Aging in Place means planning in advance for any future changes that would affect your activities of daily living

 

Aging in Place

At some point in time, older adults begin to evaluate the functionality of their homes and their ability to perform physical acts of daily living while maintaining their quality of life. It’s the time in life when you start questioning your long-term care needs, where you want to live, and your ability to afford whatever care you might need in the future. The goal for most is to remain at home as they age. Maybe it’s the home they’ve lived in for 50 years and where they raised their kids and grandkids; in the home of a beloved family member; in a new condo at the beach; or perhaps in a multi-generational family home with grandparents, parents, and kids. Aging in Place is about independence and choice – free from the fear of falling or injury in the home, particularly in the shower or bathroom, the two areas where most injuries are likely to occur for the elderly or mobility-impaired.

 

The Majority of Homes in America are Over 40 Years Old

Design trends have changed from the 1990’s when most bathrooms were constructed with expansive tile soaking tubs and ornate tile designs. Most older homes have bathtubs and showers that are not easily accessible for people with mobility or aging challenges. Large, tile-encased steps leading up to jetted tubs; shower units with a 4 to 6-inch step and narrow shower doors; vanities, toilets, and tubs jammed up in a tight and narrow bathroom - homebuilders weren’t thinking about aging when developing subdivisions and neighborhoods back in the day. The risk of falling in the home is serious business. Falls are responsible for life-altering injuries and sometimes even death. Seniors are not only affected by the immediate effects of a fall, but also by the emotional distress which follows – severely reducing their independence and often leading to placement in a skilled nursing facility or assisted living. 

 

Eliminate the Fear of Falling

Nervous apprehension over the fear of falling often causes seniors to reduce their levels of activity. This unease leads to a further reduction in strength, balance, and overall health, as well as increased anxiety and depression. This combination of factors all leads to an increased risk for falls and injuries, completing a vicious cycle. Well-placed and professionally installed grab bars help to minimize anxiety and the fear of falling. We follow all ADA safety regulations for installing grab bars in the home, ensuring proper placement and peace of mind.

Aging changes all of us eventually

It’s never too early to start planning for your senior or retirement years. We’ve all seen a loved one age, and we know that aging inevitably leads to:

  • Poor eyesight

  • Reduced muscle mass and less strength

  • Diminished physical and mental endurance

  • Higher risk of accidents due to bone fragility, and less balance while walking

  • Reduced hearing capacity

  • Diminished mobility and agility

  • Decreased flexibility

In order to stay in your home and maintain independence, Aging in Place means asking important questions such as:

  • How easy is it to get in and out of bed? On or off the toilet? In and out of the bath or shower?

  • Can you confidently walk through your home without any assistance? Do you grab onto counters, furniture, or doorways as you navigate your home?

  • If using a cane or walker, do you have steps or narrow doorways that hinder your movements or slow you down?

  • Can you take heavy containers of food or liquids out of the refrigerator and place them on the counter without fear of dropping them?

  • Have you been diagnosed with a physical condition like diabetes, arthritis, or cardiac problems that complicate even seemingly simple everyday tasks?

  • Are you comfortable using resources and technology like medical alert systems to allow you to live at home safely for a longer period of time?

Location

At least one full bathroom should be located on the main level of the home, along with the bedroom, kitchen, common areas, and laundry room. If there is not a bathroom on the main floor of the home, you may wish to consider remodeling to add an additional bathroom downstairs or install a chair lift or elevator for easy access to other levels. We can look after your remodeling needs, and we work closely with our friends at Hampton Roads Mobility for the latest in mobility equipment for the home.

Space to Move

If you are remodeling your bathroom, keep in mind that space will be a greater issue as you age. As you transition from mid-life to senior to elderly, planning for the use of canes, wheelchairs, walkers or similar assistive devices is a good idea. The ideal situation would be to have plenty of clear space to accommodate a caregiver and/or someone in a wheelchair around the toilet, bathtub, or shower stalls and areas around cabinets and closets.

Toilets

Having the toilet at the proper height can make an incredible difference in the comfort and safety of your bathroom. Two of the most common options for achieving this are replacing the toilet with one that is the proper height or buying a seat extender. The latter is the most economical way and can be purchased at a local home healthcare store. If you are remodeling the bathroom and wish to replace the existing toilet, please keep in mind the right toilet needs to be selected for the people who will be using it and the height should be properly adjusted. Also, depending on a person’s height and abilities, a handicap-accessible toilet could create more issues than the toilet being too short.

Consider installing a toilet paper holder that is designed for one-handed changing.  Ensure the toilet paper holder can be reached from a sitting position.

A toilet/bidet combination could significantly improve hygiene and if you are replacing the toilet, you may wish to consider that as an alternative.  Or add a bidet seat to improve cleanliness, hygiene, and comfort.

Grab Bars in Bathrooms

Installing grab bars can dramatically and economically increase safety in the bathroom. They’re also very helpful in bedrooms, hallways, or any other place where standing or walking assistance is needed. At the toilet, grab bars can help with sitting and standing. In the tub or shower, they can help a person stand, or stay standing, while safely getting in and out of the shower. Consider at least two grab bars to be installed on the interior and exterior of the shower/tub.

Typically, when people think of grab bars they think of something cold and sterile, that looks like it belongs in a hospital. Today, we offer grab bars in a variety of styles and colors to match your decor and style. Due to the high risk of reported falls and injuries, we highly recommend that you avoid the use of suction cup grab bars at all times.

