…is the step you take to get into your tub.
What to Know about Aging in Home
They say aging is a privilege. They’re right. But as we age, questions arise that we may not have considered when we were younger. One of the most important questions we’ll have to answer is where we’d like to spend our older years.
Seniors who value independent living often prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living communities or continuing care facilities. With careful financial planning, a reliable social support network, and easy access to transportation and medical care, this is often ideal.
Seniors aging in place may need to update their homes, however. If you’re considering aging in home for yourself or a loved one, take some time to learn about aging in place home modifications that improve quality of life and reduce injury risk for seniors.
Aging in Place: Bathroom Ideas
Bathrooms pose some of the most significant challenges to an age in place plan. Bathroom renovations for elderly residents should prioritize accessibility and safety.
Some aging in place home modifications that improve accessibility and quality of life are:
- Wider doorways that can fit walkers and wheelchairs
- Enough open floor space to allow turning radius for walkers and wheelchairs or to provide enough room for a caregiver to assist in bathing and toileting
- Bright lighting and illuminated switches to accommodate changes in vision
- Accessible sinks and vanities with open knee space beneath the sink for wheelchair users
- Taller, “comfort height” toilets for easier sitting and standing
- Lever-style faucet handles
A bathroom remodel for elderly residents should reduce slip and fall risk. Ways to improve safety for seniors aging in place can include:
- Zero threshold or low threshold entry
- Slip-resistant flooring
- Reinforced walls and grab bars near the toilet and in the shower stall or above the bathtub
- A safe step walk-in bathtub or shower
Priotitizing Bathtub Safety
A safe step walk-in bathtub is an essential feature of a well-designed age in place bathroom. It doesn’t just reduce the risk of injuries from falls. It also improves quality of life and mental health by enabling seniors aging in home to maintain their self-care and hygiene habits even with limited mobility.
Depending on the materials used, a safe step tub can also be just as easy to clean, or easier, than conventional tub and shower materials.
Safe step walk-in tub prices and installation may be lower than you’d expect too. At Five Star Bath Solutions Northwest, we’re proud to offer expert installation and affordable but advanced materials that lower your bathroom renovation cost while making you or your loved one’s everyday life easier.
Request your free design consultation with the form below. Your age in place plans may be more attainable than you think!
