Aging-in-Place Remodeling in Lake Forest, IL: Suites, Baths, Lifts

Lake Forest is 26.7% residents 65 and over, with a median home value of $938,300 (Census American Community Survey 2024 five-year estimates), inside Lake County, which had 128,738 residents 65 and over on July 1, 2025, 17.9% of the county (Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates). The median home was built in 1976, on a large lot, over a basement. Illinois has no statewide general contractor license, so the city's building department and the written contract are the checks. The projects that come up most are a main-floor suite, a primary bath rebuilt curbless to the standard of the house, and an elevator where the plan has three levels.

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Lake Forest by the numbers

• 26.7% of Lake Forest's 19,416 residents are 65 or older; median household income is $235,081 and the median home is worth $938,300, against Illinois medians of $83,390 and $263,300 (Census American Community Survey 2024 five-year estimates).
• 88.8% of homes are owner-occupied and 76.6% single-family detached; the median home was built in 1976 (same source).
• Lake County had 128,738 residents 65 and over on July 1, 2025, 17.9% of the county, up 19.7% since 2020; the county's median home dates to 1983 (Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates; same ACS source).

The homes here

Large houses on large lots. The 1976 median hides a spread: estate houses from the early 1900s near the lake, mid-century ranches and colonials, and 1970s to 1990s houses on the west side. Most are two or three stories over a full basement with the primary bedroom upstairs. The lot size is the asset: there is room to add rather than convert.

The main-floor suite. The project that comes up most is a main-floor bedroom and bath: a first-floor study becomes the bedroom and a powder room grows into a full bath with a curbless shower, or, on a lot this size, a new wing goes on with a bedroom, a bath and a first-floor laundry. The plumbing run and the choice between conversion and addition drive the cost.

Three levels and the elevator. Where the plan has a lower level, a main floor and bedrooms above, a home elevator in a stacked closet is the project for a couple who mean to stay for decades, a five-figure project. A straight-rail stair lift, $3,000 to $20,000 installed nationally, is the quicker fix for one staircase.

The bathroom and the winter entry. A 1976 primary bath has a tub to climb over and a shower behind a curb. The bathroom safety remodel that fits is a curbless shower with a linear drain and a built-in bench, grab bars in the same finish as the faucets and stone with a non-slip rating. Outside, Chicago O'Hare averages 38.4 inches of snow a year (National Weather Service, 1991 to 2020), so the walk from the drive gets a covered landing, railings and a step-free entry built to drain before it freezes.

Licensing and permits in Lake County

Illinois has no statewide general contractor license. The state licenses roofers (IDFPR) and plumbers (IDPH), and the City of Lake Forest handles contractor registration and permits inside its limits. The Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act applies to every job over $1,000: a written contract with the total cost and the business address, the "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" pamphlet with a signed acknowledgment, and liability insurance of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence. Ask for the certificate of insurance and check the Attorney General's complaint history. The Illinois page has the full state rule.

Who pays

Most Lake Forest families pay directly, from savings, a home equity line or siblings splitting the cost: no pre-approval, your choice of contractor. Paying out of pocket covers the tools. AgeGuide, the Area Agency on Aging for Lake County, is at 630-293-5990. Modifications made for medical reasons can count as a deductible medical expense under IRS Publication 502 (tax deductions), and a long-term care policy often includes a capped home modification benefit. The income-limited help in Lake County is Community Partners for Affordable Housing, up to $40,000 as a 0% forgivable loan for accessibility work at or below 80% of the area median income ($68,050 for one person), which will not fit most households here. Original Medicare pays nothing toward remodeling; for Medicaid, ask the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services what is covered and whether there is a waitlist; veterans should ask the VA about the HISA grant.

Common projects in Lake Forest

Chicago-area construction wages averaged $40.87 an hour against $31.42 nationally in May 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics), so expect quotes above the national ranges. Get 3 written quotes.

• Main-floor bedroom and bath: varies by home; conversion is the cheap end, an addition the expensive end.
• Bathroom safety remodel: $6,600 to $28,000 for a full remodel nationally, $2,500 to $9,000 for a curbless conversion alone.
• Home elevator or lift: stops, shaft location and cab finish drive the price.
• Step-free entry: $875 to $5,000 nationally for a ramp; a covered landing adds to it.

Ready to talk to a certified aging-in-place remodeler? Request a match and talk to a licensed remodeler serving Lake Forest.