Wanting to stay in your home as you age is common, and the bathroom is often the room that decides whether you can. Wet surfaces, tub edges and low toilets are the points where daily life gets harder. The good news is that many changes are simple, and the biggest ones are easier to build in during a remodel than to add later.
The short answer
Start with the three things that matter most: a way to enter the shower without stepping over a high edge, grab bars you can trust at the shower, tub and toilet, and a toilet at a comfortable height. Add non-slip flooring, good lighting and enough floor space to move around. If you're remodeling anyway, put solid blocking in the walls now so grab bars can be added at any time.
Priority list
- Make the shower easy to enter. A low-threshold or curbless shower removes the step. See curbless shower pros and cons and tub-to-shower conversion.
- Add grab bars. Place them in the shower, beside the toilet and at the tub edge, anchored into solid blocking or studs.
- Raise the toilet. A comfort-height toilet, with a seat about 17 to 19 inches high, is easier to sit on and stand up from.
- Choose slip-resistant floors. Look for a DCOF rating of 0.42 or higher, textured finishes and small tile on shower floors. See bathroom tile and flooring.
- Improve lighting. Bright, even light and night lights help with trips at night.
- Use handheld showerheads and lever handles. A handheld head on a slide bar works for seated or standing showers, and levers are easier on hands than knobs.
- Widen the doorway if you can. A 32-inch clear opening is a common benchmark, and 36 inches gives more room.
Plan for tomorrow with blocking today
Grab bars have to take a person's weight, so they need to be fastened into solid wood backing or studs rather than drywall. While walls are open during a remodel, adding horizontal backing around the shower, tub and toilet costs little. You can then install bars today or years from now without opening the walls again.
Paying for it
Original Medicare generally doesn't cover grab bars or bathroom modifications, which it considers convenience items rather than medical equipment. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited allowances, up to about $500 a year on some plans for items such as handrails and shower stools, though structural changes are rarely covered. Some bathroom safety items may be deductible as medical expenses if they're medically necessary, you itemize and your medical expenses exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. Local aging-services programs, some Medicaid waivers and veterans' programs may also help. Check with your plan, a tax professional or a local aging-services office for what applies to you.
Who to talk to
An occupational therapist can assess how you move through your bathroom and recommend changes. A contractor experienced with accessibility can build them, and our page on accessible bathroom remodeling outlines what to ask. In Kirkland, remember that permit exemptions for finish work apply only if existing accessibility features aren't altered. For the wider picture of what's possible, see bathroom remodeling in Kirkland, WA.