Wayne, Passaic County

Aging in Place in Wayne, NJ: Easier Houses as You Age

Aging in place in Wayne, NJ means making a split-level or colonial work for the people who live in it now. We help you plan changes to the parts of the house that no longer fit and connect you with a local contractor.

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Residential New Jersey street in fall with a ranch house that has a wooden ramp and railing

Home modifications in Wayne

Choose the change that matches the trouble spot in your Wayne house. Each page explains how that job tends to go in homes of this age and layout.

In Wayne, local help with aging services comes from Passaic County Department of Senior Services, Disabilities and Veterans' Affairs.

Questions people ask

Do split-level homes in Wayne suit a stairlift?

Many can have one, but a split-level has several short flights rather than one long one, so a single lift may not serve every level. A contractor looks at which floors you really need and recommends one lift or a combination.

How long does a project take?

Timing depends on the job, the product and any approval. Ask the contractor for the timeline in writing.

Where can I ask about county programs for older people in Passaic County?

The Passaic County Department of Senior Services, Disabilities and Veterans' Affairs is the county agency on aging listed by the state, and it is the place to ask about support outside home changes.

Does Original Medicare pay for a stairlift or a walk-in shower in Wayne?

No. Medicare's coverage rules list stairway elevators, grab bars and bathtub lifts among denied items, and home modifications are noncovered. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited extras for chronically ill members, and they vary by plan.

Is it better to modify the house or move to a one-floor home?

That is a personal choice. Many people stay for the neighbors and the yard. A quote for the changes you need lets you compare the real cost with the cost and stress of moving.

What should I have ready for the first call?

A short list of the places that are hard, a photo of each with a tape measure in it, and any dates that matter, such as a surgery or a discharge.

Homes in Wayne

Wayne is a town of houses that people own. Most housing units are single-family detached homes and most occupied homes are owner-occupied, so the person who lives with a problem is usually the one who decides how to fix it.

The typical home here was built in 1967, and most units predate 1980. Fewer were built before 1960, so many Wayne houses are split-levels, raised ranches and colonials with a bedroom floor up a half-flight or full flight, a lower family room and a basement.

Roughly one resident in five, 19.5%, is 65 or older, higher than across New Jersey. Combine that with houses where every daily route involves a step, and the trouble spots tend to be the same few places: the entry, the bedroom stairs and the bathroom with the tub-shower combination. The five jobs below deal with each of them.

Source: Census Bureau, median year built and age

White two-story colonial house with green shutters and a wooden entry ramp, surrounded by autumn leaves

1967Median year homes were built

19.5%Residents aged 65 and over

Aging in place in Wayne, NJ: the three trouble spots

Most Wayne households with an aging parent or partner run into the same three places. Find yours first.

The entry. A raised stoop, a storm door that swings across it, and a few steps to the front or garage door.
The bedroom stairs. A full flight to the bedrooms, or several half-flights in a split-level.
The tub-shower. A high wall, a slick floor and a bathroom door that opens into the tub's path.

Each has its own page: wheelchair ramps in Wayne for the entry, stairlift installation in Wayne for the stairs, and an accessible bathroom in Wayne for the tub. Doorways and grab bars cut across all three.

Plan the whole route, not one room

A new shower does little good if the climb to reach it is the problem. Walk the route you take on a normal day: bed, bathroom, kitchen, front door, car. Mark every spot where you grab a wall or slow down.

That list tells you the order. A common one is bars and rails first, since they are quick. Then the entry, then the bathroom. If a stair is the biggest barrier, it can come before the shower. A contractor who sees the whole route can combine visits so you are not paying for the same trip twice.

Bring the list to the first call. It is also the best answer to the question every household asks: what should I do first? Grab bars and handrails in Wayne are the usual answer when the list is long and money is tight.

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Small print: This guarantee covers our planning and introduction service. The contractor's work is covered by your contract with them. Offer terms. Guarantee terms.

Aging in Place NJ · (315) 640-3590

You own the house, so check the rules that still apply

With 78.6% of occupied Wayne homes owner-occupied, there is usually no landlord to ask. A few rules still matter.

A home improvement contract over $500 must be in writing and signed, and name the contractor business and the total price.
You can cancel before midnight of the third business day after you get your copy.
A contractor may not start until the required permits are issued.

Sources: Census Bureau, owners and renters, NJ Legislature

Lift plans in Wayne go to the state Elevator Safety unit, and some other jobs go to the Wayne construction office. Our guide to which home modifications need a permit in New Jersey gives the full picture.

Paying for changes: what Passaic County residents can ask about

Original Medicare lists grab bars, stairway elevators and bathtub lifts among its denied items. Home modifications are also noncovered under its lift policy. That leaves a handful of other sources.

NJ Medicaid managed care: residential modifications up to $15,000 lifetime for members whose plan of care requires them. Benefits cannot be combined with duplicate programs.
JACC: for people 60 and older who meet nursing home level of care and are not on Medicaid.
VA: HISA and larger disability housing grants for eligible Veterans.
IRS: some changes count as medical expenses above 7.5% of income.

Sources: NJ Medicaid, IRS Publication 502

The Passaic County Department of Senior Services, Disabilities and Veterans' Affairs is the county agency on aging listed by the state. Start there. Our guide to paying for home modifications in New Jersey has the details.

When a smaller change is enough

You do not have to rebuild the house. Many Wayne households do well with a rail, a handheld shower and a better light at the top of the stairs. CDC's checklist advises lights and switches at both ends of the stairs. Start there if the main worry is a fall on a familiar route.

Larger jobs make sense when the small ones stop being enough, when a chair or scooter arrives, or when a hospital stay is coming. Talk to the contractor about both. They can often tell you which small steps will still be useful after the bigger job is done.

Nearby towns

The same plan works close by. See aging in place in Fair Lawn and home modifications in Ridgewood in Bergen County, or home modifications in Montclair in Essex County.

Also serving nearby

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