Introduction
More and more older adults are choosing to stay in their own homes as they age, and it’s not hard to see why. Home offers comfort, familiarity, and a strong sense of independence. For many, it’s where lifelong memories live and the idea of moving to a facility feels like giving up that freedom. But while staying at home sounds ideal, it often comes with hidden challenges.
Over time, everyday spaces can become less safe. Stairs, narrow hallways, slippery floors, poor lighting, and hard-to-reach fixtures all pose serious risks especially when mobility or vision declines. That’s where home safety advisors come in. These trained professionals help older adults, and their families recognize potential hazards and offer simple, effective solutions to reduce the risk of falls and injuries. From grab bars to lighting upgrades, and from home layout advice to fall prevention tips, the role of a home safety advisor is becoming more essential than ever in supporting safe, independent living at home.
Before we get into the steps of becoming a certified advisor, let’s first understand what the role actually involves.
What does a Home Safety Advisor do?
A Home Safety Advisor is a trained professional who helps seniors minimize hazards in the home to prevent falls, injuries, and avoidable hospitalizations. While the role isn’t clinical, it’s highly impactful.
Home Safety Advisors typically:
- Conduct non-medical safety assessments in the home
- Identify hazards such as slippery surfaces, poor lighting, or inaccessible fixtures
- Recommend practical and cost-effective solutions like grab bars, ramp installations, and improved lighting
- Educate families on fall prevention and home modification strategies
- Provide referrals to trusted contractors or services as needed
This role often overlaps with senior care advising, aging-in-place consulting, and senior relocation services but it has a distinct focus on preventing risk and improving quality of life through the environment.
Now that we have an idea of what home safety advisors do, let’s take a look at who actually performs these home evaluations and what qualifies someone for this responsibility.
Who performs a home safety evaluation?
A home safety evaluation can be performed by various professionals, but only those with proper home safety certification or relevant training are equipped to conduct a thorough, effective assessment.
Qualified individuals include:
- Certified Home Safety Advisors trained through specialized programs like Age Safe® America
- Occupational therapists with experience in home accessibility
- Physical therapists or rehab professionals focused on mobility safety
- Senior care consultants with fall prevention training
- Trained contractors and home service providers who understand aging-in-place needs
While informal checklists exist online, a certified advisor brings a more holistic, personalized lens one that evaluates risks, family dynamics, and the senior’s physical or cognitive changes.
Ready to get started in this rewarding role? Here’s a breakdown of how you can become a certified advisor and launch your path in this growing field.
How to Become a Home Safety Advisor
- Enroll in a Senior Safety Training Program
The first step to becoming a Certified Home Safety Advisor is to complete the Certified Senior Home Safety Specialist® (SHSS) course offered by Age Safe® America.
This foundational training is a prerequisite for Advisor Certification and equips you with the core knowledge needed to assess and improve home safety for older adults.
Age Safe® America offers one of the most comprehensive and respected courses in this space, designed specifically for:
- Healthcare workers
- Senior living professionals
- Contractors, remodelers, and real estate professionals
- Entrepreneurs launching aging-in-place businesses
- Anyone seeking to serve the growing 50+ demographic
The training and coaching program, active since 2015, covers essential topics such as fall prevention, home modifications, non-medical safety assessments, communication strategies, and more.
You’ll also gain real-world tools like assessment forms, waiver templates, and business coaching to hit the ground running in your community.
- Develop Core Competencies
Through training, you’ll learn how to:
- Conduct evidence-based safety assessments
- Understand age-related physical and cognitive challenges
- Navigate home environments from a safety-first perspective
- Recommend accessible design and modification solutions
- Communicate clearly with seniors and their families
This skill set allows you to work independently or as part of a team while becoming a trusted voice for aging in place and home safety.
- Launch or Integrate Your Services
Once certified, you can:
- Start a standalone advisory service
- Add home safety consulting to an existing business (e.g., home care, OT, real estate)
- Partner with senior-focused organizations or nonprofits
- Lead workshops or presentations in your local community
According to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, spending on home modifications for aging-in-place is expected to surge as older adults aim to remain at home longer (source).
So, why is this role in such high demand today? Let’s explore the reasons behind the growing need for home safety advisors.
Why the Home Safety Advisor Role Is Growing
- 1 in 4 older adults falls each year, leading to over 3 million emergency visits (CDC)
- The average cost of a fall-related hospitalization is $30,000 or more
- More than 80% of seniors prefer to remain at home, but many homes are not designed with safety in mind
This data points to a major need and opportunity. Advisors help families avoid these costs and tragedies by intervening proactively.
The role isn’t just about homes, it’s about lives. Whether you’re guiding a client through a room-by-room safety review or helping families explore home modifications, your work as a Certified Advisor can mean the difference between a crisis and confidence.
So, who exactly should consider adding this certification to their career or business? Let’s find out.
Who Should Consider This Certification?
Becoming a Certified Home Safety Advisor is ideal for:
- Healthcare professionals (nurses, CNAs, PTs, OTs)
- Senior living professionals (care managers, advisors)
- Remodelers and contractors
- Home care providers and aides
- Entrepreneurs looking for a high-impact, service-driven business
- Realtors and downsizing specialists working with older clients
This is especially valuable for those looking to diversify income, increase credibility in the senior care industry, or simply make a meaningful difference.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes Age Safe® America’s training stand out from the rest.
What Makes the Age Safe® America Program Unique?
Unlike generic online courses, this training and coaching program is designed to:
- Provide expert-led coaching and live Q&A sessions
- Deliver real-world business tools and strategies
- Offer access to marketing and client engagement templates
- Include referrals to technologies seniors need and want
- Prepare you to grow as a trusted community resource
It’s more than a class, it’s a business accelerator built for people who want to do good work and build a long-term presence in their communities.
Conclusion:
With the 50+ population growing faster than ever, the need for safer homes and informed support is here to stay. Becoming a Certified Home Safety Advisor gives you the skills, credibility, and confidence to step into that gap, whether you’re looking to serve clients directly or expand your current services.
The Age Safe® America program is one of the most respected ways to enter this field, with over a decade of experience helping professionals become leaders in their communities.
Visit Age Safe® America’s Advisor Certification Page to learn more and enroll today.
Whether you’re starting something new or expanding your mission, this is your chance to help others live safer, longer, and better right where they want to be: home.