Guide: How to Make Your Bathroom More Accessible

For older adults, using the bathroom effectively and safely — whether it is the toilet, faucets, or the shower and bathtub — can be difficult. For people who have lost mobility and strength, standing in a shower for a long time isn’t possible, and getting in and out of a bathtub is a risky proposition.

Thankfully, there has been progress in senior-friendly bathrooms geared toward helping seniors navigate the bathroom with ease. The remodeling covers a wide range, from something as simple as a sprayer attachment that allows the person to sit while bathing to curbless showers that remove the need to step up for access.

These changes can help older adults be more independent in the bathroom, and they also help caregivers give better care to their loved ones.

Options For Senior-Friendly Bathrooms

1. Install lever faucets.

Having a lever faucet eliminates twisting and turning, which can be difficult for seniors with reduced grip strength or arthritis (which 44% of seniors aged 65-74 struggle with1). Lever faucets typically start at $30, depending on materials and features. For greater ease of use, there are hundreds of senior-friendly faucet styles to choose from, including touchless and foot-operated.

Installing a new faucet isn’t as difficult as it once was, but anytime you’re dealing with plumbing, it’s good to at least talk with a professional before making the change yourself.

2. Get a sprayer attachment for your shower head.

A shower head that you can detach and hold in your hand makes bathing really easy. It furthermore eliminates the need to stand while showering, which is certainly a bonus for those who have problems standing for long periods. Being able to sit and shower also means more independence for the elderly.

Handheld shower heads typically start around $20 and $150 and can be installed without professional help.

3. Install grab bars and rails.

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among adults 65 and older, with many occurring in bathrooms.2 Installing grab bars and rails in the shower, bathtub, and near the toilet is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make your bathroom easier and safer for seniors and for caregivers.

Starting at $15 per unit, grab bars and rails can be installed yourself, or you can hire someone to do the work. There are bars that use suction and tension to hold them in place, but we recommend looking for bars rated for at least 250 to 300 pounds that can be installed directly into the walls.

4. Raise the height of the toilet.

Raising the toilet’s height by three to four inches can make all the difference for seniors. Standard toilets are generally 15-16 inches high, while comfort height toilets measure 17-19 inches from floor to seat, making it easier to sit and stand.

You can raise your existing toilet with a raised toilet seat (starting at $30), or you can replace your old toilet with a comfort height toilet (typically starting around $200).

5. Thick rugs for cushioning.

This simple and easy addition to the bathroom is for the caregivers who are spending time on their knees bathing someone. Placing a well-padded rug or pillow under your knees can keep your knees from hurting, making the bathing process less of a chore.

Padded mats or rugs are an affordable upgrade—most cost around $10!

6. Non-slip bath mats and rugs.

Another easy way to prevent falls in the bathroom is to place a non-slip mat or non-slip tape in the shower and a non-slip rug on the floor outside the shower. All of these options generally start around $10.

7. Curbless showers and walk-in bathtubs.

Curbless showers and walk-in bathtubs are great options for seniors who want to avoid or struggle with lifting their legs to step in and out of their tub or shower. These options make bathing and showering more accessible to seniors and easier for caregivers.

You can buy and have a pre-fabricated unit installed, or you can do it yourself. The advantage of having a new curbless shower or a walk-in bathtub installed is that they are specifically designed for senior care. Curbless showers and basic walk-in tub models typically start around $2,000.

Helpful Resources: Interested in installing a walk-in tub? Learn more about walk-in tub pricing.

There are twin goals to redoing your bathroom: the first is to increase the independence of your loved one, and the second is to make life easier for you, the caregiver.

To learn more, read our guides to walk-in tubs and showers:

• The 3 Best Walk-In Tub Brands
• Best Walk-In Showers
• Best Walk-In Tub Shower Combos