How to Retrofit a Bathroom for Aging in Place

If you wish to remain in your home long into old age, you may need to make some adjustments to your home to allow for greater accessibility and safer aging in place.

Your home’s bathrooms are going to be key areas to focus on. A failure to retrofit your bathroom for aging in place could make it a hazardous environment. For people who have mobility concerns, the potentially cramped or slippery nature of bathrooms can be quite troublesome.

Here is an overview of some of the steps you can take to remodel your bathroom and add accessibility features that will allow you to continue using it even as you grow old.

Install slip-resistant coatings and features on the floors

A majority of injuries to elderly people are caused by slips and falls in the home. The bathroom is an area where these types of injuries are more likely to occur due to the presence of moisture as well as the types of flooring likely to be used (often smooth tile or laminate).

Slip-resistant rugs and mats can help provide better traction in the bathroom. However, these aren’t necessarily the best solution, as they can wear down over time, or become a tripping hazard if they bunch up.

The safer option is to install slip-resistant coatings on showers, bathtub floors and even on your bathroom floor itself. This will help you significantly reduce your risk of a slip and fall injury while you are using the bathroom.

Install grab bars in strategic areas

Another key amenity for preventing slips and falls is the grab bar. You should install grab bars near the shower, tub and toilet—anywhere you might need to give yourself a little extra support while sitting, standing or climbing.

Grab bars are easily to install, but you need to make sure they are properly anchored in place so they will support the weight of anyone using them. This typically means installing them into wall studs so they will be sturdy and reliable. Using drywall anchors typically won’t give you enough weight capacity.

Put in a shower seat

People who experience aches and pains in their back or hips as they grow older are likely to have that pain worsen as they stand for extended periods.

This is why aging in place experts often recommend the installation of shower seats in your shower. If you begin to feel aches and pains while standing in the shower, you can take a seat and continue the shower.

Again, this will also prevent you from falling down, should you feel yourself losing your stability while washing yourself or standing in the shower.

Ensure accessibility for your shower, tub and toilet

This is an especially important element of retrofitting your bathroom if you rely on a wheelchair or walker for improved mobility.

Accessible showers may feature roll-in functionality wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs. You can also create walk-in bathtubs that prevent you from having to climb in and step over a ledge. Even for people who do not have mobility issues, these are good features to consider adding because the older we get, the more likely we are to lose our balance.

You should also consider adjusting your toilet height. You can either swap out your existing toilet for a new one that prevents you from having to go down as far, or you can purchase a seat extender that give you some flexibility with your settings for your toilet you already have in place.

Handicap accessible toilets also exist, but may or may not be a feasible option for you, depending on the amount of space you have in your bathroom.

Try to stay on one floor

The homes that are most conducive to aging in place are ranch-style homes, where everything is on a single level. If you have a multi-story home, you should start to consider how you can adjust your layout so you can remain in your home, if moving is not an option you wish to consider.

This may involve completely redoing your first-floor bathroom, or adding another bathroom that gives you the space you need to make it fully accessible to meet your needs as you age.

If keeping everything on the same floor isn’t possible, you should look into installing a chair lift to get easier access to your second floor or basement.

Suggested Products

Grab Bars

Grab bars should be installed in bathtubs, shower stalls, and adjacent to toilet seats for assistance in getting in and out of tricky areas. These bars can be found in many different colors, configurations, and styles to blend in with your existing home décor. Some bars install with suction cups, while others can be permanently mounted. For permanently mounted bars, bathroom walls will need to be reinforced with a wood stud or other solid surface ( also called "blocking" ). For some helpful guidelines on installing grab bars, refer to chapter 6 of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

Shower Seat

Ideally, showers will have a no-step entry to prevent trips and falls, but this isn’t always an option. Shower seats come in a variety of models that not only help with getting in and out of the shower, but also provide a comfortable place to sit while bathing. There are multiple seat options available, including ones that can suction to the shower floor, be permanently attached to the wall, or reach across the tub edges and be used as a bench. There are also transfer chairs, which are designed with sliding seats to make getting in and out of the bath or shower even easier.

Handheld or Adjustable Shower Head

Handheld shower heads hook up to traditional shower heads and make it easier to bathe while seated. A switch powered showerhead makes it incredibly easy to turn the water on and off, for easy access into your shower before the water starts running, reducing the risk of slips and falls. These shower heads allow anyone who has trouble bending and moving certain ways to still get water where they need it, and also makes it easier for caregivers to assist in bathing. Consider installing a wall mount shower arm bracket as well; this way the shower head can be set down while still in use, but without soaking the rest of the bathroom.

Rugs and Mats

To reduce slipping when getting in and out of the tub or shower, make sure to add a bath mat inside the tub as well as rubber backed bath mats outside of the tub. Many mats for inside tubs secure with heavy duty suction cups to keep the mat from moving around. If you’re still concerned about bath mats outside of the shower slipping on the floor, secure them with a rubber rug pad or double sided rug tape.

Toilet Seat Riser

Seat risers make it easier to get on and off of toilets, by adding additional height to toilets. Many risers come with armrests, some removable, that can be of further assistance when sitting or standing. Some models of toilet risers attach to the seat with hardware, while others are less permanent and easier to remove. When purchasing a toilet seat riser, make sure it will fit your particular brand and style of toilet.