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Do you put the “pro” in procrastination? I get it. There are some things we just don’t like to do, so we put them off. Folding laundry, cleaning out closets, and washing dishes are just a few. And really, if we put them off, no real harm done, right? Well, there is one thing that should not be put off any longer and that’s upgrading your bathroom to a safer shower situation.
High Tub Walls
How many times have you lost your balance getting in or out of the shower stepping over an old tub? The average tub is 14 to 15 inches tall. Garden tubs range from 18 to 24 inches in height. That’s a big hike for anyone, and for seniors it’s especially dangerous. Garden tubs seemed like a great idea in the 1990s, but most of my customers use them now just to bathe their grandkids or dogs.
Stepping over either of these tubs requires balancing on a single leg, usually on a slick, wet surface. Stabilizing yourself in that position requires significant core strength, and most seniors simply do not have that strength as it declines with age.
What many homeowners don’t realize is that balance problems rarely appear overnight. They develop gradually. The step over the tub that felt effortless at age 55 may feel noticeably more difficult at 65 and surprisingly challenging at 75. Add arthritis, a knee replacement, hip surgery, neuropathy, or simply the natural loss of strength and flexibility that comes with aging, and that daily step can become one of the most hazardous movements in the home. Unfortunately, many people don’t recognize the risk until they experience a close call—or worse, a fall.
Slips & Falls
If you fall while stepping over a tub, chances are you’re going to end up with some kind of fracture (usually a hip), bruises, a sprain or strain, or even worse a brain contusion. None of these are easy to heal and some can be life threatening. In one quick instance, you can lose your independence and gain months of painful recovery time.
According to the CDC, an estimated 234,094 nonfatal bathroom injuries were treated in U.S. emergency rooms annually. The report officially confirmed that 81.1% of those injuries were caused by falls, with the highest rates occurring in or around the tub or shower.
Unfortunately, many customers have called after the fact (after their fall). Although we can make their future showers safer, none of them have said, “I’m glad I waited so long to call you to get my shower remodeled so I could teach myself a very valuable lesson.”
Incorrect Support
Once you’re on your way down, you’ll grab on to anything for help! Unfortunately, that’s when you realize a towel rack is not a grab bar and your soap dish is not there for support. You end up pulling those things out of the wall and that can worsen your fall. That’s when you realize they have given you a false sense of security all along.
Grab bars need to be anchored into the wall studs. That provides the most secure assistance in the event of a fall. Most grab bars support at least 250 pounds, and some commercial heavy-duty bars can support up to 500 pounds. Towel racks anchored into the drywall are not meant to lend support.
Seniors should follow the ADA Guidelines (Americans with Disabilities Act) for grab bar installation. It recommends an outer diameter between 1.25 and 2 inches, with exactly 1.5 inches of clearance between the bar and the wall. These dimensions match the natural anatomy of your hand. Your fingers and thumbs can wrap securely around the bar, while still leaving enough clearance between your hand and the wall. Also, the bar distance from the wall keeps your arm from slipping behind the bar during a fall, which would most likely lead to a broken bone.
Aging In Place
Most seniors don’t remodel their shower because they want a prettier bathroom, although the remodel always looks better than the old version. What they really want is to stay safely and comfortably in their own home for as long as possible. That is totally doable, with proper planning.
A healthy 60-year-old may have no issues today, but balance, flexibility, strength, and reaction time naturally change over time. Take a look around your bathroom and ask yourself, “Will this bathroom work for me 10 years from now?” The bathroom often becomes the first room in your house that starts working against you.
Although some remodels happen after an accident or close call, planning in advance can be less costly and less stressful and completed before they are desperately needed. A remodeled shower doesn’t just provide peace of mind to the homeowner—it also reassures spouses, children, and grandchildren.
The best time to make your bathroom safer isn’t after a fall. It’s while you’re still healthy enough to enjoy the benefits for years to come.
Questions Every Senior Homeowner Should Ask
When you purchased your home, it fit your needs at the time. But our homes should evolve as we do.
The kitchen changes.
The flooring changes.
The roof changes.
The bathroom should change too.
A well-designed shower isn’t about getting older—it’s about making sure your home continues to serve you through every stage of life.
Consider these questions:
- Can I comfortably step over my tub today?
- Could I do it safely if I had knee surgery tomorrow?
- Would my spouse be able to use this shower in 10 years?
- If I slipped, could I get up by myself?
- Is my bathroom helping me stay independent or making it harder?
Your personal assessment may be biased. Consider including others who care about your well-being in your evaluation of your bathroom. If you decide it’s time to grab the bull by the horns and start a makeover, make the investment today so your home can continue to serve you well tomorrow.
Ready to make your bathroom safer for the years ahead?
Burnett Home Improvement can help you design a beautiful, low-maintenance shower that supports comfort, confidence, and independence at home. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Written by Connie Saunders for Burnett Home Improvement
