Falls are the reason this matters. One in three people over 65 falls each year, and in 2023 Wisconsin had the highest rate of fall deaths among adults 65 and older in the country, according to the state health department.(Wisconsin DHS)
Start with the ADRC of Dane County
The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Dane County gives older adults, people with disabilities and their families unbiased information and helps them sort out options. It's also where long-term care options and public benefit applications start. Its services are free to every Dane County resident, regardless of income or assets.(ADRC of Dane County)
- Where: 2865 N Sherman Ave, Madison. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone 608-240-7400, toll-free 855-417-6892.(ADRC of Dane County)(Wisconsin DHS)
- Options counseling helps weigh ways to meet care needs at home or in a residential setting.(Wisconsin DHS) You can call, visit, or ask for a home visit.(Wisconsin DHS)
- Benefit specialists are free: elder benefit specialists for people 60 and older, disability benefit specialists for ages 18 to 59.(Wisconsin DHS)
- Falls workshop. The state points people to Stepping On, a seven-week fall-prevention workshop, through their local ADRC.(Wisconsin DHS)
Room by Room
From CDC's "Check for Safety" home checklist and its fall-prevention advice:(CDC)(CDC)
| Where | What to change |
|---|---|
| Stairs | Handrails on both sides, the full length of the stairs. A light and switch at the top and bottom. Fix loose or uneven steps; fasten carpet firmly or use non-slip treads. |
| Floors | Remove throw rugs or use non-slip backing. Clear walking paths. Coil or tape cords along the wall. |
| Bathroom | Grab bars inside and next to the tub or shower and next to the toilet. A non-slip mat or strips in the tub. |
| Kitchen | Keep things you use often about waist high. If you need a step stool, use one with a bar to hold; never stand on a chair. |
| Bedroom | A lamp you can reach from bed, and a nightlight on the path to the bathroom. |
| Lighting | More or brighter light throughout. |
Wisconsin's code requires only one handrail on a stair with more than three risers.(SPS 321.04) CDC recommends rails on both sides.(CDC) Smoke and CO alarms matter too: the alarm checker shows which ones Wisconsin requires.
Ramps, Rails and Grab Bars: the Official Numbers
The Americans with Disabilities Act doesn't apply to privately owned homes, unless part of the home is used as a public business.(U.S. Access Board)(DOJ) Its 2010 Standards are still the usual reference for accessible dimensions. Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code is what a home must meet, and its ramp rules are a minimum, not an accessibility target.
| Item | 2010 ADA Standards (reference) | Wisconsin dwelling code (required) |
|---|---|---|
| Ramp slope | No steeper than 1:12 (1 inch of rise per 12 inches of run)(ADA) | No steeper than 1 in 8(SPS 321.045) |
| Rise per ramp run | 30 inches at most(ADA) | Not set |
| Ramp width | 36 inches clear between handrails(ADA) | 36 inches between handrails(SPS 321.045) |
| Landings | At least 60 inches long at top and bottom; 60 by 60 where it turns(ADA) | Level, as wide as the ramp, at least 3 feet long, at top, bottom and each turn(SPS 321.045) |
| Ramp handrails | Required when a run rises more than 6 inches; top 34 to 38 inches high(ADA) | At least one when it rises more than 8 inches; both sides if steeper than 1:12 and rising more than 24 inches; 30 to 38 inches high(SPS 321.045) |
| Grab bars | Horizontal, 33 to 36 inches above the floor to the top of the bar(ADA) | Not in the code |
| Doorways | 32 inches clear with the door open 90 degrees(ADA) | Not in the code for accessibility |
| Hallways | 36 inches clear, narrowing to 32 inches for up to 24 inches(ADA) | Not in the code for accessibility |
| Turning space | A 60-inch circle(ADA) | Not in the code |
| Toilet seat height | 17 to 19 inches(ADA) | Not in the code |
Wisconsin's code also requires a slip-resistant ramp surface, and a code note points to the ICC/ANSI A117.1 accessibility standard, which recommends 1:12.(SPS 321.045) A 1:12 ramp takes 12 feet of run for each foot of rise, so plan the space before you price it.
Permits
In Madison, an accessible ramp on private property needs a building permit, and so does a deck. Building Inspection is at 608-266-4551 ext 2.(City of Madison) Owner-occupants of 1- and 2-family homes can apply for their own alteration permits; otherwise a licensed professional applies.(City of Madison) We didn't find Madison's answer for grab bars, stair lifts or widening a doorway, so ask Building Inspection before you start. Permit rules in other towns.
Who Pays
- Family Care, Wisconsin's Medicaid long-term care program, can cover home modifications such as ramps, stair lifts, wheelchair lifts and kitchen or bathroom changes.(Wisconsin DHS) You must be 18 or older, functionally eligible and eligible for Medicaid; the ADRC handles eligibility.(Wisconsin DHS)
- IRIS, the self-directed Medicaid program, lists home modifications as a service, paid within the participant's IRIS budget.(Wisconsin DHS)
- WisLoan lends for assistive technology and accessibility changes, with no income requirement, to Wisconsin residents 18 and older with a disability or buying for someone who has one. You apply through an independent living center.(Wisconsin DHS)
- Veterans. For fiscal year 2026, VA's Specially Adapted Housing grant goes up to $126,526 and its Special Housing Adaptation grant up to $25,350, for certain service-connected disabilities.(VA) The HISA benefit pays up to $6,800 for a service-connected disability, or $2,000 for others, toward changes like roll-in showers and permanent ramps.(VA)
- Rural homeowners 62 and older with very low income can get USDA Section 504 grants up to $10,000 to remove health and safety hazards, in rural areas only.(USDA)
- Income-qualified repair programs in Madison run through Project Home and the City's Community Development Division.(City of Madison) The repair help finder lists every program with its income limits.
- Taxes. IRS Publication 502 counts entrance ramps, wider doorways, grab bars and handrails, and lowered cabinets made for a disabled person's medical care as medical expenses. Because they usually don't raise the home's value, the full cost can often count. It's an itemized deduction, and only medical costs above 7.5% of adjusted gross income count.(IRS Pub. 502)
Hiring Someone
- A contractor who pulls a building permit for a 1- or 2-family home needs Wisconsin's Dwelling Contractor credential.(DSPS) The contractor credential checker shows how to look one up.
- Wisconsin requires a written contract if any payment is due before the work is done. Don't make the final payment until the work is finished as specified.(DATCP) What the contract must say.
- Don't let door-to-door contractors in, and don't give in to pressure.(DATCP) DATCP says many scams target seniors more than the general public; its hotline is 800-422-7128.(DATCP)
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Questions
Who do I call in Dane County for help with aging in place?
The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Dane County, 608-240-7400. It's free for every Dane County resident, whatever their income, and it's where long-term care options and benefit applications start.
Does the ADA apply to my house?
No. The ADA doesn't apply to privately owned single-family homes, unless part of the home is used as a public business. Its 2010 Standards are still the common reference for accessible dimensions.
Do I need a permit for a wheelchair ramp in Madison?
Yes. Madison's permit list says an accessible ramp on private property needs a building permit. Call Building Inspection at 608-266-4551 ext 2 for other changes like a stair lift or wider doorway.
Can I deduct a ramp or grab bars on my taxes?
Possibly. IRS Publication 502 counts ramps, wider doorways, grab bars and similar changes for a disabled person's medical care as medical expenses. It's an itemized deduction, and only medical costs above 7.5% of adjusted gross income count.