Bathroom remodels for seniors: An in-depth guide
By Nicki Escudero•Last updated Mar 25, 2024
Last updated Mar 25, 2024
Table of Contents
- Why choose a senior-friendly bathroom remodel
- Designing a bathroom for aging in place
- Accessibility and safety features for senior-friendly bathrooms
- Making bathing easier for seniors
- Toilet and sink considerations for seniors
- Additional bathroom aids to consider
- Hire a professional for your senior bathroom remodel
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Falls and injuries can become more common as we age due to mobility issues. According to the National Institute on Aging, falls could be caused by slower reflexes, rushed movements, age-related loss of muscle mass, and problems with balance. Within the home, falls are likely to happen in the bathroom. The Ohio Department of Aging reports that 80% of falls in the home occur in the bathroom, with more than 200,000 seniors treated in emergency rooms each year for bathroom-related injuries. A study on falls and older adults in “Injury Epidemiology” recommends fall prevention measures, especially for high-risk seniors.
If you’re a senior homeowner (or have seniors living in your home), you can make various modifications to your bathroom for increased safety, functionality, and comfort.Keep reading to learn more about bathroom renovations for seniors, and get ideas for improving your bathroom.
Why choose a senior-friendly bathroom remodel
There are several benefits to creating a more senior-friendly bathroom. The main advantages include:
Safety
One of the primary advantages of a senior-friendly bathroom remodel is the improved safety it can provide. As we age, mobility and balance may decline, making it important to create a bathroom environment that helps reduce the risk of accidents.
Installing grab bars, non-slip flooring, and raised toilet seats can help reduce the chances of slips and falls. Replacing a traditional bathtub with a walk-in shower or a walk-in tub eliminates the need to step over high barriers, providing a safer bathing experience.
Accessibility
Another key benefit of a senior-friendly bathroom remodel is the improved accessibility it provides. A bathroom designed with seniors in mind ensures everything is within reach and easy to use. This includes installing lever-style faucets that are easier to operate, replacing traditional doorknobs with lever handles for easier access, and incorporating adjustable shower heads that can be positioned at a comfortable height.
By making these simple modifications, seniors can more easily maintain their independence and navigate their bathroom.
Comfort
A senior-friendly bathroom should also prioritize comfort and convenience. Consider installing a raised toilet seat or a comfort-height toilet to make it easier for seniors to sit and stand. A shower seat or bench can provide a comfortable resting place during showering.
Potential home value
According to real estate experts, a senior-friendly bathroom might also help increase your home’s resale value. The number of multigenerational households in the U.S. has steadily increased in the past decade, so making a home functional for several generations may help increase its value.
Designing a bathroom for aging in place
When designing a senior-friendly bathroom, focus on preventing slips and falls. You should also make it easy to use the bathroom fixtures and move around, into, and out of all the elements.
Some key considerations for a senior-friendly bathroom include:
- Eliminate stairs and platforms to access the bathroom.
- Install ample lighting for all areas, including the sink, shower, tub, and pathways.
- Make light switches easily accessible, and/or use sensors for automatic lighting.
- Ensure handles and fixtures are ergonomically designed for seniors.
Some main elements or descriptors to look for when choosing senior-friendly bathroom fixtures are ease of use, slip resistance, and accessibility. For example, simple up-down levers can be much easier to use than handles that require hand strength to twist.
When working with a bathroom designer or remodeling contractor, communicate any unique senior needs that could affect design choices.
Accessibility and safety features for senior-friendly bathrooms
A few different types of safety features can help prevent slips and falls for seniors in bathrooms. These include:
Grab bars and handrails
Grab bars and safety rails make it easier to access the needed fixtures, such as the toilet and shower, and provide something to grab to help prevent a fall.
They can be added inside and outside of a tub and shower and affixed next to a sink and toilet. Work with a professional contractor to ensure the proper installation of grab bars. Have them tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the individual.
Non-slip flooring
Slips and falls are more likely in bathrooms because these environments come into contact with water and soap. Some materials that help create non-slip flooring include rubberized floors, textured tiles, and slip-resistant coatings. These can be part of the bathroom flooring or inside a walk-in shower to prevent slipping.
