India is projected to age rapidly in the coming decades. The proportion of people aged 60 years and above is estimated to rise from 10.5% of the population in 2022 to 20.8% in 2050 and to 36% by the turn of the century. While the country is in early stages of a transition to an older society, little is known about how the built environment of home enables or hinders the elderly in performing activities-of-daily-living. Therefore, this study used ethnographic methods to investigate the degree of person–environment fit for the elderly who are aging-in-place. A multi-sited ethnography of elderly living at home was conducted in Dibrugarh, Panaji and New Delhi, India. Using environmental traces, participant observation and semi-structured user interviews, researchers documented human-environment interactions of sixty-four elderly in their homes. User interviews were transcribed into English and analysed using qualitative data analysis software. Thematic analysis of research data revealed the need for environmental accommodations to compensate for the lack-of-fit between the elderly person’s abilities and demands of the built environment. Functional challenges for the elderly can be classified into - postural transitions, reduced reach envelopes, lack of independent mobility, culturally-rooted behaviours and need to address the latent fear of falls. Findings from study offer insights on how redesign of the built environment of home can enhance safety, independence and assistance for elderly who are aging-in-place. Future research needs to build the evidence base and develop theoretical foundations linking the ecology of aging with the enabling role of the built environment.