Category Archives: Aging-In-Place Design

Aging in Place Bathroom Design for Cobb County Homes

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A well designed accessible bathroom is unquestionably a great asset to those who suffer from mobility issues in Cobb County. To be able to maneuver with ease through the potential hazards and challenges of a bathroom setting is certainly not something to be AquaCareBathtaken for granted. So how does one decide which aging in place bathroom design is the best?

Accessible bathrooms can provide a number of specific areas of help. Grab bars are inexpensive and easy to install and offer instant stability and support. Non-slip shower and bathroom surfaces give extra traction to prevent falls.

Some of the additional aging in place bathroom design tips for Cobb County homes include:

  • Hand held showers and a variety of tub benches give the user control and greater security during use.
  • A roll-in shower makes moving from a wheelchair to the shower a seamless transition.
  • Walk-in bathtubs have a low step entry into a luxurious therapeutic bathing experience.
  • Door enlargement provides ample room for a wheelchair to pass through.
  • Roll-under sinks allow for knee clearance and insulate from potentially hot pipes fixtures.
  • Accessible toilets come in different heights to match the specific needs of the user.

Enjoy the confidence of greater safety in moving around your Cobb County home by choosing an aging in place bathroom design suited to your specific needs. For additional information, or a free in home assessment for accessible bathroom remodeling needs, please contact Atlanta Home Modifications via the contact form below, or by telephone at 770.880.3405.

Related articles:

1. Best Aging in Place Bathroom Design for Atlanta Homes
2. Aging in Place Bathroom Design Tips for Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Cobb County Residents
3. Aging in Place Design Strategies for the Accessible Atlanta Bathroom
4. Aging In Place Design = Wise Investments + Aging With Dignity
5. Aging-In-Place Design for Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Dunwoody, Buckhead and Marietta Homes

Best Aging in Place Bathroom Design for Atlanta Homes

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Increasing numbers of disabled and elderly Atlanta residents are opting to remain independent by remodeling their existing home, thereby taking advantage of the many wonderful aging in place bathroom designs which create safe, accessible and functional space.

Some notable features of aging in place bathroom designs include the following: kp tub

  • Grab bars, both horizontal and vertical, are often the first mobility tool implemented. They are practical, easy to install and add a great deal of reassurance concerning bathroom safety.
  • Roll-under and wall-mounted sinks provide easy access for wheelchair users, and offer such benefits as insulated pipes and hot-and-cold water moderation options.
  • Accessible toilets come in a variety of heights and styles, to make use much simpler and safer.
  • Doorway widening is also immensely practical, as this allows a wheelchair or scooter to glide easily, without bumps and potential hazards, in and out of the bathroom entryway. This is either accomplished through the removal of the door and enlargement of the door frame itself, or by putting an offset hinge on the existing door to facilitate more space.

If you are trying to determine the best aging in place bathroom design option for your Atlanta home, contact Atlanta Home Modifications for an in-home assessment today, via the contact form below or by telephone to 770.880.3405.

Atlanta Home Modifications, LLC sponsors websites on a variety of subjects including:

 

Shopping for a Walk-in Tub? Atlanta Walk-in Tub Prices

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Who doesn’t relish the sensation of a wonderful, relaxing bath or shower, as the jets of water soothe aching muscles and melt stress away? Now this wonderful experience canIn home assessment Atlanta for walk in tubs spa baths be enjoyed even by those who are limited in mobility and need extra protection against the accidents that can occur during independent bathing. Many people with physical mobility issues have solid reasoning for considering the purchase of a walk-in tub, such as:

  • Seeking safer bathtub access and safer bathing experience
  • Looking for a relaxing, stress free, pleasurable bathing experience
  • Want pain relief from back ache and other pain
  • Desire to stay living at home and not move to a special facility
  • Looking to enjoy bathing in the privacy, comfort and convenience of home

There are walk-in tub styles to meet every need. Choices include:

  • Hydrotherapy jets, which provide deep tissue massage for pain relief
  • Air jets, which offer a gentler water flow
  • Combination of both hydrotherapy and air jets, and
  • Built-in water heater to allow for continuous heat at the desired temperature

So then, what are typical Atlanta walk-in tub prices like? Interestingly, there is quite a range of pricing options in the purchase of a walk-in tub. Depending on whom you choose to do your installation, Atlanta walk in tub prices that include delivery, installation and finishing may vary from $7,500 to $10,500. An installation in the $10,500 range includes the price of the walk in tub, installation costs and special features or options such as a specialty sized tub and/or hydrotherapy jets packages and more.

There is no need to stress about walk-in tub prices. Get an in-home assessment for your Atlanta residence to find out how you can enjoy this high-quality luxury at the absolute best price! Then sit back and relax!

For more information about bathroom remodeling including walk-in tubs, spa bathtubs and roll-in showers in metro Atlanta or north Georgia, please contact us by telephone at 770-880-3405.