Consulting with a flooring or bathroom remodeling professional can help you select the best flooring material for your senior-friendly bathroom.
Tip: You may want to consider installing sensors in the flooring system that detect falls. You can also install a push-button alarm system that seniors can access if they need help.
Proper lighting for visibility
Great lighting ensures seniors can see where they’re going and not bump into things that injure them or cause a slip and fall. Consider installing task lighting near the vanity, shower area, and toilet. Motion sensor lights can also be helpful during nighttime visits, ensuring visibility without the need to search for light switches.
Wide doorways and ramps
Installing wide doorways and ramps can also help improve safety in bathrooms for seniors. A doorway that’s at least 32 inches wide allows wheelchair access if that’s ever needed.
Chat with your bathroom remodeling pro or a door installation professional to see your options for widening your door.
Making bathing easier for seniors
Bathing can sometimes be challenging for seniors because the water makes the experience more slippery. Standing for long periods and bending down to cleanse hard-to-reach areas can also be difficult.
Consider incorporating the following into your bathroom remodeling project to make bathing easier for seniors:
Walk-in tubs and curbless showers
Traditional bathtubs, with their high sides, can be difficult for seniors to navigate. Walk-in tubs provide a safer alternative, allowing seniors to step in and out more easily.
With a curbless shower, seniors don't need to step over a raised threshold, reducing the risk of falls. These options provide accessibility without compromising style or functionality.
A transfer bench is another option that enables wheelchair-bound seniors to safely get into a tub and shower.
Accessible shower seating options
Shower chairs and bath seats allow seniors to sit while bathing and washing difficult-to-reach body parts. Options like built-in shower benches or foldable seats allow seniors to sit while bathing, reducing the risk of slips and falls.
These seating options can be customized to fit the needs and preferences of individuals.
Handheld showerheads
Handheld showerheads offer greater flexibility and convenience for seniors. They allow for easy control and direction of water flow, enabling seniors to bathe comfortably while seated. Seniors can target the exact areas they want without contorting their bodies to get clean.
Handheld showerheads can also be adjusted to varying heights, accommodating seniors of different abilities.
Toilet and sink considerations for seniors
Seniors with limited mobility can find it more difficult to sit on toilets and use sinks. Some ways to improve toilet and sink mobility include the following bathroom renovations for seniors:
Raised toilet seats for added comfort
Seniors often have difficulty using standard toilets due to limited mobility or joint pain. A raised toilet seat can help seniors who have difficulty sitting or bending. It can also help prevent falls and significantly improve their comfort and safety.
These seats are designed to elevate the height of the toilet, making it easier to sit down and stand up without straining.
Accessible sink height and faucet controls
Lowering sinks and bathroom counters can help seniors, especially those who use wheelchairs. Features like hands-free, motion-sensing faucets and soap dispensers make it easy for them to wash their hands without reaching for the faucet handles. Eliminating the need to twist and grip the handles also helps prevent strain on their muscles and joints.
Additional bathroom aids to consider
After you finish the construction and installation aspects of your bathroom remodel, consider getting additional accessories to help seniors. For example:
- Non-skid bath mats with rubber backing near the sink, tub, and shower
- Sink, shower, and tub splash guards to prevent water from spilling onto the bathroom floor
- Weighted shower curtains, which also help keep floors dry
- A shower shelving system or caddies to keep soap, shampoo, and other items within easy reach
Hire a professional for your senior bathroom remodel
When you’re ready to remodel, download the free Thumbtack app to find professionals in your area. Depending on the types of changes you want to make to your bathroom, you may decide to hire one or more of the following professionals:
As you evaluate professionals, look for a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). A professional with a CAPS designation will have completed education through the National Association of Home Builders, which teaches how to make home modifications for the elderly.
Safety is the biggest priority for remodels for seniors, so craftsmanship counts. Ask potential pros about their experience designing senior-friendly bathrooms. It’s also worth looking at their reviews and portfolios to see examples of their work.
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