Whether it’s their own home or in yours, it’s wonderful for older family members to age in place. Regardless of where they live, help them stay protected by upgrading the bathroom to include several safety features. Here are a few home renovation ideas for your elderly loved one’s bathroom.

Senior-Friendly Home Renovations for the Bathroom

1. Upgrade the Shower

Include a roll-in shower if your senior uses a wheelchair. Make sure the shower is designed with wide doors to fit a walker or wheelchair and bench seating so that your elderly loved one can comfortably bathe. A hand-held showerhead can be moved so that the water targets different areas. This is beneficial for people who need to sit to bathe. Additionally, a hand-held sprayer is helpful so that caregivers can assist with washing and personal care.

2. Install Grab Bars

As seniors age, their strength and balance may decline, and they may have difficulty standing in the shower or rising from the toilet or tub. Grab bars provide support so that seniors can remain safe and independent while using the bathroom privately. Walk through the bathroom, and pretend to perform basic tasks; then, install the bars where you think your elderly loved one will need them the most.

3. Get a Higher Toilet & Sink

Installing a taller toilet will help your senior loved one maintain the ability to sit and stand from the seat. Comfort height toilets are available from most mainstream home renovation stores. You should also raise the height of the sink and vanity so that they don’t have to bend over to access the faucet.

4. Swap Out the Faucets

Many seniors experience uncomfortable arthritis in the hands and fingers. If their bathroom has knobs, install lever handle faucets to make it easier to operate and give them more control over water temperature. Consider lever-style hardware for cabinet doors as well.

If you’d like help with a home renovation project for your elderly loved one, contact the skilled team at Amano Construction in Aiea, HI. These experts help Oahu homeowners of all ages maintain safe, stylish, and functional living spaces. If you’d like to have your aging parent move into an in-law suite, their home renovation team will assist with the electrical and plumbing work as well as material selection and construction. View a gallery of their past projects online, or call (808) 232-5563 to schedule an estimate.