How to Make Your Tub and Shower Area Safer for Aging in Place

Maybe you or someone you love had a close call with their tub or shower. Maybe nothing has happened yet (hopefully), but the thought comes to mind every time you go to get clean. This concern is worth taking seriously, especially when the tub and shower area is one of the most dangerous spots in the home for older adults.

Shugarman's Bath has completed over 6,000 tub and shower remodels, many of them specifically for homeowners and families thinking through aging in place. We know the features and accessories that make your tub and shower area safer as you grow older.

This article walks you through the features that make a tub and shower area safer for aging in place.

Table of Contents:

• Why Does the Tub and Shower Area Matter So Much for Aging in Place?
• Should You Remove the Tub for a Walk-In Shower?
• Are Walk-In Tubs Good for Aging in Place?
• What Shower Safety Features Help for Aging in Place?
• Do Shower Doors or Curtains Matter for Aging in Place?
• Are There Shower Controls and Fixtures Needed for Aging in Place?
• Are There Aging-Friendly Features That Still Look Good?

Why Does the Tub and Shower Area Matter So Much for Aging in Place?

The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in a home for older adults, especially in the tub and shower area when it’s wet. You’re dealing with slippery surfaces and a tub with a high threshold.

According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury death for adults 65 and older, causing over 38,000 deaths in 2021. Emergency departments saw nearly 3 million visits for falls among older adults that same year.

As we get older, going in and out of the tub and shower area becomes dangerous. A remodel designed for aging in place typically runs between $12,500 and $22,000, depending on the materials and scope. Compare that to a single fall serious enough to require emergency care, which costs far more. That’s before factoring in recovery time, follow-up care, or long-term independence.

A safer tub or shower area can save you money and recovery time when you’re aging in place.

Should You Remove the Tub for a Walk-In Shower?

Removing the tub and replacing it with a walk-in shower is one of the most common approaches for aging in place, since stepping over a tub ledge becomes harder as mobility changes.

If you want to keep a tub, that’s entirely okay. You might prefer soaking as though you’re in a spa. In those cases, it could help you to have a tub with a lower threshold, so you can sit on the edge and swing your legs to and from the tub.

In our experience, deep soaker tubs look appealing but become difficult to get in and out of safely as mobility changes.

Are Walk-In Tubs Good for Aging in Place?

For some people, especially those who love to soak and have the time to do so, a walk-in tub can be a reasonable option.

Walk-in tubs provide safety, accessibility, and comfort for seniors and individuals with mobility issues who enjoy bathing. They also reduce the risk of bathroom falls.

One of the biggest issues we’ve heard about walk-in tubs is how long they take to use. The process usually goes as follows:

1. Step into the walk-in tub after undressing
2. Close and make sure the door on the side is sealed before filling with water
3. Wait for the tub to fill
4. Take your bath
5. Wait for the tub to drain fully
6. Get out of the tub

The filling and draining cycle takes several minutes, and sitting in a cooling tub might be uncomfortable. If you don’t mind the time commitment to using a walk-in tub, then this might be a worthwhile solution.

Another factor to consider is the cost. A reliable walk-in tub with a quality pump, heater, and door seals might run around $30,000. Cheaper models might lack accessories that improve quality of life, or a door seal might leak.

Installing a walk-in tub is complex because they typically need to fit through a doorway less than 30 inches wide. They also need two separate electrical circuits for the pump and heater.

Note: Shugarman’s Bath does not install walk-in tubs. Even though we don’t offer this service, we understand that a walk-in tub might be a worthwhile solution that works for you or a loved one.

What Shower Safety Features Help for Aging in Place?

Grab bars are one of the most important additions for aging in place. Over time, your balance becomes unreliable. Having a solid point of contact to hold onto when going in and out of the shower reduces the risk of a slip-and-fall.

The standard recommendation is two bars—one at the entry and one inside the shower.

If, for whatever reason, you aren’t ready to install grab bars, you can install backing behind the walls during the remodel so you can install them later. That way, the backing can properly support the weight someone applies to a grab bar.

Another option is to install a slide bar, which is an adjustable shower head mounted on a vertical rail. It gives you a point of contact while showering and lets you adjust the showerhead height to where it works best for you. A slide bar can help if you use a shower chair, especially when you can bring the water down to where you’re sitting rather than trying to position yourself under a fixed head.

Swapping a fixed shower head for one on a hose is a worthwhile upgrade. You can also use a combo with a fixed showerhead and a hose showerhead. That way, someone seated in a shower chair can hold the shower head and control the water without repositioning their whole body. Consider installing a shower head with a hose next to your seat for convenience.

Regarding shower chairs, a portable or mounted seat helps with aging in place. If you or your loved one requires a caregiver, a built-in seat can make it hard to assist from behind. Built-in seats are fixed in a specific spot. A portable chair can be positioned wherever it works best for both the person showering and whoever is helping.

Anti-slip strips on the shower floor are another option. Shugarman's Bath installs these at no extra charge if the surface feels too smooth after the remodel.

Do Shower Doors or Curtains Matter for Aging in Place?

It depends on your preference. Some people can handle glass doors just fine. However, we recommend a curtain if you or your loved one already needs help showering. The reasoning is that a properly installed door leaves only about 24 inches of clearance, which isn’t much space to work with when a caregiver needs to get in close. A curtain can be pulled completely out of the way.

You can choose to install a door now and replace it with a curtain later if your situation changes.

Are There Shower Controls and Fixtures Needed for Aging In Place?

Older bathrooms were often built with separate hot and cold handles, which made it easy to accidentally turn the water too hot. Current California building codes require new shower and tub-shower valves to provide scald and thermal lock protection.

Shugarman's Bath installs single-action valves, which start cold and get warmer as you turn them up.

Are There Aging-Friendly Features That Still Look Good?

Yes, some features look good while accommodating a tub or shower area built for aging in place. You don’t need your bathroom to look like it’s something you would find in a medical facility.

Decorative grab bars come in finishes like brushed nickel and matte black. Multiple styles of grab bars blend better with a modern bathroom than the traditional curved ones you see.

Check out our project gallery to see how safety features and accessories can enhance the look of your tub or shower.

Need to Make Your Bathroom Safer?

Getting your tub and shower area safer for aging in place isn’t a complicated project. The right grab bar placement, base, valves, and door setup can create an area that works safely for years.

Now that you better understand how to make your tub and shower area safer for aging in place, read our article on the benefits of a tub-to-shower conversion.

Ready to make your tub or shower aging-in-place-ready? Schedule a free consultation with Shugarman’s Bath today to see how we can help make your space safer.

The opinions expressed in the referenced materials are those of the authors only, not necessarily of Shugarman’s Bath. While these referenced materials are useful in answering generalized questions, each bathroom is unique. For a particular question about your tub or shower remodeling project, contact your Shugarman’s Bath consultant.