Aging In Place Design = Wise Investments + Aging With Dignity

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Now universally considered an essential design strategy, aging in place home design has many benefits. Beginning with the wisdom of investing your home dollars in a home that will last for many years, to the value of being able to age in your home whether in Atlanta, Marietta, Athens or Macon, with dignity; and finally having the freedom to be mobile and AquaCareBathretain a lifestyle you value —incorporating aging in place design strategies is simply smart. With the benefits of wise investments, aging with dignity, preserving your freedom and mobility – aging in place design simply makes sense.

An excellent article from Next Avenue highlights the topic, ‘8 Things to Consider Before Remodeling to Age in Place.’ Addressing everything from stair lifts to walk in tubs, the article covers the ‘ins and outs’ of one-floor design vs. elevator, no-step entry, widened doors, pocket doors, stair lifts, walk-in tubs, built in shower seats and glass shower doors.

More and more people are choosing to age in place rather than move to an assisted living community in Atlanta, Marietta, Athens or Macon. Converting your house to one which is safe and accessible can be time consuming, but there are many options available which will make a significant difference.  The first place to start is to have an aging in place home assessment to assist with stair lift, ramp or other mobility equipment selection.

Straight and Curved Stair Chair Lifts Prices

Regarding chair lifts, Nextavenue.org says that the stair lift is one of the most common Woman in stair lift - Atlanta, Gwinnettpieces of aging-in-place equipment… The most basic straight chair lift (the kind that runs straight up and down) costs about $3,000, installed. Custom curved units for stairs, that have turns and landings, can run as high as $12,000. While glides with seats can be a godsend for people with heart conditions or bad knees, they are not ideal for people with bad hips or who have difficulty sitting or balancing in a seated position. A perch stair lift, or standing lift, will be required for these people.

Contact Us Today
For more information about stair lifts or bathroom remodeling including walk-in tubs and spa bathtubs in Atlanta, Marietta, Athens or Macon, please contact us by telephone at 770-880-3405. Provide contact information below, and we will contact you by the next business day.

 

Aging in Place Bathroom Design Tips for Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Cobb County Residents

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Are you freely able to move about your metro Atlanta or north Georgia home today, as Grab-Bars-Vertical-Bar-at-Faucet-Atlanta-Installationeasily as you were able to, years ago? For many 55+ and senior homeowners in Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Cobb County homes, it has become difficult to navigate stairs and bathrooms due to aging or due to a disabling illness. Let’s consider some aging in place bathroom design tips as solutions!

Out of Date and Inconvenient Bathrooms
Most bathrooms in the home today do not have aging in place bathroom design features; rather, they are equipped with the standard height toilet, a vanity with cabinets underneath, the traditional bathtub with side wall and a shower stall that has a raised curb. While these may have been very easy to access and convenient for many years, they now often present an accessibility obstacle for the 55+ senior, or an individual with a disability or illness.

Popular Aging in Place Bathroom Design Projects

Aging in place bathroom design remodeling projects now being done in Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb and Cobb County homes normally includes a 60-inch wheelchair or scooter turning radius, grab bars, a roll under vanity, a walk in tub or roll-in shower, accessible pull-out storage to provide accessibility and safety for the homeowner.

Are you wondering how to incorporate some aesthetically pleasing designs into your projects? If so, the NAHB Aging-In-Place Design Checklist might be suited to your needs.

In-home Aging in Place Bathroom Assessments

Atlanta Home Modifications has had the pleasure of performing many home assessmentsaging in place walk in tub bathroom spa roll-in shower Jacuzzi to evaluate home bathrooms and recommend aging in place bathroom tips and ideas for remodeling in order to make the bathroom more accessible. We recommend many basic aging in-place bathroom upgrades such as:

1. Adding handrails and grab bars
2. Addition of a luxurious spa tub 
3. Install a walk in bathtub
4. Redesign of a shower to enable an individual to roll into the shower
5. Shower with seat, light and adjustable/handheld shower head with 6-foot hose
6. Addition of accessible storage 
7. Addition of a comfort height toilet two and half inches higher than standard toilet
8. Wall-hung sink with knee space and panel to protect user from pipes
9. Slip-resistant flooring in bathroom and shower

Aging in Place Bathroom Design Tips from Atlanta Home Modifications

Atlanta Home Modifications offers aging in place bathroom design tips to help you make your home more accessible as you age, or in the event you are struggling with an illness or progressive disease that has impaired your mobility. Whether you live in Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb or Cobb County, our design consultant is available to visit your home to perform an in home assessment to offer aging in place bathroom design tips and strategies. Preventative measures to help 50+ seniors and elderly Atlanta residents stay safe include home modifications such as wheelchair ramps for homes, straight and curved stair lifts, and roll-in shower and walk-in bath installations.

 Call us today at 770-880-3405 or contact us through the contact form below.

Aging in Place Resources:

Atlanta Stair Lifts Blog | Walk-In Tubs Atlanta Blog | Wheelchair Ramps for Homes 

 Grab Bars Atlanta Blog | The Aging in Place Blog

Tips & Ideas for Aging in Place Home Remodeling for the Bathroom

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Aging in place home remodeling has become very popular as an ever-growing portion of jacuzzi_walk-in_tub_Atlanta_GA_accessibilitythe population fits the Senior 55+ description. Aging in place home remodeling for the bathroom space requires special consideration. For example, consider strategically placed grab bars — you might be surprised at how useful they are for friends and family members of all ages. Another consideration is a walk in tub or roll in shower. Which would you prefer?

