Many homeowners nowadays prefer staying put in their homes to live the rest of their golden years over assisted living facilities. This makes accessibility and safety in homes all the more important, especially in widely used living spaces like the bathroom. In fact, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) reports that one in three seniors over age 65 falls each year, and 80% of these accidents are in the bathroom.
Whether you’re planning an aging-in-place home for yourself or looking to design one for your elderly family members, there are many ways to make your bathroom safer and more senior-friendly.
Many people often use towel racks as an alternative to grab bars, but this is far from being a good idea. Keep in mind that towel racks are often lightweight, so using them for support might lead to damage. To be safe, consider installing safety grab bars that are capable of holding a person’s weight. They can be installed all over the bathroom, but make sure to place one beside the toilet and another in the shower.
Normal toilet pan heights are typically between 420 and 460 millimeters (mm). To make it easier for a senior user to sit down and stand up, consider raising the toilet seat to 500 or 550 millimeters. For increased comfort, you may also want to check out specially designed toilet suits that come with an increased pan projection and backrest to provide extra support. However, if replacing the toilet is not part of your budget, try fitting a thicker toilet seat to raise the seating height.
Shower replacement is one of the best and safest options for designing senior-friendly bathrooms. If you have a small bathroom, wheel-in showers are a great idea as it only needs a small space and has no threshold at all. A removable showerhead is also a good addition to your shower installation as it makes showering so much easier, especially if someone is assisting with bathing. On the other hand, if you prefer to take a long, relaxing soak in a tub, it’s best to install a walk-in tub for easy and safer access. Walk-in tubs also have a lot of relaxing features like hydro-jets to relieve muscle pain.
Good lighting fixtures are a must in every accessible bathroom design. Having adequate lighting, after all, can benefit the elderly with visual impairments. A well-illuminated bathroom can help prevent accidents, especially falls. For 60-year-old seniors, your bathroom contractor may recommend fixtures with 646 lumens while seniors over 80 may require 968 lumens. Consider installing a light switch with a neon indicator to help seniors find the switch.
When it comes to accessible remodeling, you can count on the pros at The Bathroom Store. Our team of shower and bath renovation experts is determined to help you create a safe bathroom for everyone in your family. Give us a call at (701) 223-1008, or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation.
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