The bathroom is one of the most frequently used spots in a home, but unfortunately, it is also dangerous for seniors. As your loved ones age, you will notice that their mobility and balance are limited and may require bathroom assistance. However, they may also want to maintain their independence and comfortably use the bathroom, which may require you to remodel the space to make it more accessible.
A bathroom remodel for seniors requires you to consider accessibility requirements carefully. At Freedom Showers, we aim to help our clients create an accessible bathroom that addresses every senior’s bathing needs. Our dedicated team of accessibility professionals will assist you on your journey from discovery to delivery by helping you choose the right product from a wide range of customizable showers and additional support products backed with a 30-year warranty.
Knowledge is key during a bathroom remodel for seniors, and you can count on our team to guide you through the process. Learn more about bathroom remodeling for seniors in this blog, and contact our team to start your renovation project seamlessly.
Signs You Need a Senior Bathroom Remodel
Depending on the level of assistance your loved ones need, you may need to make minor or major renovations, but the first step involves understanding what changes your bathroom requires. It’s important to recognize the warning signs indicating that it’s time for a bathroom remodel for seniors to accommodate your loved ones.
Your Loved One Has Limited Mobility or Balance
As an individual ages, they often experience limited mobility or balance issues, which can start at the age of 50. According to WebMD, loss of balance affects older adults due to sudden changes to blood pressure, lack of circulation, neurological conditions, and medications, among other problems. If your loved one has limited mobility or trouble balancing, they are prone to feeling dizzy and falling in the bathroom, increasing the risk of falls and injuries.
Accessible Devices Don’t Fit in the Bathroom
One of the main reasons families consider a bathroom remodel for seniors is due to limited space for accessible devices in the bathroom. Older homes weren’t built with accessibility in mind, resulting in limited space in the bathroom or a layout that doesn’t allocate room for mobility aids, such as walkers or wheelchairs.
Homeowners need to consider bathroom remodeling for seniors and learning how to create handicap accessible bathrooms with the help of a senior bathroom design and an efficient layout.
There is No Form of Bathroom Support
Your loved one cannot safely and independently use the bathroom if they have no support to help them move around, such as handrails or grab bars. This can be particularly harmful as bathrooms are often slippery, especially in the shower area, potentially leading to slips and falls.
Freedom Shower Products for a Senior-Friendly Bathroom
The first step to successfully performing a senior bathroom makeover is learning what features a senior-friendly bathroom entails and which accessible bathroom products can be helpful in the project. Freedom Showers offers a wide range of accessible products to maximize a senior’s independence and assist them in their aging-in-place plans.
Roll-in Shower
One of the most important factors to consider when conducting a bathroom remodel for seniors is their ability to enter and exit a shower with a mobility device comfortably. Seniors who use mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, cannot safely and independently enter and exit a shower with limited space or a high threshold. Freedom Showers’ roll-in modern wheelchair accessible shower has an inside dimension of at least 60″ x 30″ to meet the ADA guidelines, allowing seniors to maneuver in a wheelchair easily.
Walk-in Shower
Seniors who have trouble getting into a bathtub/shower can benefit from our walk in showers for seniors that offer a luxurious and comfortable solution to modern bathroom safety without compromising style. Freedom Showers units offer low threshold showers with a 3″ or 4″ curb that is easy to step over and simple to install.
You can combine our walk-in showers with grab bars and other accessible products to add extra safety to your bathroom. This will reduce the risk of slips and falls in the bathroom, which is the primary concern of families doing a bathroom remodel for seniors.
Shower Seats
An accessible shower seat is an excellent addition to a bathroom remodel for seniors as they are designed to provide support and comfort to individuals with disabilities or mobility issues when taking a shower. A shower seat provides a stable surface, reducing the risk of falls and injuries.
We carry four sizes of ADA seats for commercial projects to ensure our shower seats meet and exceed the ADAAG guidelines of a 250 pounds weight capacity for handicapped accessibility. However, it’s important to note that you do not need to follow ADA guidelines for residential projects. If you’re having trouble deciding on the right shower seat for your home, consult our accessibility professionals, who can guide you through the process and help you make an informed decision.
Benefits of Bathroom Renovations for Seniors
Bathroom remodels for seniors can be beneficial in many ways, as it allows peace of mind for both the senior and the caregiver. Consider the following benefits of a bathroom renovation for seniors before starting your project.
Increased Safety
As seniors age, their mobility and balance may decrease, making the bathroom a potentially dangerous place. Seniors’ bathroom renovations typically include modifying the shower area, installing grab bars, opting for non-slip flooring, and purchasing other accessible products to reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
At Freedom Showers, our dedicated team of experts understands the value of ADA bathroom shower products for commercial projects and accessible products for residential clients to enhance safety. When looking for the ideal product for your home, you will come across many ADA-compliant products on our platform. It’s important that you consult our specialists to determine if an ADA-compliant product is the right product for you or if other alternative products may better suit your home.
Improved Accessibility
According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, a poor housing fit is a mismatch between a home design and a senior’s needs, which “can disrupt an older resident’s routines, increase dependence on others, contribute to housing instability, and lower both life satisfaction and expectancy.”
A bathroom renovation for seniors can improve accessibility for individuals whose homes don’t fit their accessibility needs—for example, those with mobility aids such as walkers or wheelchairs. Wider doorways, a low-threshold shower, and a raised toilet seat can make it easier for seniors to move around and use the bathroom independently.
Maintain Independence
One of the most incredible benefits of seniors’ bathroom renovations is that it will allow your loved one to maintain their independence and comfortably use the facility. Bathroom remodels for seniors that target their specific needs will enable your loved one to conveniently use the space and allow them to age in place seamlessly.