Stillhome.

A familiar house. A fresh look.

The House You Love Doesn’t Need a Remodel.
It Needs a Walkthrough.

Stillhome is a practical, room-by-room guide with printable checklists for homeowners who want to stay put, and for the adult children helping them without taking over.

Get Stillhome — $37 one-time

One payment. Yours to keep. No subscription.

✓ Instant PDF download✓ 60-day money-back guarantee

Home observation and home modification only. Not a medical program.

STAY IN THE HOUSE YOU LOVE
Stillhome guide cover: Stay in the House You Love
Start small.
Make it yours.8 modules · printable PDF

A practical guide for the place you call home.

Room by room.Weekend by weekend.At your own pace.

01 / The familiar feeling

A house that
almost works.

The story below is an illustrative composite. It is not a testimonial and does not describe a real customer. We wrote it to show the kind of house this guide is for.

Picture a 1980s two-story on a quiet street. The owners raised their kids there. The maple out front is now taller than the roof, and they planted it.

It's a good house, and most of it still works fine.

A few things have crept up, though. The hall light switch is at the top of the stairs and not the bottom, so the trip down at night starts in the dark. The bathroom has a towel bar in the spot where a hand naturally goes when you step out of the tub. Everyone grabs it, and towel bars aren't built for that. The runner in the hallway curls at one corner. The good skillet sits on the top shelf, which takes a step stool to reach. Three steps up to the front door is fine with empty hands and harder with two bags of groceries, and in January it's icy.

None of this is an emergency, and none of it means anyone is "declining." It's a house built for the people its owners were in 1987, and they've changed a little since then, as people do.

Their daughter lives two hours away. On her last visit she noticed the curled runner and said something. It came out wrong. Her mother heard "you can't manage anymore," and the conversation went nowhere.

So nothing changed. The runner still curls, the switch is still at the top of the stairs, and the towel bar is still doing a grab bar's job.

Most of the fixes in that house are small. A few need a pro. All of them are easier when you have a list, an order to do them in, and a way to talk about it that doesn't feel like a verdict.

That's what Stillhome gives you.

02 / A different way to look at it

It’s your home.
Not a medical chart.

You've probably seen plenty of it already. Most of it falls into one of three traps.

01

It's written like a medical chart.

A lot of what's out there talks about "fall risk," "mobility deficits," and "assessments." That language is appropriate in a clinic. Coming from a magazine or a well-meaning relative, it makes a person feel like a patient in their own living room. People push back against that, and they're right to.

Stillhome is about the house. We look at light, surfaces, reach, handholds, and paths. We don't diagnose anyone or assess their body, and we don't tell you what your health requires. Questions like that belong with your doctor or another qualified professional.

02

It's all-or-nothing.

The glossy version is a $40,000 bathroom with a curbless shower and a contractor's waiting list. Faced with that, many families decide to deal with it later. Meanwhile the hallway light could have been brighter by Saturday afternoon.

Most houses don't need a remodel. They need a short list of specific changes in a sensible order. Some cost the price of a light bulb, and some are worth a licensed pro's time and money.

03

It skips the "who does this?" question.

Generic checklists say "install grab bars" or "add a stair rail" as if it were as easy as hanging a calendar. It often isn't. A properly anchored grab bar may need blocking in the wall or a careful approach around tile and plumbing. A new rail or a change to the stairs can involve structure and local code. Wiring a switch at the bottom of the stairs is electrical work.

Stillhome tells you plainly what a reasonably handy person can usually handle this weekend, what calls for a licensed trade, and how to hire one without getting taken.

03 / The Stillhome approach

Walk. Change. Hire.
A little at a time.

A clipboard. A weekend.
A plan for what comes next.

1

Walk the house with a checklist.

Start with a clipboard and the printable walkthrough, and go room by room: entry, hallways, stairs, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, outside path. You're writing down what's actually there, things like the switch is only at the top or that rug corner lifts or the everyday plates are above shoulder height. You aren't grading anyone, and this isn't a clinical assessment. It's a homeowner getting to know their own house again.

If an adult child is helping, the guide shows how to do the walkthrough together, with the homeowner holding the pen.

2

Change what you can this weekend.

