Designing Bathrooms for Aging Gracefully at Home
Your bathroom may be working just fine for you right now. But will it still be ideal for you ten years from now? One of the key components of bathroom renovations is to ensure they are designed for your current needs and future needs, specifically for homeowners looking to create a space that enables them to age-in-place gracefully.
As we’ve helped many homeowners with this exact problem, we have some ideas for the future that you can incorporate long before you truly need them. Creating an ergonomic & accessible bathroom can be done with great style for a space that will continue to work for you as your needs change. Renovations take time, and their planning doesn’t happen overnight. If you wait until accommodations are necessary to start on your bathroom redesign you might lose some of the elements you love about your bathroom today.
Accessible & Safe – Still Stylish
Start at the bottom – with the flooring. Choose textured tiles or other non-slip surfaces for shower flooring as well as the flooring in the “dry” areas of your bathroom (this is also helpful if you will have visiting grandbabies). Splashes and water drips won’t create slip hazards for you or them with the right flooring in place.
Installing a walk-in, zero threshold shower is a great upgrade to your new bathroom. You may hear this style of shower called “curbless.” This is a sleek and modern aesthetic that also eliminates the need to step over any obstacle to get into your shower. Adding a built-in bench and a hand-held showerhead provides ease of access now, and for many years to come no matter what your future needs may be.
Don’t Forget the Details
Little things can make your bathroom work better for you as you age in place as well. Focus on anything that optimizes ease of use. Lever-style faucets in your shower and on your sink are easier to operate with arthritis or limited dexterity. Choosing handles instead of knobs for cabinets looks great, and will continue to be easy to use.
If you’re getting a new toilet, ones with higher seats are easier to sit down on and get up from. Two piece toilets (where the bowl and the tank are separate units) are also easier and less costly to repair.
Put technology to work for you. Digital temperature controls allow you to set your water temperature to a safe and consistent setting. Add motion-activated lighting so late night bathroom breaks are easier without having to blind yourself with the full brightness of your overhead lights. Speaking of lighting – maximize natural light if possible. Then be sure you add enough lighting to be able to see easily in all areas of your bathroom. Adding a dedicated light inside your walk-in shower makes it easier to get in and out of, but also easier to see to keep it clean.
A bathroom designed for aging in place strikes a balance between comfort, style, and safety. At Golden Home Management, our goal is to help homeowners feel comfortable in their homes with ease for years to come. Our home coordinators make scheduling anything from simple repairs to bathroom redesigns stress-free by working with vetted professionals. Your monthly handyman visit is a great time to identify potential issues before you can be troubled by them. We’re excited to work with you – let us know what you need.