The changes that keep people safely in their own home, in order of how much difference they make: a bathroom you can walk into (curbless shower, grab bars, comfort-height toilet, non-slip floor), a way to get upstairs or a bedroom and full bath on the first floor, and the small things everywhere else (lever handles, brighter lighting, no thresholds, railings on both sides of every stair). Call (201) 676-3099 or book a free estimate.
The changes that keep people safely in their own home, in order of how much difference they make: a bathroom you can walk into (curbless shower, grab bars, comfort-height toilet, non-slip floor), a way to get upstairs or a bedroom and full bath on the first floor, and the small things everywhere else (lever handles, brighter lighting, no thresholds, railings on both sides of every stair). Most New Jersey homes can be made safe for $3,000 to $35,000 depending on how far you go, and the bathroom is where the money should go first.
Here is the priority list, what each item costs, and how to plan it so you do it once.
Where falls happen, and where the money goes
Most serious falls at home happen in the bathroom and on the stairs. Getting in and out of a tub, standing on a wet floor, reaching for a towel bar that was never meant to hold weight. That is why the bathroom is first on every list, before the kitchen, before the ramp, before anything cosmetic.
Priority list with New Jersey 2026 prices
| Change | Why it matters | Typical cost installed |
|---|---|---|
| Grab bars, properly blocked into the studs (shower, tub, toilet) | The single cheapest fall prevention there is | $250 – $1,500 for a bathroom |
| Comfort-height toilet (17–19 inches) | Easier to sit and stand; less strain on knees | $450 – $1,200 |
| Handheld shower on a slide bar, shower seat | Sit to bathe, wash without turning | $350 – $900 |
| Tub-to-shower conversion with a low curb | Steps over the tub wall are the biggest bathroom risk | $12K – $25K |
| Curbless (zero-threshold) shower, linear drain, non-slip tile | Walk or roll straight in; the gold standard | $14K – $30K |
| Walk-in tub | For people who want to soak; slower to use than a shower | $8K – $20K |
| Full accessible bathroom (curbless shower, 36-inch door, roll-under sink, lighting) | One room that works for the next 20 years | $14K – $32K |
| Straight stair lift | Keeps the upstairs usable | $3.2K – $6K; curved $9K – $18K |
| First-floor bedroom and full bath (convert a den or dining room) | Removes the stairs from daily life | $35K – $90K |
| Widen doorways to 32–36 inches, offset hinges | Walker and wheelchair access | $150 (hinges) – $2,500 per door |
| Lever door handles and faucet handles, rocker light switches | Arthritis-friendly, one-handed use | $40 – $150 each |
| Remove thresholds, install non-slip flooring, add transitions | Trips happen at every half-inch step | $400 – $6,000 |
| Railings on both sides of every stair, exterior included | Required by code in most cases; often missing outside | $300 – $1,500 per run |
| Brighter LED lighting, motion-sensor night lights, lighted switches | Most falls happen in the dark | $180 – $2,500 |
| Ramp or zero-step entry (one entrance) | Needed for a wheelchair or after surgery | $2,500 – $12,000 |
| Smart shutoffs and monitors (water leak, stove auto-off, video doorbell) | Peace of mind for family | $300 – $2,500 |
Plan it once, not three times
- When a bathroom is open anyway, add blocking in every wall for future grab bars. It costs $150 during a remodel and $600 later.
- Choose a shower valve with a handheld and a thermostatic limiter now. Scalds are a real risk with slower reactions.
- If a stair lift is likely in five years, keep the stairway clear of built-ins and make sure there is an outlet at the bottom.
- Pick a 36-inch door for the bathroom and the bedroom even if nobody uses a walker yet. It costs almost nothing more during construction.
- Think about the entrance: one door with no steps, a covered landing, good light and a lever handle.
What does not need to look 'medical'
The best accessible bathrooms we build look like the spa bathrooms in magazines: a curbless shower with a linear drain, a bench that reads as a design feature, grab bars in matte black or brushed nickel that match the faucet, a floating vanity you can roll under, and a big round backlit mirror. The safety is built in; nobody sees a hospital.
Paying for it in New Jersey
Some costs can be covered: Medicaid waiver programs, the VA (for veterans, including the HISA grant for home modifications), long-term care insurance, and county Office on Aging programs in several New Jersey counties that help with ramps and bathroom safety for lower-income seniors. Medicare generally does not pay for home modifications. We give you an itemized written price that you can submit to any of them, and financing on the rest with no deposit on most jobs.
How to start
Book the free in-home visit. We walk the house with you or your parent, from the driveway to the bedroom, and write up what matters in order, with a price on each line. You choose what to do now and what to plan for. Most bathroom safety packages are done in a day; a full accessible bathroom takes two to three weeks.
Questions people ask next
What is the most important aging-in-place change?
The bathroom. A curbless or low-curb shower with grab bars, a handheld shower, a seat and a comfort-height toilet prevents more falls than anything else in the house.
How much does it cost to make a bathroom accessible in NJ?
A safety package (grab bars, handheld shower, seat, comfort-height toilet) runs $1,000 to $3,500. A tub-to-shower conversion is $12,000 to $25,000. A full accessible bathroom with a curbless shower and a wider door is $14,000 to $32,000.
Is a walk-in tub or a walk-in shower better?
A curbless shower for almost everyone: faster, safer, easier to clean and usable in a wheelchair. A walk-in tub only makes sense for someone who wants to soak and can wait for it to fill and drain while seated.
Does Medicare pay for grab bars or a stair lift?
Generally no. Medicaid waiver programs, the VA, long-term care insurance and some county aging programs in New Jersey may help. Ask for an itemized written price to submit.
Can grab bars go on any wall?
Only if they are screwed into studs or solid blocking. Suction cups and drywall anchors fail when someone puts real weight on them. We open the wall or use stud-mounted brackets so the bar holds 250 pounds or more.
Need accessible bathroom remodeling near you?
If you searched “accessible bathroom remodeling near me” anywhere in New Jersey, that's us. First Call Contracting is based in Paramus and sends its own licensed crew to all 21 counties — written price before work starts, no deposit, a real person on the phone 24/7.
Want the house to work for the next 20 years?
Free in-home walkthrough with a written, itemized list in priority order. Most safety packages done in a day.
Or call Alex direct: (201) 676-3099