Aging in Place Grants

How to Find a CAPS Contractor (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist)

Updated October 18, 2026 · By the Aging in Place Grants research desk · How we research

How to find and vet a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, and when to bring in an occupational therapist first.

Putting in a grab bar is not hard. Putting it in the right place, anchored the right way, for the person who will use it takes more skill. That is where a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) and an occupational therapist (OT) can help.

What is a CAPS?

CAPS is a credential from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 12. It is for people who plan and build home changes that help older adults stay in their homes. CAPS holders include remodelers, builders, contractors and occupational therapists 12. Some designers and other pros earn it too.

What CAPS holders must do

To earn the credential, a person must 1:

  • Complete three courses:
  • CAPS I: Marketing and Communicating with the Aging-in-Place Client
  • CAPS II: Design Concepts and Methods for Livable Homes and Aging in Place
  • CAPS III: Details and Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging in Place
  • Sign the CAPS code of ethics pledge.
  • If they are a remodeler or contractor, show proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance where required, and a business license if their state requires one.

To keep it, they must take continuing education (four hours a year) and renew every year 1.

What CAPS does not mean

CAPS is training, not a license. It does not prove the person is licensed to do construction in your state. It is also not a guarantee of good work. Use it as a starting point, then check the person out like you would any contractor.

How to find a CAPS professional

Use the official NAHB directory

NAHB keeps a directory called "Professionals with Home Building Credentials." NAHB says these members hold credentials in specialties such as CAPS 2. You can reach it from the NAHB Directories page at nahb.org 2.

If someone says they are CAPS-certified and you cannot find them, ask for their NAHB designee information. Then call NAHB's education line at (800) 368-5242 to check 1.

Other ways to find one

  • Ask your Area Agency on Aging. Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 6.
  • Ask an occupational therapist or your doctor's office for names they trust.
  • Ask your local home builders association. The FTC also suggests checking with them for complaints 5.
  • Ask nonprofit repair programs. Some work with OTs and local contractors (see below).

Try to get at least three names, and get written bids from more than one.

Questions to ask before you hire

Ask every contractor, CAPS or not:

  1. Are you licensed in this state? What is your license number? Then check it yourself with your state or county 5.
  2. Can you show proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance? 5
  3. Are you CAPS-certified? Since when? Check the NAHB directory 2.
  4. How many aging-in-place projects have you done? Can I call two or three of those clients?
  5. Will you work with our occupational therapist, or do you have one you work with?
  6. Who will pull the permits? The contractor should. The FTC warns that asking you to get permits is a red flag 5.
  7. What exactly is included in the price? Get a written, itemized estimate.
  8. What is the schedule? The contract should list start and finish dates 5.
  9. How do payments work? Never pay the full amount up front. Some states limit down payments 5.
  10. What warranty do you offer on work and products?
  11. How will you anchor grab bars? They must go into studs or use anchors rated for the weight. A towel bar is not a grab bar.
  12. Do you design to the person's needs, or use a standard package? Good aging-in-place work is fitted to the person. Ask about heights, sides of the toilet, and walker or wheelchair space.

Red flags

Walk away if a contractor 5:

  • Knocks on your door saying they are "in the area" or have leftover materials.
  • Pushes you to decide today.
  • Wants full payment up front or cash only.
  • Asks you to get the building permits.
  • Suggests you borrow from a lender they know.
  • Gives a vague contract with blank spaces or makes promises that are not in writing.

Also be wary of any "free safety inspection" that turns into a big, urgent sales pitch. See our full guide to home repair scams.

Before you sign

Make sure the contract includes 5:

  • The contractor's name, address, phone and license number.
  • A detailed list of work and materials.
  • Start and finish dates.
  • The payment schedule.
  • Any promises made out loud, now in writing.
  • No blank spaces.

If you sign at home, you may have three business days to cancel under the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule. Some exceptions apply, such as repairs you asked for or true emergencies 8.

Occupational therapy home assessments

What an OT does

An occupational therapist looks at how a person actually lives in the home. They watch the person get in and out of the tub, use the toilet, climb stairs, cook and get out of bed. Then they suggest changes and equipment that fit that person's body, health and goals.

An OT may suggest things a contractor would not think of, like which side to put a grab bar on, or whether a tub bench will work better than a full remodel. That can save money.

When to get one first

An OT assessment is a good first step when:

  • Someone has already fallen or is afraid of falling.
  • Someone has a condition that affects movement, balance, vision or memory.
  • Someone is coming home from a hospital or rehab.
  • You are planning a big project, like a bathroom remodel or ramp.

Research backs this up. A 2023 Cochrane review found that reducing home hazards cut falls by about 38% for people at higher risk. Many of the studies used OTs or other trained professionals to find and fix hazards 3.

Does Medicare pay for it?

Sometimes. Medicare Part B may cover an OT home evaluation when it is part of a medically needed therapy plan, for example after a health problem that caused a decline 4. A purely preventive aging-in-place assessment is usually not covered. In that case, the OT may ask you to sign a notice saying you will pay yourself 4. If a home builder hires the OT, Medicare is not billed 4.

Ask your doctor for a referral if you think the visit may qualify.

OTs and nonprofit programs

Some nonprofit repair programs pair OTs with contractors. For example, HUD's Older Adult Home Modification Program grants given to Rebuilding Together required a home assessment by a licensed OT before work began 7. Ask local programs whether they include an OT visit.

Putting it together

  1. Get an OT assessment if there is a health or fall concern.
  2. Find two or three CAPS pros in the NAHB directory, or through your AAA 26.
  3. Check licenses and insurance yourself 5.
  4. Get written, itemized bids and compare them.
  5. Sign a clear contract and never pay everything up front 5.
  6. Look for funding before you start. See how to pay for home modifications.

Common questions

What does CAPS stand for?

CAPS means Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist. It is a credential from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for remodelers, builders, occupational therapists and others who help make homes work for people as they age.

Is a CAPS credential the same as a contractor's license?

No. CAPS shows training in aging-in-place design. It does not replace a state or local contractor license. Always check the license and insurance separately.

Where is the official CAPS directory?

NAHB lists credential holders in its 'Professionals with Home Building Credentials' directory, found on the NAHB Directories page at nahb.org. You can also call NAHB at 800-368-5242 to ask about a designee.

Should I hire an occupational therapist before a contractor?

If the person has fallen, has a health condition that affects movement, or just left the hospital, an OT home assessment first is a smart move. The OT looks at how the person moves and what they need. The contractor then builds it.

Will Medicare pay for an occupational therapy home assessment?

Medicare Part B may cover an OT home evaluation when it is part of a medically needed therapy plan, such as after an illness. A purely preventive assessment is usually not covered, and the therapist may ask you to sign a notice that you will pay.

Sources

  1. How to Earn Your CAPS (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist) — National Association of Home Builders. Checked October 18, 2026.
  2. NAHB Directories (incl. Professionals with Home Building Credentials) — National Association of Home Builders. Checked October 18, 2026.
  3. Environmental interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community (Cochrane review CD013258, 2023) — Cochrane. Checked October 18, 2026.
  4. Navigating Home Modifications in Medicare — American Occupational Therapy Association. Checked October 18, 2026.
  5. How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam — Federal Trade Commission. Checked October 18, 2026.
  6. Eldercare Locator: Contact Information — U.S. Administration for Community Living / USAging. Checked October 18, 2026.
  7. Rebuilding Together Receives Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP) Grant, Partners with Occupational Therapists Nationwide — Rebuilding Together. Checked October 18, 2026.
  8. Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help — Federal Trade Commission. Checked October 18, 2026.