If your parent or loved one is aging in place, you want their home to be safe and comfortable. Unfortunately, many daily tasks can become inconvenient or even dangerous as they age, and this is especially the case in the bathroom. Fortunately, the right bathroom remodeling contractor can transform your aging family member’s home into a safe haven. If you’re looking for ways to make this space safer and more accessible for loved ones, consider the following improvements.

How to Make Your Aging Loved One’s Bathroom Safer 

1. Walk-In Tub

The chances of having an accident increase as you get older, especially in the tub. Seniors can have trouble getting in and out of traditional tubs, so one of the biggest safety improvements you can implement is a walk-in tub for ease and security. This is an especially valuable asset for those who are mobility-impaired.

Featuring a waterproof door in the side of the tub, your loved one no longer has to step over a barrier to get in. Additionally, most walk-in models feature a seat for the bather so they don’t have to lower and raise their bodies to a problematic degree.

2. Widen the Doorways

Many people find their mobility decreasing as they age, requiring them to use walkers or wheelchairs, which restricts movement throughout their home. This extra equipment can make standard doorway widths difficult to navigate comfortably. In the bathroom and other areas of the home, it’s helpful to widen entryways.

3. Install Grab Bars

A simple and effective way to improve your loved one’s self-reliance and safety in the bathroom is to give them handholds and supports they can use to keep themselves upright and moving. Installing grab bars as part of your bathroom remodeling efforts will give both of you peace of mind.

4. Improve Anti-Slip Traction 

Giving the floor more traction is another simple step that works wonders in a bathroom model. Water and soap end up making the floor slippery and dangerous, leading to slips and falls.

With some non-abrasive traction floormats or non-skid tape on the floor, you can improve stability and safety with ease. Be sure the walk-in tub model you choose is also equipped with an anti-slip feature.

5. Brighten the Lights

Another thing that starts to fade with age is eyesight, so bathroom lighting is important as well. In low-light conditions, it’s easy for older family members to miss details, skip steps, and run into tripping hazards.

One way to remedy this is to upgrade the wattage on their light bulbs to the maximum allowable level. Having a contractor install additional lighting options in the space is recommended as well. Also, consider installing an easy-to-reach battery-operated light in the space as a backup in case of a power outage.

 

For help improving safety and accessibility in your older family member’s home, rely on Piedmont Home Contractors Inc. Serving the Piedmont Triad, NC, area since 1993, these certified specialists offer kitchen and bathroom remodeling, resurfacing, mold remediation, and much more. They’re licensed and highly rated in all of their services for the community. Find out more about their work on their website or call them at (336) 545-8812 to speak to a friendly expert about your needs.