Room-by-Room Home Modifications for Aging in Place in Montrose CO

A home can feel perfectly comfortable for decades—until one ordinary feature becomes difficult to navigate.

The front steps may feel steeper after surgery. A bathtub wall that once seemed harmless may become an obstacle. A narrow doorway may no longer accommodate a walker, and kitchen cabinets may require more reaching than an older adult can safely manage.

These changes do not always mean someone must leave a beloved home. In many cases, thoughtful home improvements can make familiar surroundings safer, more accessible, and easier to use.

This is especially relevant in Montrose, where 27.7% of residents are age 65 or older. Many local homeowners have deep roots in the community and want to remain close to family, health care, downtown services, and the outdoor lifestyle of Colorado’s Western Slope.

Amramp Accessibility provides residential accessibility evaluations and home modification solutions for people who are aging in place, recovering from an injury, or living with mobility limitations. Available options may include ramps, stair lifts, platform lifts, widened doorways, bathroom improvements, automatic door openers, grab bars, and other customized changes. Product availability can vary by location and project.

“A good home modification should solve a real daily challenge without making the home feel unfamiliar,” says Katie Burgoyne of Amramp Accessibility. “The goal is to help people move through their own space with greater confidence and independence.”

Editorial note: This quote is written for Katie Burgoyne’s review and approval before publication.

Start With the Routes Used Every Day

Home safety planning should begin with the resident’s actual routine rather than a generic remodeling checklist.

Walk through a normal day from beginning to end. Where does the person enter the home? Which bathroom is used most often? Can the resident reach the bedroom, kitchen, laundry area, and outdoor spaces without climbing difficult stairs?

Pay attention to places where the person:

• Reaches for furniture to maintain balance
• Avoids a room because access is difficult
• Needs help opening a door
• Has trouble standing from a seated position
• Struggles to maneuver a walker or wheelchair
• Steps over raised thresholds
• Uses stairs while carrying personal items

These observations help identify which modifications should be addressed first.

Improving the Home’s Entrances

An aging-in-place plan often begins outside the front door.

Montrose homes may have porches, raised foundations, garage steps, gravel approaches, or entryways exposed to seasonal rain, snow, and ice. A person who can move comfortably indoors may still be unable to enter or leave the home safely.

Step-Free Entry Options

Depending on the property, an accessible entrance may involve:

• A modular wheelchair ramp
• A threshold ramp
• A vertical platform lift
• Wider pathways
• Improved exterior lighting
• Accessible door hardware
• An automatic door opener
• A covered entrance or portico

Amramp’s home modification services include step-free entrances, ramps for front, rear, and garage access, platform lifts, accessible locks, entryway lighting, and automatic door openers.

The most visible entrance is not always the best location. A garage or side entrance may offer more space, better weather protection, or a shorter route to the main living area.

Making Bathrooms Easier to Use

Bathrooms combine hard surfaces, water, limited space, and frequent transfers between standing and sitting. They are often among the first rooms families evaluate when mobility changes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends home safety measures such as grab bars near the toilet and inside and outside the shower, nonslip bathing surfaces, improved lighting, and clear walking areas.

Possible Bathroom Modifications

A bathroom accessibility plan may include:

• Professionally secured grab bars
• Safety rails near the toilet
• A zero-entry or roll-in shower
• A walk-in tub
• A transfer bench or bathing transfer device
• An accessible-height toilet
• A wheelchair-accessible sink
• Single-lever faucets
• Improved lighting
• Additional maneuvering space

Amramp lists grab bars, transfer systems, zero-entry showers, walk-in tubs, accessible toilets and sinks, and easier-to-use fixtures among its potential home modification solutions.

Grab bars should be positioned according to the resident’s height, strength, movement pattern, and bathroom layout. A decorative towel bar should never be treated as a safety rail.

Addressing Stairs and Changes in Floor Level

Some Montrose residents live in split-level homes, houses with basements, or properties where essential rooms are located on different floors. When stairs become difficult, families may begin limiting the older adult to one part of the house.

That may work temporarily, but it can reduce access to bedrooms, laundry areas, outdoor spaces, or other parts of the home.

Stair Lift or Platform Lift?

A stair lift typically carries a seated rider along a staircase. It may be suitable for someone who can transfer safely into and out of the chair.

