A bathroom remodel should last you and your family for many years. While you may update your bathroom’s aesthetic with new paint, new hardware or a new shower curtain, you don’t want to have to rework the plumbing for a new floor plan for at least five to ten years after you invest in a pricey remodel.
The design of the bathroom should grow and adapt to your needs as you grow older. Be sure to consult the designers and contractors that specialize in aging-in-place designs who can guide you on what features will be best for you and your home. Here we will give you a list of the most common and helpful features to have in your new bathroom. Incorporating these tips and must haves will result in you having a long standing bathroom with features that will accommodate you now and in your golden years as well.
Interior Clearance
In case you need a wheelchair later in life, make sure that you have plenty of open space within the bathing area. At a minimum, you will need at least five feet of open space for your wheelchair to make a 180-degree turn within the bathroom.
Wide Doorways
Plan your remodel to make doorways wider and more accessible even if you have a five foot bathroom. This allowance ensures that wheelchairs can easily enter the room. Additionally, if someone needs assistance entering the bathroom, wide doorways allow room for a helper.
Wall-Mounted Sinks
Both wheelchairs and walkers can easily slide under sinks that are mounted to the wall at the appropriate height. With wall-mounted sinks, there are no lower cabinets and no pedestals, so you will have plenty of leg room if you need it.
High Toilets
Choose a toilet that is 16-18 inches high, compared to the standard 14-15 inch high seats. These “comfort height” or chair height seats are ideal for you now and will have the added bonus of aging really well with you.
Curbless Showers
A shower without a rim to step over is the best design for people of all ages but especially those who use walkers or wheelchairs. The shower has no lip on the floor and slopes down toward the drain to avoid water pooling.
Slip-Resistant Tile
You can maintain a cohesive and aesthetic design for your shower walls and floors all while improving traction. To do this, you can increase grout lines on the floor to add to the slip resistance or choose a tile that has more texture.
Grab Bars
The security of a grab bar is a feature that is suitable for all ages. A grab bar doesn’t have to stand out as an obvious “senior” feature. A sleek grab bar can double as a towel holder until you need the extra support.
No Ledges
While a lack of ledges might seem contradictory to the need for grab bars, this tip is crucial. Avoid any soap dishes or shower shelves that protrude so that you aren’t tempted to grab these features for support if you accidentally slip. Design your shower with as few items projecting into the shower space as possible to allow you to rely on the sturdy support of a grab bar.
Shower Seats
A shower seat gives you a place to sit and bathe. Until you need it, you can use the space as a storage ledge or a place to prop up your leg while shaving. You can design your seat as a triangular bench in the corner of the shower, or a seat that runs along the length of the shower.
Hand-Held Fixtures
Where the shower head is positioned makes all the difference. A hand-held shower fixture is a necessity for those who have any physical limitations. When placing your fixture, make sure that the water supply is not positioned too high and that the hand-held sprayer reaches down to your feet when you sit on your shower bench.
Before remodeling your bathroom, go through this list and determine if these features will fit your home. Adding these features to your bathroom design can increase your room’s lifespan, allowing it to grow with you and your family. 
Samantha Cavasin
Home & Yard Magazine
