More than 55 million Americans are now 65 or older, and most seniors say the same thing when asked about their future: they want to stay in the home and the community they know. But aging in place means making some changes, and no place in the home matters more than the bathroom when it comes to safety. It’s the single most common place for falls, and is especially dangerous for those living alone, which makes a bathroom remodel the most important step toward aging in place safely.
FM Pro Remodeling is your local aging in place specialist, and below we’ve outlined the practical bathroom features that make the biggest difference in safety, independence, and everyday comfort.
Non-Slip Flooring
Wet tile is the biggest hazard in most bathrooms. Rubber mats, non-slip rugs, and anti-slip stickers do help, but they’re a patch, not a fix. Mats and rugs can bunch up, slide, and can be tripped over. In addition, they never cover everything. You might find yourself feeling like you’re playing hopscotch from sticker to sticker to mat to rug.
We specialize in anti-slip tile, and we build it into nearly every curbless shower we design for aging in place. It’s simple: smaller tiles mean more grout lines, and more grout lines mean more traction underfoot and less slippage. Pair the safety of anti-slip tile with a step in shower, a non slip mat, and non slip rug to maximize safety.
Need some help with your aging in place bathroom design? Call FM Pro Remodeling at (812) 944-6383 today for a free consultation and free estimate.
A Safer Step In Shower
Most bathroom falls happen the same way: stepping over a high tub wall onto a slick floor. Removing that step removes most of the risk.
Curbless Shower | Roll In Shower
This type of customer shower for aging in place has no barrier at all, the tile flows seamlessly into the rest of the bathroom. This means that a wheelchair or walker can roll straight in, and no one ever has to lift their leg over any kind of wall or threshold. A game changer for seniors aging in place.
Custom Step In Shower for Seniors
This aging in place design uses a small curb to contain water as it flows down the shower drain, but this design still eliminates the high tub wall.
Either of these options is significantly safer than a traditional tub and shower combo. When we install these custom showers for aging in place, we pair them with the same small format, anti-slip tile discussed above to keep everything as safe as possible.
Shower Seating
A seat inside the shower adds comfort, convenience, and an extra layer of safety. Someone aging in place can sit and shave, or simply have a rest. There are several shower seating options:
Custom Built-In Shower Bench
Tiled to match the shower for a seamless look that is built to last.
Custom Corner Shower Seat
A corner bench tucks neatly into a tight footprint without sacrificing comfort.
A Freestanding Shower Stool or Chair
A shower chair must be made from a water resistant material such as teak, bamboo, or metal, and it provides a flexible option that can be moved or removed as needs change.
Whichever style fits the space, seating is one of the simplest additions that makes a real difference in safety.
Fold Down Shower Seat
A folding seat mounts to the wall and folds flat when not needed, this feature makes it useful in smaller showers.
Walk In Bath Tubs
Although we specialize in custom tiled showers, we also install walk in bath tubs with preinstalled seating, quick draining systems, anti scalding systems, grab bars, and other safety features.
Grab Bars
Well placed grab bars are not negotiable in a handicap accessible bathroom or a bathroom for aging in place, but placement and maintenance matters just as much as the installation. At a minimum, we recommend:
- One bar at the shower entry, to steady the transition in and out.
- Two bars inside the shower, positioned for support while standing, washing, or reaching.
- One bar near the toilet, for a stable push off point when sitting or standing.
Many families also add a bar near the vanity, which gives you something to hold onto while brushing teeth or getting ready at the sink. Grab bars should be mounted into wall studs or blocking, not just anchored into drywall, so they can bear plenty of weight. Grab bars may loosen with time and use, and should be checked regularly, and tightened when necessary.
Vanity Height and Accessibility
For a family member who uses a wheelchair, a standard height vanity does not work. ADA guidelines call for a vanity counter no higher than 34 inches, which is low enough for someone seated to reach the sink and see themselves in the mirror without assistance.
Height is only half of the story. A wheelchair user also needs clearance underneath, which is why we typically recommend a wall mounted, floating vanity for aging in place bathrooms. The open space below lets a wheelchair or walker slide right underneath, so the person can get close enough to use the sink without issue.
Toilet Height and Comfort
Toilets are an easy detail to overlook, but standing up and sitting down is one of the most physically demanding moments in the bathroom. A “comfort height” toilet, typically 17 to 19 inches from floor to seat compared to about 15 inches on a standard toilet, puts the seat closer to standing height, which means less strain on the knees and hips and a lower risk of losing balance. Combined with a nearby grab bar, a comfort height toilet creates stable, simple, and safe movement.
Water Temperature Safety
Scalding is a real risk to seniors that’s easy to miss. Anti-scald valves (also called pressure balancing or thermostatic mixing valves) automatically limit water temperature and prevent sudden spikes if, say, someone flushes a toilet elsewhere in the house. It’s an inexpensive fixture upgrade that closes off a hazard most families never think about, until someone has already been burned.
Doorways and Turning Space
A beautifully accessible shower doesn’t help much if a wheelchair or walker can’t get through the door to reach it. Standard interior doors are typically just 24 to 28 inches wide, too narrow for comfortable wheelchair access. We widen bathroom doorways to at least 32 inches of clearance, and, wherever the floor plan allows, we create a 5 foot turning radius inside the room so a wheelchair can rotate freely, rather than backing in and out.
Need to explore more aging in place bathroom design options? Call FM Pro Remodeling today at (812) 944-6383 for a free consultation and estimate.
Storage Within Reach
Cabinets and shelves that require reaching up high or bending down low can turn a simple task into a risk. Pull out drawers, lowered open shelving, and storage built within arm’s reach of the toilet, shower, and vanity mean fewer awkward stretches for towels, toiletries, or medications. These are small changes that add up to a much safer daily routine.
Let There Be Light
Nighttime bathroom trips are one of the most common times for falls. It’s dark and we’re not entirely awake. Motion activated night lights along the path from bedroom to bathroom remove the guesswork of fumbling for a switch, and bright, even overhead lighting in the bathroom itself, with minimal shadows near the shower, toilet, and vanity, keep every part of the room clearly visible, day or night.
These aging in place design features are best used in tandem to maximize safety in all areas of the bathroom. A well lit, curbless shower with anti-slip tile and grab bars does more for safety than any single feature on its own, and that’s exactly how we approach every aging in place bathroom we design.
Have questions about your bathroom? Call FM Pro Remodeling today at (812) 944-6383 for a free consultation and estimate.
