Podcast Summary: The Wirecutter Show

Episode: A Room-By-Room Guide to Aging in Your Own Home
Date: March 11, 2026
Hosts: Christine Cyr Clisset, Caira Blackwell
Guest: Doug Mahoney, Senior Staff Writer, Wirecutter

Overview

This episode of The Wirecutter Show takes listeners through a comprehensive, room-by-room guide to modifying your home for “aging in place,” i.e., safely and comfortably growing older in your own space rather than moving to assisted living or a facility. Drawing insights from Doug Mahoney’s new article suite and practical advice from home assessment experts, the discussion explores cost-effective, renter-friendly solutions and product recommendations that work for everyone, while emphasizing the universal benefits of these modifications, regardless of age.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Reality and Relevance of Aging in Place

• Aging in place means adapting your home so you can grow old in it, rather than moving out due to safety or mobility issues. This isn’t just for elderly people — many recommendations benefit everyone, from young families to people with temporary injuries.

  "Making sure your stairs are safe, adding lighting where there isn't lighting, decluttering your hallways... they're just smart ideas, and they're honestly the ones that we should all be thinking about." – Doug Mahoney (07:11)

• Many people don’t consider aging in place until they or a loved one already have changing needs, which can make modifications feel urgent and overwhelming. Proactive planning is much less stressful.

  "If you approach this topic over a number of years, you can sort of spread out the cost... If you're put in a position where something's happened and all of a sudden you need to modify a home, it just gets very, very stressful." – Doug Mahoney (29:47)

Room-By-Room Guidance

Entryway & Living Areas ([09:15])

• Seating at Entryway: Add a bench with storage to facilitate putting on/taking off shoes, store small assistive devices (like shoehorns or dressing sticks), and prevent clutter.
• Stair Safety:
  • Install railings on both sides; railings should wrap and terminate at the wall or newel post for safety.
  • Address slippery treads with carpeting or grip tape.
  • Ensure railings extend a bit beyond both the top and bottom of staircase.

  "You want the ends of the railings to turn and terminate into a newel post or the wall. What you don't want is that classic basement stairway railing... your clothing could get caught on it on the way down." – Doug Mahoney (10:09)

Bathroom ([11:36])

• Grab Bars: Most vital change for fall prevention, but must be installed where you actually brace yourself; best practice is to observe and mark wall positions per individual.

  "What they do is… ask the individual to get into the shower and they'll watch where they put their hands to brace themselves... and say, well, that's where you need your grab bar." – Doug Mahoney (11:44)

• Shower Safety:
  • Use non-slip mats.
  • Upgrade to a removable-handheld shower head (Moen recommended).
  • Install a transfer seat that straddles the tub for easy, safe entrance/exit.
  • Use a shower chair if standing is difficult.
• Toilet Adjustments:
  • ADA-height toilets (2–3 inches taller) make sitting/standing easier.
  • Seat risers available for existing toilets, though harder to clean.
  • Consider a bidet for personal hygiene and autonomy.
• Lighting: Motion-activated night lights to prevent nighttime falls.

"Night lights everywhere. Motion activated night lights are wonderful everywhere." – Doug Mahoney (16:52)

Bedroom ([17:02])

• Adjustable Beds: Ease getting in/out and can help with issues like sleep apnea.
• Designated Dressing Areas: Use a chair—not the bed—to sit while dressing to prevent falls; keep multiples of helpful tools (shoehorn, dressing stick) in various locations.
• Smart Features:
  • Motorized curtains/blinds for easy operation from bed or via schedule.
  • Smart thermostat, smoke, and CO alarms controllable remotely.
  • Be transparent if installing smart tech for someone else.

  "If you're helping your parent across the country... it is quite important to be very transparent with whoever you're helping that you're using this technology." – Christine Cyr Clisset (20:03)

Kitchen ([22:01])

• Induction Cooktops: Safer than gas/electric (cool to the touch, no CO risk, automatic shutoff).
  • Portable single burners available for easy retrofit.
• Ovens & Dishwashers: Drawer-style units allow safer, easier access.
  • Alternatives: Countertop convection oven, air fryer, Instant Pot.
• Mobile Kitchen Islands: Islands or carts on wheels create flexible, accessible work surfaces.

