Building A Senior-Friendly Bathroom From Scratch
In my last two blogs, we covered the changes you can make to your existing bathrooms to make them safer and more accessible as you age or are visited by friends and family who are less mobile. But if you’re thinking of remodeling or building a new home to grow older in, now is the time to design it so that it will be both beautiful and accessible to everyone. In a private home, you aren’t required to meet ADA standards so you can approach accessibility from a less institutional angle and take universal design concepts into your plans. Universal design refers to the creation of environments and products accessible to people of all ages, irrespective of abilities and disabilities.
Make Space
Starting with space, all rooms, especially the bathroom, should include a 5’x 5’ clear turn space. A spacious bathroom is luxurious all by itself, but it also allows room for mobility aids, a seat for drying the body (no more balancing on one foot!), or another person.
Open Up the Door
Start with a 36” wide doorway without a raised threshold. This is easier for everyone, both removing a trip hazard and enabling easy accessibility. As mentioned in my last blog, install the door so that it opens outward and has a lever handle. The handle is ergonomic and if someone does fall against the door, you’ll still be able to get to them.
Don’t Slip and Slide
From the ground up, keep the non-slip essentials mentioned previously in mind. Avoid rugs and use flooring that has a texture to it. The shower should have a textured floor as well. Cork and bamboo are soft underfoot and gentler in the case of a fall. Non-slip vinyl flooring would be another choice though not as gentle in a fall.
Shower Power
Consider a roll-in/walk-in shower flush to the floor. While you may prefer a traditional bathtub, it does become more of a fall hazard as you age. A hand-held showerhead with a 6’ cord and lever handle faucet is usable for everyone, including anyone washing the family dog! A seat in the shower is also an essential that can appear luxurious when built with intention.
Make Room
Float the bathroom sink against the wall with enough space for a chair or a wheelchair to go under it. Include a single lever handle to control the mix of hot and cold water. At the same time, place electrical sockets so they can be reached from a seated position. Add vanity lights above each side of a double washbasin and task lighting for makeup and shaving. The bathroom must be bright but avoid glaring overhead lights. Consider how you can integrate natural light, nightlights, sensor lighting, and lighted light switches.
Grab On
Whereas before you might have been constrained as to where grab bars could go, with new construction, you can install them exactly where you want. If you don’t want grab bars now, have blocking installed in walls to do so in the future. Modern grab bars are available in colors and formats that add both function and beauty—for instance, there are brushed metal grab bars that also hold shower essentials or are integrated with a hand-held shower. Remember that contrasting colors will aid anyone with vision issues. And don’t forget that grab bars are available that double as towel bars. A wise buy.
No matter what stage of life you’re in, an accessible home and bathroom make life easier and safer so thinking about universal design from the start is the best option. Plus, materials used in the bathroom should be discussed with a specialist in aging. For instance, the tempered glass most often used for shower doors can shatter under a sudden impact such as a fall or the door slipping off track. Losing your balance or running into it due to vision impairment could result in major injury.
I welcome any questions you have about designing or updating your bathroom as you consider how to stay in your home longer. We also offer home safety assessments to ensure you or your loved ones are aging in place safely.
