What is an accessible bathroom remodel?
An accessible bathroom remodel adapts the room so it's safe and easy to use for people of any age or ability. That usually means a shower you can walk or roll into, grab bars at the right places, a comfortable-height toilet, good lighting, non-slip floors and enough clearance to move around. Homeowners often call it aging-in-place remodeling, and it is easiest and cheapest to build in during a full remodel. See our overview of bathroom remodeling in Kirkland for how it fits with other work.
Aging in place: planning the bathroom
The bathroom is where many falls at home happen, so it's the room most often changed for aging in place. Good planning looks ahead: choose changes that work now and still work if mobility changes later.
Start with how you use the room
The most useful starting points are entering and exiting the shower or tub, getting on and off the toilet, and moving through the room at night. Each has a fix that doesn't require rebuilding the whole bathroom.
Build in flexibility
Adding solid blocking in the walls during the remodel, even if you don't install grab bars right away, lets you add them later without opening the walls. Likewise, choosing a threshold-free shower now makes the room usable with a walker or wheelchair later.
Who pays
Original Medicare generally doesn't cover grab bars or home modifications, though some Medicare Advantage plans offer small allowances for safety items, and some bathroom safety items may be deductible as medical expenses when medically necessary. Local aging-services offices and veterans programs may also help. Our guide to aging-in-place bathroom upgrades covers the options in more detail.
Grab bars
Grab bars are the single most affordable safety upgrade, and they work only when they're anchored properly.
Where they go
- inside the shower or tub, near the entry and along the long wall
- beside the toilet, on the side wall and behind it if possible
- at the tub's edge, for stepping in and out
Heights and strength
Accessibility guidelines commonly place grab bars 33 to 36 inches above the floor and design them to hold a person's full weight, which is why they need to be anchored into solid wood blocking or studs rather than drywall. A towel bar is not a grab bar. Putting blocking in during the remodel is far easier than adding it afterward.
Curbless and zero-entry showers
A curbless shower removes the step-over, which helps everyone from people with walkers to people carrying laundry. Accessibility guidance points to a 60-inch turning circle for a wheelchair, and a roll-in shower is often built at least 30 by 60 inches. The plumbing code accepts receptors at least 30 by 60 inches, among other exceptions, and a designer or contractor can tell you what fits your space.
Curbless showers require careful floor framing and waterproofing, covered on our shower remodel page and in curbless shower pros and cons. Also consider a built-in or fold-down bench, a handheld showerhead on a slide bar, and thermostatic or pressure-balancing valves to prevent sudden temperature changes.
Comfort-height toilets
A comfort-height or chair-height toilet sits higher than a standard toilet, typically with a seat about 17 to 19 inches from the floor. The extra height makes sitting and standing easier on knees and hips. Elongated bowls are more comfortable for many users, and a wall-mounted flush control or a bidet seat can help if reaching is difficult. Allow clear floor space beside the toilet for a grab bar and for a helper or a transfer.
Wider doorways and clear floor space
Many older bathrooms are small, with narrow doors and little maneuvering room. A clear door opening of at least 32 inches is a common benchmark, with 36 inches giving more comfort for a wheelchair or walker. A pocket door or an outswing door can free up floor space. Where a larger footprint is possible, taking space from a closet or adjacent room can create the clearance needed.
Floors, lighting and details
- slip-resistant tile with a wet-area traction rating. See bathroom tile and flooring
- bright, even lighting, with night lights or motion-activated lighting for nighttime trips
- lever handles instead of knobs on faucets and doors
- a vanity with knee clearance or a comfortable height for a seated user. See vanities and countertops
What affects cost
Cost depends on how much of the room changes. Adding grab bars and a comfort-height toilet is modest, while a curbless shower and a wider doorway involve floor, wall and framing work. The bathroom remodel cost guide explains how to compare estimates and prioritize.
Accessible remodels in Kirkland and nearby
Kirkland's permit rules mention accessibility directly: finish work such as tiling and cabinets is exempt only when existing accessibility features aren't altered, so projects that affect an accessible bathroom deserve a check with the city. Homeowners in established neighborhoods like Juanita and Houghton who plan to stay put long-term are the people these changes serve best. If you want to talk it through with a local professional, start from bathroom remodeling in Kirkland, WA.