How Can a New Bathroom Help You Age in Place?

August 21, 2019

Nowadays many people choose to age in place, as opposed to living in a retirement home or an assisted living facility. But there are some challenges to aging in place and there are some things you need to do to make your home ready for you to age in place. Many accidents (falls, slips, etc.) in the home happen in the bathroom, which is why it is essential that your bathroom is made safe for you to age in place. There are a couple of different things you’ll want to consider when remodeling your new Maryland bathroom.

Install Grab Bars

The older we get the more difficult getting around becomes, and all it takes is one brief lapse in balance and you’re on the ground. One of the best ways to maintain your balance is to steady yourself on something, which is exactly what grab bars are designed to do. Installing grab bars in your bathroom is a great way to keep you from falling, and if you do fall, they can help you leverage yourself back up.

When most people think of grab bars they think of the cold silver ones you see in hospitals and schools, but not all of them are like that. Nowadays you can find grab bars made from different materials and in different colors, sure to match any style.

Safe Floors

Most bathroom floors are tile, and while they’re easy to clean, tile floors are also dangerous. Anyone who’s groggily gotten out of the shower in the morning will tell you how slippery tile floors can get. There are a couple of different ways you can alleviate this problem in your new remodeled Maryland bathroom.

Firstly you could buy some bath mats and put them on the floor. This is the cheapest solution but may not be a be all end all answer to the problem. If you do take this route you’ll want to make sure you get rubber mats, and that you place them wherever water pools up, bathtub, shower, sink, etc.

Another option would be for you to actually install rubber flooring. This is much more costly than buying mats, but it is a safer option. If you install rubber flooring you won’t ever have to worry about slipping again. You could also look into no-slip vinyl flooring.

Lastly, you could invest in some no-slip paint. These paints usually run around $30 a gallon and offer a compromising solution to the problem. You can make your floor safer than with just the mats, but without having to pay to completely replace the floor.

Consider a Walk-In Tub

Sometimes there’s nothing more relaxing than a nice soak in a tub, but even something as nice as a bath can become a problem when you get older. Many older folks have trouble getting in and out of their bathtubs, and if you’re planning on aging in place you’ll likely need to replace your old tub. There are a number of walk-in tubs available on today’s market, and you can definitely find one that will work for you.

Let Us Help With Your MD Bathroom Remodel

If you’re planning to remodel your Maryland bathroom, don’t do it alone. Get the help of an experienced bathroom remodeling company! Here at Bath Doctor, we’ve helped countless Marylanders over the years remodel their bathrooms, and we can help you to. If you have any questions, don’t wait around, give us a call today. Our bathroom remodeling experts are standing by ready to help you in any way possible.