A vertical platform lift carries a wheelchair user or someone standing on a platform between levels. The appropriate solution depends on:

• The resident’s mobility
• Ability to transfer
• Type and width of the stairs
• Available landing space
• Indoor or outdoor placement
• Expected future needs

Amramp provides indoor and outdoor stair lifts as well as vertical platform lifts, although specific products and configurations depend on the local assessment.

Creating Clearer Interior Pathways

Accessibility barriers are not always dramatic. A doorway that is slightly too narrow or a raised threshold between rooms can interfere with a walker, scooter, or wheelchair.

Interior improvements may include:

• Widening doorways
• Adjusting thresholds and floor transitions
• Replacing difficult door knobs with lever handles
• Repositioning light switches
• Improving hallway lighting
• Removing unnecessary doors
• Installing supportive handrails
• Changing flooring that creates resistance or trip hazards

Amramp’s published home modification options include doorway widening, adjusted transitions, accessible hardware, new flooring, and changes to lighting and controls.

The CDC also advises keeping floors free of clutter, improving lighting, removing or securing throw rugs, and installing handrails on staircases as part of fall-prevention planning.

Adapting the Kitchen Without Rebuilding Everything

A kitchen does not always need a complete renovation to become easier to use.

Begin by looking at the tasks the resident performs regularly. Someone who prepares simple breakfasts may have different needs from a person who enjoys cooking full meals for family.

Useful improvements may include:

• Pull-out or drop-down shelving
• Frequently used items stored at waist height
• Accessible sinks or work surfaces
• Easy-grip cabinet pulls
• Single-lever faucets
• Appliances positioned to reduce bending
• Better task lighting
• Clear space for seated food preparation

Amramp identifies accessible sinks, cabinets, countertops, appliances, faucet positioning, and cabinet hardware as possible kitchen modifications.

The goal is not merely to make the kitchen look accessible. It should reflect the resident’s actual cooking habits, physical abilities, and cultural or family routines.

Plan for the Caregiver Too

Home modifications should protect both the resident and anyone assisting with daily care.

A family caregiver may be lifting, supporting, or guiding someone through narrow spaces. Poorly positioned fixtures can increase physical strain and make bathing or transfers more difficult.

Depending on the person’s care needs, solutions may include transfer devices, overhead patient lifts, bed safety rails, wider pathways, or additional room around essential fixtures. Amramp offers patient lift systems and other transfer-related accessibility products designed to support mobility and caregiving tasks.

An occupational therapist, physical therapist, medical professional, or accessibility specialist may also provide valuable input when complex mobility or transfer needs are involved.

Why Professional Evaluation Matters

A home improvement that works for one person may be unsuitable for another.

Before beginning a project, an accessibility evaluation should consider:

• Current and expected mobility needs
• The resident’s height, strength, and balance
• Wheelchair or walker measurements
• The caregiver’s role
• Door and hallway widths
• Stair configuration
• Bathroom layout
• Exterior terrain
• Emergency exit routes
• The homeowner’s long-term plans

Katie and Damon Burgoyne operate the local Amramp business. Katie’s understanding of accessibility grew after she broke both legs in a 2021 skiing accident, while Damon brings experience as a general contractor to assessments and installations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every aging-in-place project require a major renovation?

No. Some homes may benefit from focused improvements such as grab bars, better lighting, handrails, threshold adjustments, or easier door hardware. Other situations require larger projects.

Can Amramp modify rooms in addition to installing ramps?

Yes. Amramp lists entryway, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, doorway, lift, flooring, and hardware modifications among its accessibility services. Availability should be confirmed locally.

When should a Montrose family request an assessment?

Consider an assessment after a fall, surgery, new diagnosis, change in mobility, hospital discharge, or when an older adult begins avoiding parts of the home.

Are home modifications only for wheelchair users?

No. Improvements may assist people using walkers, canes, scooters, or caregiver support, as well as individuals experiencing weakness, balance changes, or limited reach.

How can families contact the local Amramp team?

Amramp’s Colorado office currently lists 303-951-6896 for consultations and free estimate requests. Families should confirm service availability for their Montrose address and specific project.

Explore Home Modification Services in Montrose

Aging in place works best when the home evolves with the person living there. Addressing barriers early can make everyday routines easier while helping families prepare for future mobility needs.

Visit the Amramp Accessibility listing on SeniorsBlueBook.com to connect with Katie Burgoyne and explore home improvement and modification solutions available to Montrose-area seniors, caregivers, and people with disabilities.