Not all of these modifications may be necessary at once, but as the old adage goes, “better safe than sorry.” Judge according to your elder’s abilities and make modifications as needed. Please don’t forget to thoroughly discuss and get approval for any changes to the home; this is his or her home, after all, and probably has remained more or less unchanged for years until this point. Make sure that he or she is shown how to work the new appliances, switches, and other alterations and don’t leave the house until you’re sure that your elder can safely and effectively operate everything. Some of these alterations can be costly, but assistance to cover the costs of home modification is available to low- and middle-income seniors through local, state, and federal programs. Check the guidelines in your area to see what your family qualifies for.