BATHTUBS AND SHOWERS

Bathroom Remodeling for Aging in Place

Most homes in America have bathtubs that are not easily accessible, presenting significant safety issues for people who wish to remain in their homes. For a standard tub, there are several things you can do to make it safer. We typically recommend a complete ADA-compliant bathroom, but for many people, installing grab bars, shower seats, and an anti-slip coating to the tub floor are three lower-priced options. One of our most popular and affordable bathtub conversion options is a CLEAN CUT safety step, which creates a safer way to enter the tub - allowing users to step THROUGH, not OVER the side of the tub to shower.

Walk-in tubs and showers from Coastal Bath & Shower are multi-functional and designed for an everyday shower conversion project, others are designed specifically for Aging in Place.  All products are designed for the size and dimensions of replacing most existing tub or shower units. For showers, the most accessible option is a roll-in or no-barrier shower. This is our #1 selling shower stall with a curbless entrance and a minimum opening of 36 inches wide. This would allow access to a wheelchair and give those who walk into the shower plenty of room to maneuver.

Adjustable Shower Heads

An adjustable shower head, which glides and moves to suit the height and position most comfortable for a user, is a great way to add accessibility to a bathroom. Combining it with a hand-held shower head on a 72” hose creates an even more functional experience. Using these two in conjunction with a shower seat will make it much easier to bathe while providing an increased level of safety. 

Shower Seats

Adding a shower seat can relieve the strain experienced from standing for extended periods, and allows a person to safely shower and lessen the chance of falling. There are many types to choose from, a few being shower stools, shower chairs, retractable (or fold-up) seats, and built-in seats.

For overall bathing safety and usability, we typically recommend that our clients think about adding these safety options to their projects:

  • Have the tub and shower water controls closer to the entry point so they can be reached from outside the tub/shower area

  • Install lever handle faucets

  • Have a shelf installed in the tub/shower area for soap, shampoo, and towels - many double as grab bars

  • Install or purchase a shower or tub seat

  • Have the water pressure controlled and install anti-scald controls

  • Add a light in the shower stall if there is not one

Lever Handle Faucet

In order to prepare for the greatest usability, consider a wheelchair-accessible sink that is hung on the wall, providing space for knees or a wheelchair underneath a pipe-covering panel to protect the user’s legs. One of the easiest things to make the bathroom more accessible is installing lever handle faucets; there are also faucets that are pedal-controlled. Both of these options allow people with most abilities to easily turn the faucets on and off, and are particularly helpful for people that have arthritis or other issues with gripping or bending their hands. For safety, consider having all water pressure controlled and installing anti-scald controls to prevent burns.

Cabinets and Counters

It never seems to fail that you always need more storage space. If you are planning to remodel your bathroom, make sure to include as much storage space as you can. You might want to consider having us install adjustable height countertops with provisions for roll-under access in front of the sink and main countertop for easy access to the countertop and mirror.

A few other things to consider:

  • Install a contrasting edge color on countertops. This will help anyone who has diminishing eyesight and/or balance issues feel more at ease and help reduce accidents.

  • Make sure there is plenty of counter space. Not only does this help you cut down on the clutter, but it also will prepare the bathroom area for future space needs in caring for someone.

  • No sharp edges! For safety, you should make sure the counter’s edge is rounded. This will help eliminate cuts and bruises should someone fall against it.

  • Where is the medicine cabinet? It is very handy to be able to reach it while you are sitting down? If you have someone who cannot get around very easily or is in a wheelchair, this could be particularly helpful.

  • Tilting mirrors. For practical purposes, having a mirror that tilts up and down makes using it easier. Again, especially if someone will be using it in a sitting position or has a diminished stature.

Flooring in Bathrooms

This may seem obvious, but the bathroom should be free of slippery walking surfaces. For safety's sake, this is essential - particularly directly inside and outside of the shower and/or bathtub area. For the flooring and shower stall, consider a slip-resistant surface. If a tub remains, you should have an anti-skid coating put on the bottom of the tub.

Area Rugs

It’s a surprise to many people that area rugs are a major cause of tripping and falling in the home. If you must have rugs in the bathroom or home, purchase one with a low pile and secure it with anti-slip rug tape found at most major home improvement stores. However, it is recommended that you remove them from the bathroom entirely.

Miscellaneous

There are always those items that come up that you wish you’d thought of before they became an issue. Here are a few tidbits:

  • Make sure the bathroom door can be unlocked from the outside.

  • Replace the doorknob with a lever handle. We recommend this for all doors in the home.

  • For accessibility, bathroom doors should open out, not in. Pocket doors can also increase the amount of space inside the bathroom.

  • Keep a cell or cordless phone in the bathroom that can be reached from the toilet and the shower/tub area.

Caregivers

When making plans for a no/low barrier shower and other bathroom modifications, keep in mind that a caregiver may be necessary at some point to assist in bathing and daily living chores. Showers should be large enough to allow for a caregiver to assist with movement in and out of the shower. Faucets, valves, and showerheads should be located closer to the exterior of the shower to allow caregiver access to the controls without getting completely soaked while bathing you or your loved one.

Caregivers are a special, valued asset when assistance is necessary to remain in the home. If you’re a caregiver or know someone who is, click HERE to learn more about the Caring Generation.