Grab bars, handrails and other fall-prevention repairs at home

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Why are grab bars and railings worth the trouble?

Because falls are common and serious as people age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 1 in 4 older adults report falling each year, about 37 million falls, and that falls can cause broken bones and head or brain injuries. It also says falls are not a normal part of aging and can be prevented. The Consumer Product Safety Commission adds that falls are the leading cause of both deaths and injuries among people 65 and older.

Several of the fixes the health agencies recommend are small carpentry jobs, which is why they so often end up on a handyman's list.

Where should grab bars go?

In the bathroom, in three places. The CDC says to install grab bars next to the toilet and inside and outside the bathtub or shower. The National Institute on Aging gives the same advice and adds two more ideas: nonskid mats or strips on every surface that may get wet, and a grab bar near the front door to steady yourself while locking or unlocking it.

Neither agency gives mounting instructions, so follow the grab bar maker's directions for fixing it to the wall. Ask the installer how they are securing it before they start.

What about stairs?

Handrails on both sides. The CDC says to install handrails on both sides of staircases, and the NIA says to make sure they are secure and to hold them on the way up and down, even when carrying something. The NIA also wants good lighting with switches at the top and bottom of every staircase, which may mean an electrician if no switch is there today, since adding wiring is more than an ordinary repair under the state's building code regulation. Plug-in, motion-activated lights are the NIA's alternative.

Outside, it says to make sure steps to the front door are not broken or uneven and to add non-slip material to outdoor stairs.

What other repairs reduce falls?

The agencies' lists include several that are quick work for a handyman:

• fixing carpets firmly to the floor and adding no-slip strips to tile and wood floors;
• removing throw rugs and small area rugs;
• adding brighter lighting and night lights, especially near the bed and in the bathroom;
• moving often-used items within easy reach, so there is less climbing;
• a steady step stool with a handrail on top, if a stool is needed at all.

The NIA says not to stand on a chair or table to reach something high, and suggests a reach stick instead.

Do grab bars or railings need a permit?

Usually not, as repairs and minor additions inside a house, but ask your code office if the work changes stairs or exits. The state regulation exempts ordinary repairs from permits and leaves out alterations to houses that make no structural or exit changes, while letting municipalities require more. Larger accessibility changes, such as ramps, stair lifts or widened doorways, are a different scale of project.

In a home built before 1978, drilling and cutting into painted walls and trim disturbs paint. A paid installer stays outside the EPA's lead rule only if the job disturbs no more than six square feet of paint per room, which a few grab bars and a handrail normally will not reach.

What does the work cost?

The published surveys rarely price grab bars on their own. HomeGuide lists "home safety modifications" at $150 to $2,000, a range that covers anything from one bar to several rooms. Because many handymen set a minimum charge, HomeGuide's being $75 to $200, it costs less to do every bathroom and staircase in one visit.

Who can help pay for it?

Several local programs install exactly these items.

• Philadelphia. The city's Senior Housing Assistance Repair Program makes minor repairs and modifications for homeowners 60 and older who meet income rules; the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging has described railings and grab bars among the work. The Adaptive Modifications Program provides free railings, ramps, lifts and barrier-free showers for low-income residents with permanent physical disabilities.
• Chester County. The county's Senior Citizen Home Maintenance Program helps owners 65 and older with moderate repairs and modifications that may improve their physical functioning, up to $4,500.
• Delaware County. Its Whole-Home Repairs program listed grab bars, handrails, door widening and stair lifts among eligible work, with funds to be spent by the end of 2026.
• Montgomery County. Its lead hazard program's Healthy Homes inspection can add stair repairs and railings for eligible families with young children.
• Anywhere. The NIA points to the Eldercare Locator, 800-677-1116, for local home modification programs, and says that after a fall a doctor may suggest an occupational therapist, physical therapist or nurse visit to assess the home.

What should you check after installation?

Check that every rail is secure, as the NIA advises for stair handrails, and walk each staircase with the lighting you will have at night. More on safe small jobs is in the anchoring guide, help with costs is in the repair help guide, and local businesses are on the handyman services page.

Sources

1. Older Adult Safety, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
2. 34 Pa. Code § 403.62. Permit requirements and exemptions., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
3. 34 Pa. Code § 403.1. Scope., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
4. Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
5. Get home repairs and modifications for seniors, City of Philadelphia
6. Need home repairs? Help is available to older Philadelphians, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
7. Adaptive Modifications Program, Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation
8. Housing Resources, Chester County
9. Delaware County Council Announces Additional $2.7M in Funding for Delaware County Whole Home Repair Program, Delaware County
10. Lead Hazard Control Program, Montgomery County
11. Information for Older Adults, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
12. Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room, National Institute on Aging
13. Handyman Hourly Rates, Price List and Average Job Cost, HomeGuide