Home Remodeling for Aging in Place in Chicago: What to Change and Why
Abbott Builders Inc. handles aging-in-place remodeling for homeowners in St. Charles and surrounding Chicago-area communities, focusing on bathroom remodeling, basement remodeling, home additions, and full home remodeling. Our projects add walk-in showers, grab bars, comfort-height fixtures, wider doorways, and main-floor living space, so homeowners can stay safely in the homes they already know.
Key Takeaways
- AARP's 2024 survey found that 75% of adults age 50 and older want to remain in their current homes as they age.
- The CDC reports that about 1 in 4 adults age 65 and older experience a fall each year, making falls the leading cause of injury in that age group.
- ADA accessibility benchmarks call for grab bars mounted 33 to 36 inches above the floor, with 1.5 inches of clearance from the wall.
- A roll-in shower under ADA guidance measures at least 30 by 60 inches, with a 60-inch minimum entry.
- Our bathroom remodels typically run 2 to 4 weeks; basement remodels typically run 4 to 8 weeks, depending on scope.
Why Aging in Place Matters for Chicago-Area Homeowners
AARP's 2024 national survey found that 75% of adults age 50 and older want to stay in their current homes as they age, rather than move into a facility. That preference is exactly what drives most of the aging-in-place calls we get from families in St. Charles, Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Barrington, Batavia, Carol Stream, and Downers Grove.
Safety is the other half of the equation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in March 2026 that more than 14 million adults age 65 and older, roughly 1 in 4, report a fall every year. Bathrooms are usually where the risk concentrates: hard tile, low toilets, and a tub you have to step over. That's the room where most of our aging-in-place projects start.
What Is an Aging-in-Place Bathroom?
An aging-in-place bathroom is designed for long-term safety and independence, not just style. It replaces tripping hazards and hard-to-reach fixtures with a zero-threshold shower, properly placed grab bars, comfort-height fixtures, and lighting that turns on automatically. The goal is a bathroom that works the same way at 85 as it did at 55.
Our aging-in-place bathroom work in St. Charles covers:
- Walk-in showers with zero threshold, so there's no lip to step over
- Grab bars that blend into the design, mounted at the correct height instead of bolted on as an afterthought
- Non-slip flooring in place of standard tile
- Comfort-height toilets, which sit higher than a standard bowl
- Motion-sensor lighting and wider switches, so no one is fumbling for a switch in the dark
- Handheld showerheads and built-in seating
- Floating vanities with integrated lighting
- Wider doorways for walkers or wheelchairs
What Bathroom Features Meet ADA Accessibility Benchmarks?
The two features that matter most for safety, grab bars and shower openings, follow published accessibility standards from the U.S. Access Board. We plan against those same benchmarks when a client wants a bathroom that will genuinely hold up as mobility changes.
| Feature | Accessibility Benchmark |
|---|---|
| Grab bar height | 33 to 36 inches above the finished floor |
| Grab bar clearance | 1.5 inches of space between the bar and the wall |
| Roll-in shower size | At least 30 inches wide by 60 inches deep |
| Roll-in shower entry | 60-inch minimum opening, with 30-by-60-inch clearance |
The U.S. Access Board's ADA Standards set the grab bar figures, and the U.S. Access Board's ADA guidance sets the roll-in shower dimensions. These are the reference points a licensed contractor uses when a shower needs to work for a wheelchair or a walker, not just look good in a photo.
If your bathroom hasn't been touched since the house was built, that gap between old fixtures and current accessibility thinking is usually the first thing we walk through together on a bathroom remodeling consultation.
Structural Challenges in Older St. Charles Homes
Older homes in St. Charles often weren't built with any of this in mind. Narrow door frames, low ceilings in basements, and plumbing lines that sit exactly where a walk-in shower needs to go are common. Getting a comfort-height toilet or a wider shower into an older layout frequently means relocating plumbing and updating the framing around the opening, not just swapping fixtures.
We plan for that at the estimate stage rather than discovering it mid-project. A typical bathroom remodel for aging in place runs 2 to 4 weeks, though plumbing relocation, custom materials, and fixture availability can extend that timeline. We walk clients through what their specific layout will require before construction starts.
