Growing old can be tough. What can make it more difficult is the thought of leaving the home in which you’ve raised a family or lived for many years. According to AARP, 75 percent of Americans over age 50 plan to live in their homes as they reach their elder years. As homeowners mature, so should the safety, comfort, and convenience of their bathrooms.
“Bathrooms designed for those aging in place do not have to be hospital-like spaces,” said David Kallie, MCR, CKBR, CAPS, president and CEO of Dimension Inc. “They can be luxurious, spa-like, and safe.”
As you prepare to remodel your bathroom to ensure it will meet your changing needs, consider these must-have components:
Plenty of Room
Bathrooms are usually smaller spaces, but aging homeowners will need room to move freely with the assistance of a walker or wheelchair, especially around appliances like the sink, toilet, and shower.
“We suggest five square feet of open space,” David said. “We also recommend installing grab bars around the shower and toilet—in nice materials of course—to reduce the risk of falling.”
While considering the space inside the bathroom, don’t forget about the entrance to the room. The door should be widened to about 32 or 36 inches to accommodate assistive devices. This detail can be easily overlooked, and it will be more difficult to widen doors after the fact.
A Safe Shower
The days of lifting your feet to enter and exit the shower may be limited. A curbless shower, a shower with no lip, will allow easy access and will be a blessing if a wheelchair or walker is needed in the future.
“Showers for older residents also include shower seating for those who must or choose to sit while showering,” said David. “In addition, handheld showerheads are common to allow height adjustments and easier access to water.”
Slip-Free Flooring
The most common room in which falling occurs is the bathroom. Sleek flooring with bathmats or rugs may no longer be an option; materials like tile, vinyl, rubber, or cork are safer bets.
“Materials like rubber and tile offer those aging with additional grip underneath their feet,” David said. “You may also want to look for tile options with a slip resistance rating.”
Height Adjustments
The placement of bathroom fixtures for those aging in place also needs to be considered carefully, as there may be various levels of need. Items like the toilet, vanity, and storage spaces must work for those standing and sitting.
Storage cabinetry should not be placed too high that residents need a step stool, but also not too low that they need to bend over. Storage at a fair height, with pull-out and easy-to-grab handles, works best. “In addition, your vanity may need to be lowered a bit to accommodate those in a wheelchair,” said David. “There should be enough legroom so they will not bump into pipes underneath the sink.”
Another consideration is a chair-height toilet to avoid strain on an individual’s knees and back.
Additional Lighting
Age is hard on the eyes. Take a good look at your lighting, and decide which areas have enough natural light and which need further illumination. LED lights behind mirrors to reduce glare and smaller lights in storage cabinets are helpful.
“Visits to the bathroom during the middle of the night are common, even more so among those older,” David said. “Consider lights going from the bedroom to the bathroom and lights inside the bathroom that constantly stay on, preferably with a dimmer.”
Dimension Design-Build-Remodel works to create beautiful and functional bathrooms that improve the quality of your life. To start planning your age-friendly bathroom today, contact Dimension Design-Build-Remodel at 262-402-6602 or email davidkallie@dimension-dbr.com.