Bathroom Design Tips for Aging in Place
This article at a glance:
- Bathrooms are high-traffic rooms that greatly benefit from accessibility and safety upgrades, especially for seniors.
- Grab bars are an inexpensive and effective safety measure in the bathroom that can be styled to fit in with any bathroom design.
- Showers and bathtubs can be made more convenient with movable shower heads and appropriate seating.
- Comfort-height toilets and bidet seats make life easier for those with limited mobility.
As we gracefully (or not-so-gracefully) glide into the golden years, safety and convenience become more important when considering home improvement projects.
Consider the bathroom, a high-traffic room where many accidents happen, especially among older people. That's why home designs focusing on "aging in place" have become a big deal, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.
The idea of aging in place is to allow you to remain in your home as long as possible, and to minimize the need for future costly and disruptive modifications. An accessible bathroom in a home can be the difference between being able to remain at home or having to find alternative arrangements later on.
In this article, we'll explore how vendors are crafting bathroom fixtures and accessories with safety and accessibility in mind. There are many options, but keep in mind that these suggested fixtures and accessories can be put in place gradually, adding as your needs shift over time.
Strategically placed Grab Bars
Strategically placed grab bars are useful in a bathroom, for people of all ages. Grab bars are relatively inexpensive and significantly increase bathroom safety.
Grab bars in a bathroom can be attractive and stylish too. Forget about the standard grab bars you see in hospitals. Grab bars are available in a range of styles and colours to match any bathroom style and theme.
Grab bars are available in a variety of styles and finishes, like this knurled grab bar from Kartners
The placement of grab bars helps with stability and maintaining balance, preventing falls, and offering support while sitting or standing.
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Grab bars are usually installed in transition zones around the tub, shower and toilet, and around outside walls
Most people prefer a horizontal grab bar along the side walls while others might prefer two grab bars, one horizontal and one vertical, to assist in getting out of the tub.
If remodelling the entire bathroom, you could take the opportunity to build in support structures that will be connection points for grab bars. Consider installing blocking (extra wood stud reinforcement) in walls or an additional sheet of plywood in walls around the tub, shower, shower seat and toilet. Typically, grab bars need to support 250 – 300 pounds, so keep this in mind when adding in-wall support.
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Blocking and supports are important when planning for grab bar installation in the future
If you don't have the opportunity to install wall blocking or other attachment points within the wall during a remodel, you can use Securemount anchor points that work with Moen grab bars.
Moen Securemount anchor points
There are many beautifully designed grab bars on the market for all styles of bathrooms. Moen has a range of grab bars in many different styles in 24", 18", 16", available in brushed nickel, chrome and bronze. Delta and Brizo also offer grab bars that are American Disabilities Act compliant, and come supplied with wall anchors.
Comfortable Commodes
Having the toilet at the proper height can make an incredible difference in the comfort and safety of your bathroom.
Comfort height toilets, also known as chair-height toilets, are slightly taller than standard models, which makes sitting down and standing up easier for individuals with mobility challenges. Chair height toilets are generally 16-1/2" to 17" tall.
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has established a standard range for toilet seat heights, setting them between 400 mm to 460 mm (approximately 16 to 18 inches). Similarly, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bathroom guidelines stipulate that toilets should have a seat height between 17 and 19 inches to be considered accessible.
Among the options available for chair-height toilets that meet CSA standards is the Yorkville chair-height toilet, which has a 16-1/2" bowl height.
The Kohler Highline Tall toilet stands out for its exceptional height, being 2-1/2 inches taller than standard Comfort Height toilets. The Highline Tall toilet's bowl height is 19" at the toilet bowl rim.
For those who simply want to upgrade their existing toilet to make it more accessible, Kohler offers the Hyten Elevated Toilet Seat. The Hyten is a toilet seat riser that adds three inches of height to a standard toilet bowl, bringing a standard 15" toilet seat height up to 18".
Reachable Toilet Paper Holders
Easy access to the toilet paper holder from the toilet is a very important consideration so that people do not need to lean to the side or reach back. The placement of the tissue dispenser should also be carefully considered so that it is easy to find and does not interfere with the use of the grab bar.
Better yet, a toilet paper holder that incorporates a grab bar can serve double duty for extra convenience.
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The Delta Assist toilet paper holder and the Moen grab bar with paper holder
Convenient Bidet Seats
A bidet seat is an extremely useful item for people with limited mobility. Most bidets come with a remote that controls a water spray cleaning and warm air drying, which is a huge advantage for individuals with restricted hand mobility or dexterity.
Bidet seats reduce the necessity for reaching or wiping, aiding those with limited mobility or strength and decreasing the likelihood of falls or strain.
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Easy-to-reach Shower Heads
For an aging in place bathroom, you definitely want a hand shower that is separate from the main showerhead. The hand shower needs to be lower so it can be accessed from a seated position.
Non-slip flooring
Opt for textured flooring to prevent slipping on floors. For example, Moen Tub Safety Tread Strips are a quick and easy solution to make the bottom of bathtubs less slippery.
Safety tread strips installed in a bathtub
Accessible Bathtubs
If you prefer baths over showers, consider installing a walk-in tub.
Its unique design offers ultimate comfort and safety for those with difficulty getting in and out of traditional tubs.
Walk-in bathtubs feature a water-tight door that allows you to step inside without climbing over the tub’s edge.
Not only do walk-in bathtubs make bathing easier, but they can also have many therapeutic benefits. They often come equipped with specialized features such as built-in seats, hydrotherapy jets and air jets that can help soothe sore muscles and joints.
Seating for Showers and Tubs
Adding a shower seat can relieve the strain experienced with standing for extended periods of time. These seats allow a person to safely shower and lessen the chance of falling.
Some shower alcoves, like the Maax Allia walk-in shower alcove, comes with built-in molded seats, as well as optional grab bars.
The Maax Allia also features a low threshold (3-1/4")so that a user has only a small curb to step over when entering and exiting the shower. Some manufacturers offer shower bases that have an even lower step-over threshold, such as the low profile (1-1/2") threshold shower base offered by Fleurco.
Approachable Sinks and Counters
In order to prepare for the greatest usability, consider a wheelchair accessible sink that is hung on the wall, providing space for your knees (or wheelchair) underneath a pipe-covering panel to protect the user’s legs.
According to regulations, a sink should be mounted at a maximum 34” above the floor to the top rim with clear floor space underneath to allow for a forward approach. It is important to provide a knee clearance of 27” in height to the sink underside for at least an 8” depth.
Wall-mounted sinks provide ample knee clearance underneath, offering enough counter space around the basin area.
Grip-friendly Faucets
One of the easiest things to do to make the bathroom more accessible is installing lever handle faucets.Faucets should be within easy reach and operable with one hand. Faucets with lever handles are your best bets for accessible bathrooms.
American Standard Studio S widespread bathroom faucet
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Key Takeaways
We've touched on some of the most important safety and accessibility upgrades for a bathroom. The list is not comprehensive, however. Good lighting, no protruding edges, wide doorways, and ample turn-around space for wheelchairs should all be considered in the overall design of the bathroom.
Many safety measures are not straightforward and will require a professional to do the installation. However, the investment is worthwhile when you consider that an accessible bathroom can help you maintain your independence in your home.
At Splashes Bath & Kitchen, you can book a no-cost consultation with our specialist showroom team. They'll be able to answer all your questions about making your bathroom safer. Book a consultation now.
At Splashes Bath & Kitchen, you can book a no-cost consultation with our specialist showroom team. They'll be able to answer all your questions about making your bathroom safer. Book a consultation now.