Basement and Main-Floor Living Options
A finished basement adds real living space, but stairs are the obvious limitation for someone planning to age in place. That's why basement work for these households usually serves a different purpose: a guest suite for a caregiver, a home office, or extra square footage for the rest of the family, freeing up the main floor for the person who needs to avoid stairs.
Basement remodeling projects typically run 4 to 8 weeks and include framing, layout design, lighting, flooring, storage, and permitting. Most basement remodels require a permit, especially when the work adds walls, plumbing, or electrical circuits. Moisture-resistant vinyl plank, tile, or sealed concrete are the flooring options we recommend for basement floors, since they hold up better than carpet in a below-grade space. If a finished basement is part of your plan, our basement remodeling service covers the full scope from framing to final walkthrough.
Home Additions for Main-Floor Primary Suites
The more direct solution to the stairs problem is often a home addition: a new bedroom on the main floor, sized and finished to work as a primary suite. We build additions designed to blend seamlessly into a home's existing layout and architecture, rather than reading as a bolted-on box.
A home addition also opens up options a basement can't: a first-floor primary suite paired with an accessible bathroom, an expanded living area with wider doorways built in from the start, or a sunroom that adds daily living space without a single step to navigate. Our home additions work covers new bedrooms, expanded living areas, sunrooms, and second-story additions, built to last with the same materials and craftsmanship standards as the rest of the house.
Full Home Remodeling for a Complete Aging-in-Place Plan
Some families want to handle the whole house at once rather than one room at a time. Full home remodeling covers strategic planning, layout changes, structural updates, finishes, fixtures, and construction, all managed under a single custom plan built around how the homeowner actually lives day to day.
That approach makes sense when a client is updating an older home before moving in a parent, or customizing a recently purchased property from the ground up with aging in place already factored into every room. Every detail gets handled by the same team, through a final walkthrough, so the bathroom, the main-floor bedroom, and the basement all work together instead of being planned in isolation.
Planning Your Aging-in-Place Project
Every project starts with a free consultation. We talk through goals, budget, and timeline, then build a custom design and proposal based on your layout, your selections, and a site visit. That's the point where we flag structural issues, permit needs, and realistic timelines before any contract gets signed.
For reference, here's how project length typically breaks down:
| Project Type | Typical Duration |
|---|---|
| Bathroom remodeling | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Kitchen remodeling | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Basement remodeling | 4 to 8 weeks |
If your plan touches the kitchen too, our kitchen remodeling service handles layout, storage, and finish upgrades as part of the same broader project.
Here's what one client had to say about working with us on a bathroom remodel:
"My husband and I can not say enough great things about Abbott Builders! Manny and his team are very punctual, detail oriented, clean, and honest. We are so happy with our bathroom remodel, and new attic entry. We look forward to using Abbott Builders again in the future." - Christine B. in a Google review
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Abbott Builders handle permits for aging-in-place basement projects?
Yes. Most basement remodels require a permit, especially when the project adds walls, plumbing, or electrical work, which is common when converting a basement into a guest suite or accessible living space. We handle permitting as part of our basement remodeling process, from initial layout design through final inspection.
Can I stay in my home during an aging-in-place bathroom or basement remodel?
For most bathroom remodels, that bathroom will be out of use during construction, though the rest of your home stays livable. Basement projects generally don't affect the main living areas at all. We walk through the specific access and timeline details for your home during the free consultation.
What areas near Chicago does Abbott Builders serve for aging-in-place remodeling?
We serve St. Charles, Illinois, and nearby communities including Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Barrington, Batavia, Carol Stream, and Downers Grove. Our full service area list covers the broader Chicago region, and every project starts with the same free consultation regardless of location.
Should I remodel my bathroom or add a main-floor bedroom first?
That depends on which safety risk is most pressing right now. If falls in the bathroom are the immediate concern, start there. If stairs are the bigger long-term barrier, a main-floor bedroom addition solves that more directly. We help weigh both during your consultation, based on your home's layout and your timeline.
If you're weighing a bathroom remodel, a basement conversion, or a main-floor addition for aging in place, tell us about your home and what's changing for your family using the form below this article, and we'll help you figure out where to start.
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