Safe Bathrooms: Say Goodbye to the Hospital Look

We recently read about a woman, an active tennis player in her 60's, who was hesitant to adopt aging in place bathroom safety suggestions in her new "gorgeous" master bedroom renovation. Her concerns were aesthetic: "What would the neighbors think?" she asked her contractor. Fortunately, the contractor, an "aging in place" veteran, convinced her to install an easy-to-use taller "comfort" height toilet, a wheelchair-friendly wall mounted sink, a curbless shower, and reinforced shower walls tile for later installation of grab bars. Six months after the job was completed, our aging in place convert shattered both knees while playing tennis. Because of her foresight and a smart "aging in place" contractor, she was able to forego several months of inpatient rehabilitation and instead remained at home during her recovery.

The point here is; there can be a reluctance to move forward with the necessary aging in place planning because no one wants an "ugly" grab bar to mar their elegant bathroom remodel. This old and outdated thinking, symptomatic of a viewpoint that aging in place modifications are necessarily unattractive, intrusive, and overly clinical in appearance. As an interior designer, specializing in aging in place, we have the same experience with our 50+ clients.

It may have been true 20 years ago, but now there's a large and growing market for stylish and modern looking aging in place options that manufacturers have been quick to develop. Well known companies like Kohler, Moen, and Delta have revamped much of their product line. They are aggressively aiming their marketing efforts at people who have decided to live and age in place. Lesser broadly known companies such as Seachrome and Jaclo, to name a few are emphasizing luxury and function. Grab bars, for example, come in all shapes, sizes, textures, and colors; you can install them in a variety of angles and stylish finishes, including wood composites, matte black, or high tech metals.

Specialty companies have learned to seamlessly integrate grab bar safety features disguised in towel bars, soap dishes, water regulators, toilet roll holders, and shampoo racks. Designers and contractors are hiding grab bars as towel racks and integrating them into bathrooms as accent pieces, add to the overall design and safety of the room. As one of my fellow aging in place designers pointed out, "it's like hiding vegetables in the meal of a finicky eater."

In addition to the well-disguised grab bars, new tile composites contain grit surfaces that eliminate the need for using a rubber mat in your tub or shower. Artfully designed and reinforced water taps located on the sides of bathtubs not only look terrific but also serve as support bars that facilitate access to and from the bath.

If the goal is to create safe bathroom environments that have a contemporary look and feel, today's aging in place contractors and designers can meet that objective. Besides, incorporating style into your aging in place planning doesn't have to increase the cost of the remodel. We love talking about new products and design features that are revolutionizing our industry. Don't hesitate to shoot us an email or give us a call. We welcome your questions and comments.

P. S. Remember the concerns our tennis player had about her neighbor's reaction to the safer and more convenient bathroom renovation. They loved it!