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Preparing a home for aging parents, relatives or yourself can be a challenge. But with help from local professionals, there are many ways to transition a home for safety and comfort. Being able to move around the home is a priority, said Perry Pascucci, owner Walk-in Tubs of Oklahoma, and bathrooms are a big problem area . “Accidents in the bathroom are the leading cause of broken hips and other injuries, including arms,” he said. “As we grow older, we can become unstable easily.” Climbing into and out of a bathtub can be difficult and dangerous with its wet surface. For older residents, getting into a bathtub can be difficult, and going from the seated position to standing can also pose a potential problem. That’s why walk-in tubs have become more popular with aging homeowners, he said. His business will be one of more than 100 vendors at the Senior Living Expo on Saturday at Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center, 6808 S. 107th East Ave . The special tubs allow p...

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...

<?xml encoding="UTF-8"???><?xml encoding="UTF-8"???> If you are planning on remodeling a bathroom to either meet the needs of a handicapped individual or an elderly person you will need to keep in mind the needs of such a person. There are two main criteria that you will want to keep in mind when doing a handicapped bathroom remodel . The first is that you need to provide safety and the second is that you need to make sure that it is usable. Handicapped and elderly individuals may possibly be using a wheelchair or a walker. Therefore there has to be allowable room to maneuver either one without creating a hazard. The first thing that you will require when designing such a bathroom is adequate floor space . It will be quite frustrating if you do not provide enough room to maneuver a wheelchair. Keep in mind that you will also need to install wider doors and you will need to provide the ability to reach the various features in the bathroom. You will need ...

senior friendly bathrooms " /> Image Credit : zanita.info Commonplace, daily routines are so easy we don’t even need to think about them. But as our bodies age, that simple step into the shower, or the few minutes it takes to stand at the sink and brush our teeth, become routines that take extended effort. Complications arise for the elderly as balance and mobility become more and more difficult. Suddenly, the bathroom can be a dangerous place where a shower threshold can cause a painful fall or a difficult faucet can lead to scalding. The bathroom can even become an unwelcome space if walkers or wheelchairs have no room to enter. That’s why safe designs for the senior friendly bathrooms are so important. Zero-threshold showers and walk-in bathtubs provide security , safety, and even style when done right. TIP: Use our Real- Time Bathroom Remodeling Calculator and Find Out in Minutes How Much Your Remodel Will Cost.  Zero-Threshold Showers You may step over the 6-inch thresh...

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 ...

Many baby boomers are now facing decisions about the best way to care for aging parents. While most elderly people wish to stay in their homes, this possibility must be weighed against any safety issues involved . One of the most dangerous rooms in the home is the bathroom, where the majority of slips and falls occur. When an aging parent begins to show signs of needing help when sitting and rising, or if they have been diagnosed with balancing problems, it may be time to consider renovating the bathroom to make it safer for them. Issues That Need to be Addressed It is necessary to look at the current bathroom through the eyes of someone who may have joint stiffness, visual perception issues , muscle weakness, and unsteady balance. It is also wise to think ahead to a time when a wheelchair or walker might be needed. The following checklist provides a list of problem areas to be reviewed: • Is the bathroom equipped with a walk-in tub or shower? • Are there sturdy handrails beside the c...

Entry #1900, December 3, 2012 Life as a senior citizen is more complicated than many young people realize . Simple day-to-day tasks become much more difficult with age, especially for those who use walkers or wheelchairs to get around in their old age. This effect is most strongly pronounced in the bathroom, which becomes something like an obstacle course for those who don’t have the same physical capabilities they possessed in their younger years. When designing a safe bathroom for seniors, be sure to keep this in mind. What is convenient for you may be a difficult mess for the elderly. Ensure the bathroom is accessible for aging adults Image via: David Wilkes Builders Walk-in showers and bathtubs Walk-in showers and baths are some of the best utilities available for senior bathrooms. Stepping in and out of the bath can be dangerous even for those in their prime years. Losing your balance is very easy, and the slippery surfaces make it even easier to fall over and hurt oneself. This...

At the Torresdale home of Paul and Heather Owens, the renovation is well underway: a two-story addition with a bathroom that meets disability access standards . It even has an elevator. All that work is necessary because a year ago, another elevator — this one in Center City — lifted off at high speed, rose 15 stories , and exploded into the concrete ceiling of its shaft at the top of Philadelphia’s Criminal Justice Center . MARGO REED / Staff Photographer Paul Owens of the Sheriff’s Office and his wife, Heather, stand behind their home, which is being renovated to accommodate his disability.  Owens, then a sergeant in the Sheriff’s Office, was alone in Car 2B as it sped at more than twice its rated speed of 350 feet a minute. “I grabbed the railing, and I just remember holding on,” Owens, 49, said last week at his home, his first interview since the accident. “After that, I don’t remember anything until I woke up in the hospital.” ...