Start with the Bathroom: A Critical Area for Aging in Place
Whether you are preparing your own home or assisting someone you love to Age in Place, the bathroom is not only a great place to start but one of the most essential areas to modify for fall prevention. According to the CDC, it is estimated that 80% of falls that happen in the home occur in the bathroom, with 200,000 emergency room visits each year.
Toilet Modifications: The Right Fit Makes a Big Difference
The toilet is a good place to start. People come in all shapes and sizes, so the proper toilet height is essential to a comfortable experience. The right bowl shape, grab bars, and placement of toilet essentials can also help make that time of contemplation less stressful. Toilet heights range from 14.5 to 21 inches, with the standard comfort height and ADA-compliant toilets being 16.5 inches.
Keep in mind that we should choose a height that allows us to sit and stand with relative ease—we don’t want our feet dangling like when we were little kids or having too far to sit down and struggling to get back upright. I’ve helped many clients choose toilets that best suit their needs—from the tall retired volleyball coach who needed a 21-inch extra-tall toilet with an elongated bowl to the 4-foot-9 retired preschool teacher who needed a 14.5-inch round bowl.
With the proper toilet installed, a grab bar or two can really help assist with getting back up. One is good, but two is definitely best. Some toilet areas might have only one wall to mount a grab bar, and there is a solution to that with a folding grab bar like this one:
It just might solve a limited space issue. Some grab bars even come equipped with a holder for the TP, and the addition of a small caddy or basket can store other essentials like wet wipes or maybe even some reading material—within a comfortable reaching distance.
Flooring Safety: A Simple Upgrade with Big Impact
A wet, slippery floor or one with a bunch of loose rugs is a hazard for everyone, but it can be especially dangerous for those who shuffle their feet or use a walker. I know that a lot of people don’t like to stand on the floor with bare feet wet feet, but safety over comfort on this one. You gotta get rid of those rugs—they really are a hazard, and it’s one of the easiest ways to eliminate tripping risks in the bathroom.
Installing slip-resistant tile is what I recommend to all my clients. Pricing ranges from inexpensive ceramics to whoa that’s expensive natural stone. Budgets may vary, but the results shouldn’t—especially when it comes to Age in Place bathroom upgrades that support long-term safety and comfort.
Safer Showers: Smart Features for Aging at Home
The shower is the last thing I’d like to touch on in this post. Like flooring, this kind of project can range in cost from not too bad all the way to I could buy a car for that. Generally speaking, and at a middle-of-the-road price point, if there is difficulty stepping in and out of the shower, a lipless or minimal-lip shower pan is the way to go.
There are many standard options and sizes available—including custom sizes from companies like Tile-Redi and Freedom Showers. The latter is also a great source for wall-mounted shower seats and benches, along with a plethora of accessories for ADA-compliant showers.
I’ve used these options often for Age in Place clients as a one-stop shop for shower remodels or retrofits. For a more custom shower with a tile floor, I often use Tile-Redi for their easy-to-install pre-sloped pans. That way, we combine function and beauty with a custom tile floor and walls. For a quick, easy option that doesn’t break the bank, I like fiberglass shower pans from Freedom Showers paired with classic white porcelain subway tiles or 4″x4″ or 8″x8″ squares. It looks good, and it’s easy to clean and maintain thanks to the minimal grout lines.
Adding a shower chair or bench combined with a handheld shower wand makes washing up easy-peasy—whether you’re doing it yourself or with the help of a caregiver. Grab bars are a must in the shower: at minimum, one horizontal bar across the back and one vertical at the entrance. I typically recommend a vertical bar next to the seat or bench and near the shower valve, along with the horizontal bar across the back.
A shower upgrade is another great way to reduce fall risk and create a safer, more functional, and happier home for you or someone you love as you Age in Place.
Ready to Get Started?
If you or someone you know needs any of the upgrades discussed, please reach out to us here at EMP Handyman and Renovation. We can help with simple grab bar installations, new toilets, or full bathroom remodels. Let us help!
