Aging in Place: Essential Walk-In Shower Upgrades for Seniors

The concept of aging in place has grown more and more popular over the years, and it’s not hard to see why. For one, as you get older, the idea of packing up your home and moving just sounds exhausting. But perhaps even more than that, there has been plenty of innovation in terms of upgrades designed to make your home safer and more accessible. That’s especially important when it comes to your bathroom, as far too many accidents—slips and falls, especially—occur for seniors within the bathing area.

Luckily, if you’re looking to age in place and need to invest in some walk-in shower upgrades at your home, you can turn to our team at Jacuzzi Bath Remodel. This blog will explore some essential walk-in shower upgrades that can improve the safety, convenience, and independence you can enjoy as a senior in your home.

What Does It Mean to “Age In Place?”

The idea of “aging in place” is simple. It’s a phrase that refers to the concept of growing older and remaining in your home rather than moving into a retirement community or requiring assisted living. It’s not exactly a new concept, but it’s a concept that has gotten far easier in recent years due to the development of solutions that enhance safety, accessibility, and overall convenience for seniors as they begin to slow down and potentially lose some mobility in their older age. In fact, many homeowners begin to plan ahead for their aging-in-place needs by investing in upgrades before the time comes when they really need them.

Key Walk-In Shower Upgrades for Aging in Place

If you’re planning to continue living in your home as you grow older—or if you already have an older loved one living in your house—there are certain updates that you should consider making to your walk-in shower. Some of the most important safety features of walk-in showers for seniors include:

• Low-threshold entries – Sometimes referred to as “zero-entry showers” or “curbless showers,” low-threshold showers can help reduce the risk of slips and falls. Many bathroom injuries occur when someone slips and falls while either entering or exiting a bathtub, largely because they have to take a big step over the bathtub wall. A walk-in shower with a low-threshold entry eliminates the need to climb over a partition, making it considerably safer not only for seniors and individuals with mobility limitations, but all of your family members.

• Non-slip flooring – Even once you’re safely in the shower, a slippery floor can lead to injury. Non-slip flooring helps minimize this risk. A textured finish makes it easier for your feet to grip the floor, which in turn makes it less likely that you’ll slip and fall. In addition to contributing to a safe walk-in shower design for seniors, non-slip flooring has also been shown to be highly durable and easy to clean.

• Grab bars and handrails – As with low-threshold entries and non-slip flooring, grab bars help reduce the risk of slips and falls, making them an essential senior-friendly walk-in shower feature. Not only can you hold onto them when entering and exiting the shower, but also when reaching for bath products, bending over to shave or wash your legs, or any other time you need a little extra stability.

• Shower seating – Many seniors have trouble standing for long periods of time, and if that ends up being the case for you as you age in place, you’ll appreciate having seating installed in your shower. In addition to offering walk-in shower safety for the elderly, seating also provides comfort, making the bathing experience much more enjoyable overall.

• Handheld showerheads – Handheld showerheads make bathing easier, especially for seniors and those with limited mobility, because they allow you to direct the water wherever you need it to go. For example, rather than having to turn or bend in a certain way to ensure that your hair is fully rinsed, you can use a handheld showerhead to thoroughly rinse your hair from every angle.

• Anti-scald faucets – Many seniors have slower-than-normal reaction times or struggle to manipulate faucet handles, which could increase their risk of sustaining a burn if they can’t adjust the water temperature when needed. Anti-scald faucets are specially designed to maintain safe water temperatures even when there are fluctuations in the water supply lines.
• Lighting – Although lighting fixtures aren’t technically part of the bathing enclosure, they still contribute to senior safety in walk-in showers. If the lights in your bathroom are too dim, you may have a hard time viewing obstacles in your path and finding what you’re reaching for, which could increase your risk of slipping and falling in the shower. So, make sure that your bathroom lights are bright enough to allow you to see clearly.

The good news is that when you partner with a team of experts like ours at Jacuzzi Bath Remodel, you have access to plenty of walk-in shower upgrades that help seniors. Between low-threshold entries that make for easy access to the shower space, grab bars and handrails that give an extra bit of stability, and non-slip flooring to minimize the risk of slips and falls, you’ll be able to transform your bathing area into one that properly meets the needs of you and any loved ones in your home who may be in the early stages of losing some mobility. Not to mention, shower seating, handheld showerheads, and accessible shower controls can also be of assistance as you look to add a new level of convenience to your shower.

Benefits of Walk-In Shower Upgrades for Seniors

So, what’s the benefit to investing in walk-in shower upgrades as you age in place? Consider that you’ll enjoy: 

• Improved safety – Whether it’s a low-threshold entry, grab bars, non-slip flooring, shower seating, or some combination of these features, you can reduce the risk of slipping and falling. As you get older, that’s even more important. 
• Enhanced independence – Maintaining your independence is one of the biggest challenges as you age in place, and increasing the safety and accessibility of your shower space is one way to make it easier.
• More convenience & comfort – No matter your age, more convenience and better comfort is always going to be welcome. But the necessity for both increases as you get older and begin to lose the range of motion you’re used to having.
• Peace of mind for you & your family members – Not only will you enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re safe when you’re showering, but you can also give your family some reassurance that they don’t have to worry about your safety when you’re in the house alone.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Jacuzzi Bath Remodel is plenty experienced when it comes to walk-in shower upgrades for seniors, so if you have any questions about a project at your home, we’d be happy to answer them. For starters, check out some of the frequently asked questions we get:

Plan Your Walk-In Shower Upgrades to Help You Age in Place

If you’re ready to invest in some walk-in shower upgrades to make aging in place at your home easier than ever, get in touch with our team at Jacuzzi Bath Remodel today.