  "If you have an island on rollers or like a little butcher block situation on rollers, it's just lower, easier to sit at. You can move it out of the way if you don't need it, or you could put it near the sink." – Doug Mahoney (23:39)

Home Exterior ([24:29])

• Pathway Safety: Assess route from curb/car to front door—look for uneven pavers, poor lighting, difficult doors, or awkward storm/screen doors.
  • Inexpensive solar pathway lights can boost nighttime safety.
• Door Accessibility: Consider grab bars by the door, or automatic door openers (some are voice-activated).

"Try and enter your home as if you've never been there before...with an eye out for these things." – Doug Mahoney (25:34)

Home Assessments & Professional Help ([26:29])

• Home Assessments: Usually performed by occupational therapists to create custom safety/modification plans.
• How to Find: Local Council on Aging or senior centers; state resources, or searches for nonprofits supporting seniors’ independent living.

  "A home assessment is when someone, often an occupational therapist, will come to the home and just sort of go through the house with you top to bottom and point out these things..." – Doug Mahoney (26:44)

Cost, Priorities & Resource Tips ([27:41])

• Costs Vary: Retrofit costs depend on home layout and individual needs. Multi-level and older homes may need more work.
• Renter-Friendly: Many solutions don’t require major construction—grab bars, extra lighting, non-slip mats, smart home gear.
• Affordability Resources:
  • Organizations like Rebuilding Together provide free home repairs for those who qualify ([28:43]).
  • Prioritize fall prevention—grab bars, better lighting, and eliminating clutter can often make the biggest difference for the least money.

  "Fall prevention... those actually are fairly inexpensive solutions... From there, smart home stuff..." – Doug Mahoney (29:47)

• Aesthetic Concerns:
  • Newer assistive products are more attractive and less institutional; e.g., Moen’s designer grab bars, integrated grab bar/toilet paper holders.

  "You don't need to make your home look like a hospital in order to get added safety." – Doug Mahoney (32:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On universality:

  "You can think about them all under the banner of aging in place, but the reality is...they're, you know, tweaks and modifications that are going to benefit really everybody." – Doug Mahoney (07:11)

• On customized grab bar placement:

  "What they do is… they will go into the bathroom with the individual... and they'll watch where they put their hands to brace themselves ... and say, well, that's where you need your grab bar." – Doug Mahoney (11:44)

• On leveraging technology:

  "A bedroom is a good place to talk about... a smart thermostat, smoke alarm, CO detector. Getting those in the smart version is going to be really helpful, you know, especially, again, with somebody with mobility issues, dexterity issues." – Doug Mahoney (19:20)

• On personal renovations:

  "It was not born from any specific idea... but, you know, just sort of following these convenient decisions... it goes beyond aging in place, put it that way." – Doug Mahoney (32:34)

• On his last favorite Wirecutter purchase:

  "I went to Wirecutter and I got the budget turntable that has Bluetooth connectivity, because I'm in a situation where like speakers and like an amp, it would just kind of take up too much room... but once I saw that it had Brent Butterworth's approval, I went ahead and got it." – Doug Mahoney (33:43)

Product Recommendations & Resources

• Grab bars: Moen (attractive options, various styles)
• Handheld shower heads: Moen
• Transfer seats, shower chairs: See Wirecutter’s guides
• Bidets: Toto
• Tall toilets/seat risers: Seek ADA-compliant models
• Adjustable beds, smart blinds, smart thermostats, smart smoke and CO alarms: Check Wirecutter for best picks
• Induction cooktops: Wired and portable
• Drawer-style dishwashers and ovens for accessibility
• Mobile kitchen islands for adaptable workspace
• Solar path lights for outdoor illumination

Addendum: Detailed guides, resource links, and all product recommendations mentioned are available in Doug Mahoney’s article and the Wirecutter show notes.

Listener Takeaways ([34:47 – 36:07])

• Even simple changes (securing rugs, better lighting, better entryway seating) can make a big difference immediately, regardless of age.
• Plan ahead, use resources and guides, and don’t be afraid to start small for safety and convenience benefits across all stages of life.

For more, including specific product links and additional articles on aging in place, check the episode show notes and Doug Mahoney’s article on Wirecutter.