Massachusetts Home: Remodeling The Bathroom For Senior Living

Nine out of ten seniors report that they want to age in place – that is, live in their own homes independently rather than moving into a senior housing situation, assisted living facility, or nursing home. One of the primary reasons people can’t live as they’d like to is that they’re unable to perform the tasks of daily living safely in their homes. Many of the major tasks of daily living take place in the bathroom, including using the toilet and bathing. Slips, trips, and falls in the bathroom can be very serious, resulting in injuries that require lengthy hospitalizations and rehab stays.

With this in mind, many senior Massachusetts homeowners remodel their bathrooms in advance to meet future needs. These remodels can include adding HealthCraft grab bars on either, or both, sides of the toilet. These bars are strong, steady, and durable. They provide reliable support as needed for a person to safely lower themselves onto the toilet and then return to a standing position. The bars fold up out of the way when they’re not needed.

Bathing is another concern. There’s nothing like a relaxing soak in the tub after a tough day, but the physical act of climbing in and out of the tub can be difficult if you have bad hips, knee or joint pain, or balance issues. Replacing a traditional tub with a walk-in tub is one sensible way to address this issue. Walk-in tubs are twice as deep as traditional tubs, and the doors close securely – you never have to worry about water leaking out onto the floor. Because you use a walk-in tub in a seated position, it’s easier for people who have mobility concerns to bathe themselves independently. If you prefer a shower, there are barrier-free showers that can be accessed without needing to step up and in: they can even be used by someone using a walker, wheelchair, or cane!