If bathroom use has become difficult and you do not know which support program to ask about, contact the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA). Its staying-at-home service page directs families to call 1-800-589-7277 or use its request form to discuss eligibility and an in-home consultation or assessment. The agency says assessments are conducted by a licensed social worker or registered nurse.[12]
Treat that first conversation as a way to understand your options. Do not treat a request for help as approval for a bathroom remodel.
Describe the difficulty before choosing the fixture
Before the call, write down what is hard to do in the bathroom. Use ordinary descriptions rather than trying to diagnose the solution:
- Is stepping over the tub wall the problem?
- Is sitting down or standing up difficult?
- Is there enough room for the person who helps with bathing?
- Are controls, towels, or other necessities difficult to reach?
- Is this a recent change, or are you planning for future needs?
Keep this note separate from your list of preferred products. It helps explain why you are asking for assistance without assuming that a particular tub, seat, or shower is the answer.
COAAA also lists a free long-term care consultation for understanding current or future care needs, with no age or income requirements for that consultation. This is separate from eligibility for individual service programs.[12]
Questions to keep beside the phone
| Question | What to record |
|---|---|
| Which service or program should I contact? | The program name and the person handling the next step. |
| Do you need an assessment before discussing bathroom changes? | Who arranges it and what information to prepare. |
| What eligibility requirements apply? | The documents requested, rather than an assumed approval. |
| Could this program consider the type of work I need? | The proposed scope and any exclusions. |
| Are there provider requirements or approvals before work begins? | The written instructions to share with a contractor. |
| What should I do next? | A contact, an action, and any date the agency gives you. |
The online request form accepts requests from seniors, caregivers, and professionals seeking aging, caregiving, or long-term care assistance in Central Ohio.[11]
Keep resource guidance and construction planning separate
COAAA’s housing and home-repair guide directs readers to contact individual programs about eligibility and permitted repairs.[8] Use it to find the next conversation, not to assume a listed grant or service is currently available to your household.
If you already know that your question concerns an Ohio Medicaid waiver, the waiver home-modification questions address that more specific process. For insurance questions, use the separate Medicare and bathroom-modification guide.
For the room itself, compare grab-bar installation with tub-to-shower conversion information. A discussion about construction should not substitute for a program’s eligibility or payment decision.
Common questions
Does contacting COAAA mean my bathroom work is approved?
No. COAAA describes eligibility requirements for service programs and offers consultations or assessments to help determine needs.[12] Ask the relevant program what written approval is required before committing to work.
Can a family caregiver request help?
Yes. COAAA’s online form is intended for seniors, caregivers, and professionals seeking assistance.[11]
Should I choose a contractor before making the call?
You can gather information about the room, but first ask the program whether it has provider requirements. This article does not establish NextStep’s enrollment or approval as a provider for any COAAA-administered program.
Discuss the bathroom with Paul
When you are ready to discuss the installation, bring any written program requirements you have received, and confirm provider eligibility separately before treating an estimate as a program-funded proposal.
Sources
COAAA sources checked October 8, 2026. The housing guide states it was updated July 2025; confirm current program terms with the agency.