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Bathrooms require special attention in order to meet the living needs of elderly adults who want to age in place. Everyday routines like bathing, washing up and brushing teeth can be challenging for some older adults in a standard bathroom . Luckily, there are a number of ways to make bathroom faucets more user-friendly for seniors with mobility issues. The design tips shown here should be part of an overall design philosophy for aging in place bathrooms that include appropriately placed grab bars, nonslip flooring and adequate lighting. 1. Handheld Showerheads Replace a wall-mounted showerhead with a handheld model. A  handheld showerhead attached to a pole allows elderly users to adjust the showerhead's height when standing or to use it as a handheld model when sitting or standing. Here are some other user-friendly changes that can help older adults: Combine the showerhead with built-in or portable shower chairs to make bathing more comfortable. Bathtubs and walk-in showers ...

Seniors who want to age in place should consider remodeling their bathrooms so that they better accommodate their needs. Below are some ideas to keep in mind when planning a remodeling project. 1.   Include a Bathroom on the Main Floor If possible, place a bathroom on the same floor as the main living area . A bathroom located where the senior spends most of their time means they can avoid using the stairs. It’s a tall order for many homes, but can make a world of difference for older adults with declining mobility. 2. Provide Adequate Floor Space The bathroom should be large enough to accommodate someone using a cane, a walker or even a wheelchair to get around. Someone who uses a wheelchair will require the most space—at least around 60 inches of open floor space to turn around. Doorways should be at least 32 inches wide so that a wheelchair can get through. Some chairs may require 36-inch-wide openings. 3.   Make Tubs and Showers Accessible For some seniors, standard bathtubs are d...

Amy Goffstein and her family have 24-hour access to a spa—or at least it feels that way when they step into a master bathroom equipped with a lighted mirror, steam shower, freestanding air tub , and even a toilet with a heated seat and temperature- adjustable bidet function . “We were trying to create a place where we could relax and where we would want to spend time rather than just running in and out,” says Goffstein, a real estate agent .  Goffstein says she, her husband, and their two children have used the room’s special features consistently since moving into their renovated Ladue home in November 2014. Her favorite improvement is the Steamist Total Sense steam shower with Aroma Sense, which can be programmed to include various users’ shower preferences, such as water temperature and pressure. It also features a waterfall showerhead, three body sprays, and an aromatherapy function. “When you’ve got that eucalyptus and that steam going,...

Dear Savvy Senior, What tips do you recommend for making a bathroom safer and more functional for seniors. My 79-year-old mother slipped and fell getting out of the shower last month, and I'd like to modify her bathroom a bit with some safety features that can help protect her. --Searching Daughter Dear Searching, Because more accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house, this is a very important room to modify for aging in place. Depending on your mom's needs, here are some tips for each part of the bathroom that can make it safer and easier to use. Flooring: To avoid slipping, a simple fix is to get non- skid bath rugs for the floors. Or if you want to put in a new floor get slip-resistant tiles, rubber or vinyl flooring, or install wall-to-wall carpeting. Lighting: Good lighting is also very important, so install the highest wattage bulbs allowed for your mom's bathroom fixtures and get a plug-in nightlight that automatically turn...

If you have the space, consider a tub built for two. Whirlpool tubs, jetted tubs and air baths provide a place to relax, unwind and decompress at the end of your day. Adding one to your bathroom can help create the feeling of a luxury spa in the comfort of your own home. Whirlpool tubs come in a wide variety of different, shapes and sizes, all with a variety of features from positionable jets to aromatherapy and lights. Remodel your bathroom to include one and feel the difference it makes in the space. Determine the Placement A usable, comfortable whirlpool tub does not have to take up a lot of space in your bathroom. In fact, if you can fit a standard alcove tub into the space, you can fit a whirlpool tub. If your bathroom is tight on space, combine your tub and shower into one area, using an alcove design for your tub. For bathrooms that have a little more space, consider placing a slightly larger tub into the corner of the bathroom. If you are remodeling a large master bath ,...

The following excerpt is taken from Chapter 7 of Life on Wheels: For the Active Wheelchair User , by Gary Karp, copyright 1999, published by O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. To order, or get more information about Gary's book, call (800) 998-9938. Permission is granted to print and distribute this excerpt for noncommercial use as long as the above source is included. The information in this article is meant to educate and should not be used as an alternative for professional medical care . The bathroom is often the space that is the greatest challenge to make accessible. In a 1993 U.S. Census Bureau report , 4.5 million people with disabilities reported having difficulty bathing, and 2.1 million had trouble using the toilet. Millions of people are inconvenienced--even endangered--by inaccessible bathrooms. Any impediment to easy access to the bathroom can lead someone to delay their bowel or bladder program. A bathroom that is easy to use protects your health ( see Figure 1 (cli...

Epsom salt bath has various health benefits and this is the reason why many people use regularly. It is fantastic for detoxifying and relaxing your organism and obtaining the benefits of magnesium, but even if you do not have enough time to soak in the tub, you can benefit by having a foot bath. What actually is Epsom Salt? Epsom salt is a pure mineral compound that naturally occurs and is composed of magnesium and sulfate.They got the name from a saline spring in England, where they were discovered for the first time. Epsom salt has a lot of amazing uses, but it is usually added in foot soaks and hot bath. The salt gets through the skin and reduces stress , detoxifies the whole organism and even boosts weight loss . Benefits of Epsom Salt Bath When you add Epsom salt into the hot bath, sulfate and magnesium break down and penetrate into the skin where they are absorbed in the blood stream. Trough reverse osmosis , this salt eliminates the toxins from the body thro...

Color Color brings fun and drama to the bathroom. You can be as bold or as subtle as you wish. Painting one accent wall is a great way to bring add splash of color to the room without overwhelming the space. Highlighting the bathroom through cleverly chosen color schemes can make for a very aesthetically pleasing space , not just a plain, wall-papered nook. Blue Themed Bathroom Beach House Striped Theme Hot Pink Design (Photos via Better Homes and Gardens) Freestanding Tubs These tubs create a sense of freedom in the bathroom. They aren’t anchored to the wall, which has the effect of turning them into awe-inspiring centerpieces. Depending on your personal preference, you can choose a classic claw foot or take your bathroom in a more modern direction with an innovative glass design . Branching away from a molded, wall- hugging tub creates a welcoming environment in your home, akin to stand alone bathtubs in many high end spas. Clear space, clear mind. Classic Clawfoot Model Contemp...

Danny Lipford: This week is the second and final show on the renovation of Today’s Bath. Announcer: Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford , the voice of home improvement , with projects, tips and ideas to help you improve your home. Danny Lipford: We’re right in the middle of a two part renovation called Today ’s Bath, it involves the renovation and updating of two different bathrooms, one being a very small master bathroom that was in this area and then on the other side of the wall even a smaller bathroom that was kind of the guest bathroom and we’re making them a lot larger by encroaching into this area which was once the master bedroom . Now, by taking up this space we were able to create this very nice custom walk -in shower than a very long vanity, two different sinks, and this cozy little niche for the whirlpool tub. Also the existing guest bathroom ’s a lot larger, a lot more functional and we had enough space left over by encroaching into this bedroom to create a very nice...