A surprising amount is small and reversible: brighter bulbs you can actually reach and change, plug-in night lights along the route from bed to bathroom, securing or removing loose rugs, rerouting cords, moving the everyday dishes down to the easy-reach zone, putting a bench by the front door for packages. Low cost, low drama, done by Sunday.

3

Hire for the rest, in the right order.

Anything structural, plumbing, or electrical beyond a like-for-like bulb change goes on the hire list. That includes most anchored grab bars where you aren't sure about the wall, new rails, stair changes, regrading a path, and new outdoor wiring. The guide shows how to describe the job, get more than one quote, check licensing and permits for your area, and spot red flags. The 12-month plan then spreads that list across the year so it fits a budget and a calendar.

No miracle and no promised outcome. It's a clear, honest process that makes a house easier to live in, one change at a time.

Give your house a walkthrough — $37

04 / Inside the guide

One home.
Eight practical
modules.

A self-guided PDF course, 77 pages, with warm illustrations, room-by-room walkthroughs, and DIY-vs-hire cost tables.

Stillhome guide cover: Stay in the House You Love

Digital PDF. No physical book is shipped.

01Walk the House with a Checklist

The heart of the guide. A room-by-room printable walkthrough covering lighting, rugs, cords, thresholds, handholds, and reach. It's framed as observation, not diagnosis. It also covers how to take notes with an adult child without taking over: who holds the clipboard, what to say, and what to leave alone.

02Lighting and the Path from Bed to Bathroom at Night

The route you take half-asleep at 2 a.m. is one of the most worthwhile places to start. This module covers night lighting, why switches at both ends of stairs and halls matter, bulbs and fixtures you can actually reach and change, and motion lights as an option. It's clear about where the line falls: going beyond a like-for-like bulb change may mean calling a licensed electrician.

03The Bathroom

The longest module, because the bathroom deserves it. Grab-bar placement as a home-modification topic: what blocking is, why studs matter, why a towel bar is not a grab bar, and when to hire a pro (if you're unsure of the wall, or if tile or plumbing is involved). It also covers non-slip surfaces, shower entry, and toilet height as a product category, not a prescription. Cost bands run from DIY accessories, to a hired grab-bar install, to a larger remodel. Anything structural or plumbing goes to a licensed pro.

04Stairs, Rails, and One-Floor Living Options

Handrails, contrasting stair edges, and keeping stairs clear. When a licensed contractor should evaluate an existing rail or a stair change. One-floor living as a matter of rearranging rooms, not a medical recommendation. Stair lifts get a short, neutral mention: if you're considering one, use a qualified installer and check your local code. It's not a sales pitch.

05Kitchen Reach, Seated Prep, and Storage You Can Use

Work-surface height as a preference you can adjust. How to set up an "easy zone" for the things you use every day. Honest step-stool cautions, and lever-style handles as a simple swap to consider.

06Front Path, Driveway, and Getting the Groceries In

Outdoor lighting, even walkways, a package bench by the door, and general seasonal notes on ice and snow (check what's appropriate where you live). When to hire a contractor for regrading or a new walk.

07DIY vs. Hire

The module that saves the most money and frustration. Permits and licensed trades in plain language. How to get more than one quote, what to ask, and the red flags to walk away from. A realistic list of what a competent DIYer might do this weekend: brighter bulbs, securing rugs, and a non-structural grab bar only where the product's instructions allow it. Otherwise, hire.

08A 12-Month Plan and a Family Conversation

A month-by-month plan with approximate cost bands, so the changes are spread out instead of piled up. Also a conversation guide for adult children built around one principle: it's the homeowner's house and the homeowner's decision. It closes with an honest note that small changes add up, and that nobody can promise a particular outcome.

STILLHOME / MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME

A little easier,
one month at a time.

MY 12-MONTH PLAN

Start here
This weekend
Next month
Hire it
Later this year

Illustrative layout · actual printables included in the PDF

05 / Off the screen. Into your hands.

Made for a clipboard.
And the fridge.

Everything you need to print is included, so you can use it on paper, not just on a screen.

