"CAPS" is one of those acronyms families see online without ever getting a clear explanation of what it means. Here is a plain-language version.
What CAPS stands for
CAPS stands for Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist. It is a professional designation from the National Association of Home Builders. It signals that the person holding it has been formally trained in aging-in-place work: how older bodies, older homes, and daily routines change together, and how to modify a home to support all three.
What CAPS training actually covers
- How age-related changes in balance, strength, vision, and dexterity show up in a home.
- How to identify fall risks, mobility barriers, and daily-living friction points.
- How to plan modifications for bathrooms, kitchens, entries, and bedrooms.
- How to communicate with older adults, family members, and other professionals.
- Business practices for working in private homes.
What CAPS is not
CAPS is not a license to perform electrical, plumbing, structural, or general contracting work. Those are separately regulated. A CAPS-certified professional plans, coordinates, and advises. The regulated construction is performed by appropriately licensed and insured independent contractors.
CAPS is also not an ADA certification. ADA is federal civil rights law for public spaces; it does not apply to private single-family homes. A good CAPS specialist works ADA-informed, meaning they use ADA benchmarks as reference where useful.
Why it matters when hiring for a family home
Handyman services, general contractors, and physical therapists can all touch pieces of an aging-in-place project. A CAPS-certified specialist is trained specifically to see the whole picture: the person, the daily routine, the house, and how they will change over the next several years.
What to ask before hiring
- Are you CAPS-certified? Through which organization?
- How long have you been doing aging-in-place work specifically?
- Do you provide the licensed construction yourself, or do you coordinate it with independent contractors?
- Do you offer a written assessment or plan before any work is scoped?
- Are you insured for the work you are doing in the home?
Coastal Access Living's founder, April Gloy, is CAPS-certified. Every Home Safety & Access Assessment is conducted by her personally, and every accessibility modification project is coordinated with appropriately licensed and insured independent contractors.