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We've
called it many things: "universal
design", "accessible
design" and now "aging
in place" design, but no matter
what we call it the concepts have
been the same - allowing people to
live in their homes longer by modifications
to existing conditions
to overcome the decreased mobility,
dexterity and strength as a person ages.
Aging in place is about lengthening independence, it's about making
modifications and choosing specific
products that will allow a person to
choose to live longer in their home
rather than an institution.
Grab bars installed in a shower or
bathtub are just the beginning of
what can be done to overcome the
challenges we will all face as we
age.
Resale
Value
One concern that we hear a lot is
that these changes will effect the
resale value of our home when we
need to sell it. It's a valid
concern to talk about and consider,
but it must be tempered with
reality. Some things to consider:
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Consider
ranking in order of importance
to you: living
independently, safety, quality
of life and resale value.
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As
the population ages, aging in
place design will become more of
the norm of what you will see in
homes and homes with it already
in place will be more desirable
than those without.
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Anything
remodeled and changed today can
be remodeled and changed back
tomorrow.
Choosing
your level of Change
When
someone contacts us about remodeling
a bathroom to help with
independence, we try to understand
that persons
expectations. While there is a standard
list of changes that would create the
ultimate accessible bathroom and
allow the longest possible time to
remain independent in the home
before needing to enter a nursing
home, not everyone has the same expectations
of what or how much they want to
change their home. To assist with
the decisions we've developed three levels of
changes, each one more robust and
more accommodating. They are
standardized in what they are
designed to accomplish, but there is
nothing wrong with picking and
choosing from each level to create
your own personal design to best accommodate
your personal circumstances.
LEVEL
ONE
Lever
Handled Faucets
Thermostatic
and pressure balanced valves
Adding grab bars in shower or bath
tub.
Falling
is a very serious health problem:
Usually falls have more than one
cause. For example, someone who
slips or falls on a slippery floor
may have weak leg muscles and be
experiencing dizziness as a side
effect of medication.
- One
in three seniors fall each year.
- Ninety
per cent (90%) of broken hips in
seniors are a result of a fall.
- By
the age of 75, falls are the
major cause of fatal injuries.
- Forty
per cent (40%) of admissions to
nursing homes are related to
falls.
Changing
fixtures to lever handled
Lever handles on all faucets,
showers and bathtubs will make them easier to turn and grip.
Thermostatic
or anti-scald and pressure balanced
controls for all valves.
Old
valves with no anti-scald protection
are dangerous. New valves
protect the user.
Level
Two All
of level one +
-
Replacing the toilet with a comfort
height model.
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Adding
grab bars to toilet
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Slip
resistant flooring
Removing
bathtub and converting to shower -
Adding
additional lighting
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Rocker or touch light
switches
-
Lever
type door handles
-
Cabinets with pulls instead of knobs
-
Raised vanity Countertop height
at a comfortable level that
eliminates bending over
-
Adding
an adjustable height shower head
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Replace
the toilet with a comfort height
model.
Standard
toilets are low to the floor, new
comfort
height toilets are designed so the
bowl is on average 3 inches higher off
the floor which makes it easier to
stand up after use.
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Adding
grab bars to toilet
Grab
bars and rails installed near the
bathroom toilet will help
avoid injury by providing
safety, additional support and balance
when sitting, standing or transferring
from a wheelchair or walker.
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Slip
resistant flooring
Tile
flooring is not all the same. Slip
resistant flooring keeps everybody
safe and everybody on their feet, it
is not just for the frail, it is for
everyone. All tile ha a rating to tell you how
slip resistant it is when it is wet.
Choosing tile flooring with a heavy
texture ensures an anti-slip surface.
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Converting
the bathtub to a shower
You
can do a traditional bathtub to shower
conversion or there are also special shower pans designed to
retrofit bathtubs at a reduced cost.
They fit the 60" wide footprint
of a standard sized bathtub, and have
a drain located at one end so plumbing
costs can be minimized.
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Additional
lighting
Additional
lighting is an important aspect of
safety. Waterproof lights in the
bathing areas and extra lighting in
the rest of the bathroom will be a
welcome addition. Good lighting helps
everybody see better, not just those
with weak eye sight.
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Rocker
Switches
Rocker
switches are easier to turn on, they
can be turned on with elbows or closed
hands.
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Lever
Door Handles
Lever
type door handles are wonderful for
people with poor hand strength, but
everyone likes them, they are convenient
for everyone, especially when your
hands are full.
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Cabinet
Handles
Knobs
are harder to grip and open drawers
and cabinet door than handles are.
Replace old knobs with handles or
choose all handles for new cabinets.
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Raise
Vanity Height
Older
vanities could have counter tops as
low as 28 inches off the floor.
Choosing vanities that will allow your
finished counter top heights to be 36
inches off the floor will help avoid
having to stoop over to use the sink.
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Adjustable
Height Shower Head
Adjustable
shower heads on rails, allow you to
raise and lower the shower head, and
bring the shower head to the person
instead of the person to the shower
head.
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Level
Three
- Wall
support and provision for
adjustable and/or varied height
counters and removable base
cabinets
- Contrasting
color edge border at countertops
- At
least one wheelchair
maneuverable bath on main level
with 60-inch turning radius or
acceptable T-turn space and
36-inch by 36-inch or 30-inch by
48-inch clear space
- Bracing
in walls around tub, shower,
shower seat and toilet for
installation of grab bars to
support 250 - 300 pounds
- If
stand-up shower is used in main
bath, it is curb less and minimum
of 36 inches wide
- Bathtub
- an accessible model.
- Fold
down seat in the shower
- Enlarged
door ways.
- Adjustable/
handheld showerheads, 6-foot
hose
- Tub/Shower
controls offset from center
- Shower
stall with built-in
antibacterial protection
- Light
in shower stall
- Toilet
2 ½ inches higher than standard
toilet (17 to 19 inches) or
height-adjustable
- Design
of the toilet paper holder
allows rolls to be changed with
one hand
- Wall-hung
sink with knee space and panel
to protect user from pipes
- Slip-resistant
flooring in bathroom and shower
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- There
needs to be 32 inches of
clear width, which requires
a 36-inch door
- Levered
door hardware
- Telephone
and intercom system by the
toilet
Roll
in showers that allow a
wheelchair user to bathe without
transferring to a shower seat.
Although the user must first
transfer from a wheelchair to a
rolling shower chair, it is
often easier than transferring
inside more restrictive shower
enclosures. Some shower chair
designs require an assistant
Electronic
motion-sensing faucets for
convenience
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