  • The room-by-room walkthrough, one page per area: entry, halls, stairs, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, living areas, outside path and driveway. Check boxes plus space for notes.
  • The "This Weekend" list: small, low-cost, usually reversible changes a reasonably handy person can often do alone.
  • The "Hire It" list: a page for jobs that need a licensed trade, with space to note what kind of pro, how many quotes, and whether a permit may be needed.
  • The quote-comparison sheet: put two or three contractor quotes side by side so you're comparing like with like.
  • The 12-month plan: one page you can stick on the fridge. Quick wins first, then the bigger jobs spread across the year, each with an approximate cost band.
  • The family conversation guide: openers, things not to say, and a way to end the talk with a next step instead of an argument.

About the cost bands: costs vary widely by region, house, materials, and contractor. The bands in Stillhome are approximate 2025–2026 ranges to help you plan and compare. They are not quotes. Always get real quotes from local pros.

About codes: building codes and accessibility rules vary by city, state, and province. Stillhome teaches principles and tells you when to check your local code. It does not present any one checklist as law.

Get the guide & printables — $37

06 / Is it a good fit?

A useful guide.
With honest limits.

It's for you if…

  • You own your home (or help a parent who does), you love it, and you'd like to keep living there.
  • The house mostly works but has a handful of spots that have started to bother you: a dim hallway, an awkward shelf, a tricky front step.
  • You'd like a clear plan and a sensible order instead of a vague worry or an expensive all-or-nothing remodel.
  • You're an adult child who wants to help without taking over, and wants a way to raise the subject that respects your parent's say.
  • You're reasonably handy, or you're happy to hire the right pro once you know what to ask for.

It's not for you if…

  • You need medical, physical-therapy, or occupational-therapy advice. Stillhome isn't that. Please talk to your doctor or a qualified clinician, and ask whether a professional home assessment makes sense for you.
  • You're looking for a guarantee that a home change will prevent an injury or keep someone out of care. No honest guide can promise that, and we won't.
  • You're planning major structural work and want DIY instructions for it. We'll tell you to hire a licensed contractor every time.
  • You want a contractor-grade design manual or a code book for your jurisdiction.

A note from the publisher

Practical information.
Plain language.

Stillhome is published by Magicka Games, a small independent publisher of practical guides.

We aren't a medical company, a contractor, or a government agency, and we don't claim credentials we don't have. What we do is research a topic carefully, organize it so it's usable, and write it in plain language for people who'd rather get things done than read jargon. When a question belongs with a doctor, a licensed electrician, a plumber, or your local building department, we say so and point you there.

We built Stillhome because the information most families need is scattered across medical brochures, contractor sales pages, and remodeling magazines, and very little of it is written for the person who actually lives in the house.

Room for real experiences

Reader notes

No customer testimonials are published yet.

READER NOTE / 1

Reserved for a genuine customer review, shared with written permission.

Placeholder — not a testimonial
READER NOTE / 2

Reserved for a genuine customer review, shared with written permission.

Placeholder — not a testimonial
READER NOTE / 3

Reserved for a genuine customer review, shared with written permission.

Placeholder — not a testimonial

A plan for the house you love

Everything you need
to get started.

What's included What it does for you
The Stillhome guide (8 modules, 77 pages, PDF) A room-by-room plan from front walk to back bedroom, in plain language
Printable room-by-room walkthrough checklists Walk the house with a clipboard and see what's actually there
"This Weekend" and "Hire It" lists Separate the quick wins from the jobs that need a licensed pro
DIY-vs-hire cost tables (approximate 2025–2026 bands) Plan a budget before you call anyone
Quote-comparison sheet and contractor red-flag list Hire with more confidence and compare quotes fairly
The 12-month improvement plan Spread the work and the cost across a year
Family conversation guide for adult children Bring it up kindly, keep the homeowner in charge
Diagrams throughout See placement and layout ideas at a glance

STILLHOME / THE COMPLETE GUIDE

Stay in the House You Love

$37 USD

One time. No subscription.
Keep the PDF and all the printables.

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60DAYS TO TRY IT

Take it for a walkthrough

Try it in your own home.

Download Stillhome and print the walkthrough. Walk your house with it, and try a few of the weekend changes if you like.

