Aging-in-place bathroom remodeling: a planning checklist

An aging-in-place bathroom is planned so it stays safe and usable as mobility, balance or eyesight change. The core list is short: a shower you can walk into without a step, blocking in the walls for grab bars, a toilet at a comfortable height, a handheld shower and a seat, lever handles, a valve that controls water temperature, good lighting, a door wide enough for a walker, and a floor that is not slippery when wet. Most of these cost little extra when built into a remodel and a lot more to add later.

This checklist is for planning a remodel. It is not medical advice. If you or someone in the household has specific needs, an occupational therapist can assess how that person moves and recommend specifics. For our construction side, see accessible bathroom remodeling.

The shower

Curbless or low-threshold entry

A step-in curb is the most common barrier in an existing bathroom. A curbless shower has the floor sloped to a drain with no lip at the entry, so a person can walk, or roll, straight in. Achieving it means recessing the floor under the shower, which is more straightforward on a raised foundation or in new construction than on a slab or in a condo. Where a true curbless entry is not possible, a low curb is still a real improvement over a tub wall. Our walk-in shower page covers how the floor is built.

Handheld shower and seat

A handheld shower on a slide bar lets someone shower seated, rinse without moving, and adjust the height. Put it within reach of the seat. A seat can be a built-in bench, a fold-down seat anchored to the wall, or a freestanding shower chair. Built-in and fold-down seats need framing behind the tile.

Linear drain

A linear drain at the back wall or across the entry lets the floor slope in one direction, which is easier to stand on than a four-way slope to a center drain and works well with larger floor tile.

Blocking for grab bars

Grab bars need solid backing. Drywall anchors are not enough. The cheap time to add wood blocking is while the walls are open, even if you do not install bars yet. Put blocking around the toilet, along the shower walls, and near the tub if one stays. Photograph the walls before they are closed, with a tape measure in the frame, so you know exactly where the blocking is. Many grab bars now come in finishes that match other hardware and look like towel bars.

The toilet

A comfort-height toilet sits taller than older standard models, making it easier to sit and stand. Leave clear space on at least one side for a grab bar or for someone to help. A wall-hung toilet can be mounted at a chosen height, which is useful for a household with specific needs. A bidet seat can help with independence; it needs an outlet near the toilet, which is easy to add during a remodel.

Controls and fixtures

• Lever handles on faucets, the shower valve and the door. They are easier to use than knobs with limited grip strength.
• A thermostatic or pressure-balancing valve to limit sudden changes in water temperature. A thermostatic valve holds a set temperature; many also allow a maximum temperature limit to reduce scald risk.
• Controls placed near the entry, so the water can be turned on and adjusted before stepping under it.
• A touchless or single-lever faucet at the sink.

Lighting

Eyes need more light with age, and glare becomes more of a problem. Plan layers:

• Bright, even general light from ceiling fixtures.
• Vertical fixtures or sconces either side of the mirror to light the face without shadows.
• A light in the shower rated for wet locations.
• Low-level night lighting, such as a toe-kick strip under the vanity or a dim step light, so a trip at night does not need the full overhead.
• Light switches at the door, and consider a motion sensor for the night light.

Doors and clearances

Older bathroom doors are often narrow. Widening the opening helps anyone using a walker or wheelchair, and it is simpler to do during a remodel. An outswinging door or a pocket door means that if someone falls against the door inside, it can still be opened. Inside the room, clear floor space in front of the toilet, the vanity and the shower entry makes a large difference.

Floors

Choose tile rated for wet floors with good slip resistance. Smaller tile with more grout joints gives better grip in a shower. Avoid thresholds between the bathroom and hallway where possible, and keep the floor level across the room. Matte surfaces show less glare than polished ones.

Contrast for low vision

Color contrast helps people with reduced eyesight tell surfaces apart. A toilet seat that contrasts with the bowl, grab bars that stand out from the wall tile, and a vanity top that differs from the floor all make the room easier to read. An all-white bathroom is harder to navigate than it looks in photos.

The vanity

A wall-hung vanity with open space below allows a seated user to get close to the sink. Keep the drain and supply pipes tucked back, or covered, so knees do not hit hot pipes. Mount the mirror low enough to be useful while seated, or use a tilting mirror. For the trade-offs between wall-hung and standing cabinets, see floating vs freestanding vanities.

When to talk to an occupational therapist

If someone in the household has a specific condition, uses a mobility aid, or has had falls, an occupational therapist can observe how that person gets in and out of the shower, on and off the toilet, and through the door. Their recommendations on grab bar positions, seat heights and clearances are specific to the person, which general guidance cannot be. Bring their notes to the design meeting and we can build the room around them.