fisher

  • “The construction process was smooth and Aaron’s team was in constant communication with us. They provided us with proper expectations and then met or exceeded them. This gave us a great sense of ease for we have remodeled before with a different contractor and it was constant anxiety. Aaron & Co finished the project about two weeks early than promised and kept the project within our provided budget, including the changes that we requested. The final product turned out beautifully and the service rendered was outstanding.”

    Rich Cunningham