If within 60 days of purchase you decide it isn't useful to you, for any reason, email emaildevdude@gmail.com and we'll refund your $37. You don't need to explain or argue.

The guarantee covers your purchase price. It isn't a promise about any health, safety, or home-improvement outcome, because no honest guide can make that promise. It does mean you can try Stillhome without risking your money.

A few good questions

Before you start.

1. Is this medical advice?

No. Stillhome is an educational guide to observing your home and making home modifications. It doesn't diagnose, treat, or assess anyone's health, mobility, or abilities. For health questions, talk to your doctor or another qualified clinician. If you'd like a professional in-home assessment, ask your doctor whether that's appropriate for you.

2. Will this prevent falls or injuries?

We can't promise that, and we'd be wary of anyone who does. Stillhome helps you spot and address things in your house, like lighting, loose rugs, reach, and handholds, that many people find make a home easier to live in. Outcomes depend on many factors outside any guide's control.

3. Will it keep me (or my parent) out of assisted living?

We don't make that claim. Where someone lives depends on health, finances, family, and many other things. Stillhome's goal is narrower and honest: help make the house you have easier to live in.

4. When should I hire a pro instead of doing it myself?

Hire a licensed trade for anything structural, any plumbing, and any electrical work beyond a like-for-like bulb change. Also hire if a permit may be required, or whenever you're unsure. Module 7 covers this in detail, including how to get more than one quote and which red flags to watch for. Nothing in Stillhome suggests DIYing structural changes.

5. Can I install grab bars myself?

Sometimes, for some products, if the manufacturer's instructions allow your wall type and you're confident in where you're anchoring. Often the honest answer is to hire a pro, especially if you're unsure what's behind the wall, if there's tile or plumbing nearby, or if the wall may need blocking. A towel bar is not a grab bar. Module 3 explains the considerations, and the cost table compares DIY accessories with a hired install.

6. Do I need permits?

It depends on the job and on where you live. Many small changes, like bulbs, rugs, and rearranging storage, don't. Electrical, plumbing, structural, and some exterior work often do. Always check with your local building department. Stillhome helps you know when to ask.

7. Does it follow the building code where I live?

Codes and accessibility rules vary by city, state, and province, and they change. Stillhome teaches general principles and repeatedly tells you to check your local code and use licensed, local pros. It isn't a code book.

8. I'm the adult child. Can I use this without my parent feeling bossed around?

That's exactly what the conversation guide in Module 8 and the "walk it together" approach in Module 1 are for. The homeowner holds the clipboard and makes the decisions. You help with the list, the research, the quotes, and the ladder.

9. Are the costs in the guide accurate for my area?

They're approximate 2025–2026 planning bands, and real costs vary widely by region, house, materials, and contractor. Use them to plan and compare, then get actual local quotes.

10. Is this a physical book?

No. Stillhome is a digital PDF you download right after purchase. The checklists and plan pages are designed to print on standard letter-size paper.

11. Is there a subscription or upsell?

No. It's $37, one time.

12. What if it isn't for me?

Email emaildevdude@gmail.com within 60 days of purchase and we'll refund your $37, no questions asked.

Your home. Your decisions. Your pace.

Start with the house.
Start this weekend.

You don't have to remodel the whole house, or settle every question about the future this month.

Here's what you can do:

  1. Print the walkthrough.
  2. Walk the house with it this weekend.
  3. Fix the two or three small things you can.
  4. Put the rest on the hire list and the 12-month plan.

Then the house you love is a little easier to live in than it was last week. It's a modest promise, and we think it's worth keeping.

Get Stillhome — $37 one-time

Instant PDF download · Printable checklists · 60-day money-back guarantee

P.S. If you're the adult child reading this, consider buying it, printing the walkthrough, and handing your parent the clipboard rather than a list of what you think should change. That small difference often decides whether the conversation goes well. Module 8 shows you how.

We’re here to help

A question before you begin?

Questions, download help, or a refund within 60 days. A real person reads every message.

emaildevdude@gmail.com ↗

Sources & further reading

AARP’s 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey provides background on why staying at home matters to many households. References are for information and do not imply endorsement.

AARP: 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey ↗

One small step toward a plan

Make yourself at home.

Stillhome · $37 USD one-time
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