Quick & Easy Bathroom Renovation Ideas for the Elderly

Today, more seniors than ever are opting to stay in their homes for as long as they can. With the baby boomer generation aging, more seniors, and soon-to-be seniors are seeking out renovation ideas that will allow them to enjoy aging in place gracefully. Interestingly, this population has become one of the fastest growing segments of the residential remodeling industry, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Certainly, with the right renovations and an eye to future needs, most of these seniors can continue living in their current residences and enjoying independent living. The trick, of course, is in knowing which renovations to undertake to guarantee the easiest transition as they age. The first and most obvious location to renovate is the bathroom. The right bathroom renovations will make a world of difference for the person who wants to enjoy aging in place.

In the Shower

Certainly, the first bathroom renovation is to install a grab bar in the shower. This allows the eldery to have extra support for entering and exiting the shower or tub, while also having a place to grab onto if they feel lightheaded or think they might slip. If the space and the finances allow, installing a seat in the shower is another excellent idea. Other options include converting the bathtub into a walk-in-shower and installing an extra step or small ramp on the side of the tub that allows for a shorter step into the tub.

At the Sink

One very easy bathroom renovation for the bathroom vanity is to change the bathroom hardware. Remove knobs and exchange them for lever handles that are much easier to grasp. For those with arthritis, or just for the elderly who have trouble latching onto knobs, they’ll find bathroom pulls and handles much easier to use. Install pull-out shelves on each bathroom cabinet, ensuring easier access to the bathroom supplies. Other highly requested bathroom renovation ideas for the elderly include purchasing a bathroom vanity with space underneath it for a wheelchair, and lowering the electrical switches to make them easier to reach.

Bathroom Lighting

Even the bathroom lighting can be altered for aging in place. Seniors certainly need more light than do younger people, and these needs increase with age. Too much white light, however, can cause problems with glare. Therefore, renovate with fluorescent colors, move the light switches lower for easier use, and use directed lighting. Rather than simply using one overhead light, add scones on either side of the bathroom mirror, a directed light in the shower, and lighting over the toilet.

With a few key bathroom renovations, the elderly can feel more comfortable remaining in their current homes, and can eliminate many of the common bathroom accidents. In addition to these many bathroom renovation suggestions, consider installing non-slip flooring; non-slip mats in, and right outside of, the tub and shower, and rounded corners in the bathroom construction. Hopefully, these many suggestions will allow more seniors to enjoy aging in place gracefully and comfortably!