Safe Bathrooms for Those in Their Golden Years: Installing Grab Bars and Walk-In Tubs
Statistically speaking, bathrooms are one of the more common places to fall in your home. But more importantly, falls in the bathroom tend to injure people more than falls in the living room. For that reason, ensuring bathrooms are as safe as possible for those in their golden years is an essential component of aging in place and key to assuring your children that you are perfectly fine.
Installing Grab Bars is a Good First Step
You might be thinking you don’t need to make any modifications to your home yet – that’s years down the road. And that’s likely true.
But soapy surfaces, slippery floors, and small spaces all come together to make showers – and bathrooms in general – an easy place for anyone to slip regardless of age. As we get older what used to be a bruise and a sore hip becomes a broken one and months of rehab with a physical therapist. Installing grab bars before you absolutely need them is the best way to avoid accidents and not impact your lifestyle.
Grab bars should be placed at the entry and exit points of your showers, as well as having one on the inside wall. This just gives you some passive assistance to feel more sure-footed while getting in and out as well as reaching for your soap while you’re in the shower. ADA guidelines are a good general plan for what size your grab bars should be and how they should be placed. Figuring out what you need – and when you need it – is one of the services our Home Coordinator’s provide with our monthly home maintenance plans.
The Pros and Cons of a Walk-In Tub
A hot bath can be such a wonderful way to relax – add some bubbles and some bath salt and it’s like your own little spa. Unfortunately, standard bathtubs can be really difficult to get in and out of as we age. If baths are a big part of how you destress, you don’t have to give them up. Walk-in tubs are designed with a watertight door for easy access. Just step in, settle in on the comfy seat, and enjoy. Adding a handheld shower head makes it easy to rinse yourself and your tub before you step out to prevent any messy soap residue.
The biggest drawback is the price – walk-in tubs typically cost between $2,000 & $10,000 before installation.
At the end of the day, we at Golden Home Management are here to make your life easier. Rather than having to vet and coordinate with multiple contractors, just give your home coordinator a call. We’ve already done the legwork and can help with scheduling work and getting it completed with minimal effort on your part. Contact us for a free assessment on upgrading your bathroom to be your dream bathroom for years to come.