Aging-in-Place Design 101 - Ku'u Home Magazine

A primer on home modifications for safety and mobility

By: Darlene Dela Cruz

Jan 1, 2026

When talking about his experience with aging-in-place design, general contractor Curt Kiriu of CK Independent Living Builders speaks from the heart. His wealth of knowledge goes beyond his credentials as a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist and four decades of professional projects — Kiriu also served as a caregiver for his father for 17 years.

“Your home is your greatest asset,” Kiriu says. “Aging-in-place means modifying your home so you can live safely and gives you a choice [to live there] for a lifetime.”

For our inaugural Kūpuna Korner, we take a broad look at what aging-in-place design is all about. Kiriu and experts from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Hawaii and Thrive for Life share different perspectives to consider for comfort, clinical needs and maintaining quality of life at home.

These before-and-after photos show how Curt Kiriu of CK Independent Living Builders remodeled a kitchen with improved aging-in-place design. Above is the original kitchen, which was updated (below) with accessible appliances and storage, as well as mindful use of space for mobility. Photos by Hawkins Biggins

Universal Design

Keali‘i Lopez, AARP Hawaii State Director, says that aging-in-place design takes cues from Universal Design (UD). Popularized in the U.S. by architect Ron Mace, UD sums up key principles for creating accessible and equitable spaces for diverse ages and abilities.

“We know most kūpuna want to age-in-place,” Lopez says. “They want to live in a home and community they are familiar with. [UD] makes homes safer for kūpuna and easier to navigate, especially for people with limited mobility.”

Aging-in-place design doesn’t have to just be functional — “the designs can be visually appealing and still appeal to people who don’t yet have a need or interest in an age-friendly home,” Lopez says.

She notes that contractors like Kiriu, who collaborates with AARP Hawaii on aging-in-place seminars, should be consulted for major home modifications. A few simple tweaks, however, can encourage mindfulness of safety and mobility to start.

“These include changing door handles and cabinet handles with lever-style handles that are easier to grip, adding a handheld showerhead and a shower seat or bench, placing non-slip mats in the tub or shower, installing nightlights and motion sensors, removing tripping hazards [and] switching to brighter LED light bulbs for better visibility,” Lopez says.

Clinical Considerations

“We like to say ‘aging-with-grace’ instead of aging-in-place,” says Damian Sempio, cofounder of Thrive for Life, a local company of accessibility specialists.

As occupational therapists and home modification experts, Sempio and the Thrive for Life team provide homeowners with a “clinical lens” on aging-in-place design, mapping movement patterns and removing obstructions that may lead to falls or loss of balance.

“It’s not just about installing one grab bar,” says Sempio. “It’s about creating a continuous chain of stability throughout the home. We match features to the person’s transfer method — stand-pivot vs. slide-board — grip strength, endurance and cognitive load, so the remodel supports actual daily routines, not just code checkboxes.”

Some of the aging-in-place modifications Thrive for Life has implemented in local homes include leveling floor transitions, prewiring for stair/platform lifts, adjusting heights for sinks and shelves and installing specially made entrance ramps.

“Designs must work for kūpuna and mo‘opuna,” says Sempio. With the realities of cost, he recommends prioritizing “high-impact, low-disruption upgrades and creative retrofits to stretch budgets.”

Cabinetry in this remodel includes modern features that allow for items to be easily reachable or pulled down based on the homeowner’s needs.
Photos by Hawkins Biggins

CAPS Designation

For general contractor Kiriu, aging-in-place design is a highly nuanced topic that requires customized, comprehensive home assessments. Modifications should be made with family members onboard for every decision, and contractors should be carefully selected with proper licenses, insurance and bonding.

“Good communication builds trust,” Kiriu says. “Be upfront with your questions and concerns, make an informed decision and have all the information [possible].”

Designated Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) like Kiriu are your best bet for safe and reputable home modifications. CAPS courses, Kiriu explains, address “the educational knowledge needed by various industry professionals that serves not only our increasing aging and disability population, but also government departments and agencies responsible for overseeing and managing various programs that assist them.”

Find local CAPS professionals through organizations like Building Industry Association of Hawaii (biahawaii.org) and the National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org). Researching through AARP (aarp.org) is also helpful for aging-in-place design ideas and services.

This story appears in the January/February 2026 print issue of Ku‘u Home magazine.