Advantages of a Walk-In Tub Over a Roll-In Shower

The walk-in tub provides a pleasant soaking experience, similar to a regular bathtub. Equipped with aging in place safety features such as an anti-slip bottom, grab bars and a bench seat, the walk-in tub offers the best safety options with the highest level of bathing experience for the mobility impaired individual. For those who cannot stand for long periods, the walk-in bathtub allows easy access to bathing. A final advantage of a walk-in tub over a roll-in shower is the relaxing bathing experience found in the tub. Many walk-in tubs are available with multiple spray jets, digital temperature and thermostatic controls, and hydrotherapy — perfect as part of a home remodeling for the bathroom.

If you are considering a home remodeling project to upgrade your home to be better prepared for your senior years, Sam Clark, builder and author of “The Real Goods Independent Builder: Designing & Building a House Your Own Way” and “Remodeling a Kitchen“, has the following suggestions. Remodel your home to include:

  • Ground level living with a minimum of a bedroom, bath and kitchen on the first flooraging in place home remodeling for the bathroom
  • Widen doorways to 32-inch to accommodate a wheelchair, which requires a 60-inch turning radius
  • One level entry, preferably at the front, with a no-barrier door threshold
  • Plan for the future, by providing such things as wall reinforcement for future grab bars, electrical conduit and a shaft for an elevator if anticipated, etc.
  • Storage in the “optimal reach zone” — the space between 20 inches and 44 inches above the floor to a depth of 20 inches away from your body. Use drawers instead of cupboards for easy slide-out access to all of the stored objects.
  • Lever handles at all doors, electrical outlets higher than normal and switches lower than normal
  • Non-skid flooring with either hard floors or low-pile carpet

Aging In Place Home and Bathroom Remodeling Experts

For more information about walk-in tubs and roll-in showers as part of an aging in place home remodeling for the bathroom, contact the experts at Stair Lifts Atlanta / Atlanta Home Modifications, LLC. We will visit you in metro Atlanta or north Georgia, evaluate your home, and provide design and pricing information. The areas we serve include Athens, Atlanta, Gainesville, Buford, Canton, Woodstock, Kennesaw, Cartersville, Douglasville, Newnan, LaGrange, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, McDonough and Stockbridge. Contact us today at 770.880.3405.

Resources:

University of Southern California Andrus Gerontology

The Center for Universal Design at No. Carolina State Univ

Universal Design Alliance

 

Aging-In-Place Remodeling Checklist, Courtesy of the NAHB

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Today, especially in the home building and remodeling industries, universal design concepts and advantages are well known. Just imagine, if 20 or 30 years ago, home builders had adopted the finer points of universal design home design. We would have far fewer seniors and people with disabilities struggling to find aging in place home modification equipment and remodeling services today. 55+ adults and seniors would be easily navigating living spaces within their homes, rather than shopping for walk in tubs and roll in showers, stair lifts, and aging in place bathroom remodeling.

Is your Atlanta home aging in place ready?

Is your Atlanta home aging in place ready?

Quoting from the NAHB article, ‘What is Universal Design’, “Everyone can use universal design! It doesn’t matter if you are young or old. You could be short or tall, healthy or ill. You might have a disability. Or you may be a prize-winning athlete. Because of universal design, people who are very different can all enjoy the same home. And that home will be there for all its inhabitants even when their needs change.”

Use the Aging-In-Place Remodeling Checklist, courtesy of the NAHB, to determine whether your home is aging in place-friendly.

Advances have been made throughout the home in the areas of accessible bath and kitchen fixtures and features, home automation features, and disability equipment design. The five main universal design features that every builder and homeowner would be wise to incorporate into their new homes or remodels are:

  • Zero-step entry with a level threshold at the door
  • One story barrier-free living
  • Wide doorways and hallways
  • 60’ turning radii for general comfort (and possible a wheelchair some day)
  • Lever door handles and rocker light switches

For more information, please visit the Aging in Place and Universal Design pages on the Atlanta Home Modifications website.

Aging in Place Walk in Tubs & Roll in Showers for Atlanta Bathroom Remodeling

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Is your bathroom designed to accommodate your family’s needs for today and tomorrow? Aging-in-place and universal design bathroom design principles incorporate a 60” wheelchair turning radius, wider doorways, roll-under sinks, and many more features that make a home accessible to all. In fact, when these principles are applied correctly to Atlanta bathroom remodeling projects, they make the bathroom accessible for today, and tomorrow, as well!

Aging in Place Accessible Bathroom

Aging in Place Accessible Bathroom

Many metro Atlanta homeowners living in communities such as Lawrenceville, Dunwoody, Buckhead and Marietta are planning to remodel the bathroom in order to gain access for bathing and toileting. They are performing bathroom upgrades that would not have been necessary had the home been designed with aging-in-place and universal design / 55+ design principles originally. These Atlanta bathroom remodeling projects solve the accessibility problems faced by many aging homeowners in our local communities.

If you are a person with a disability, have a family member in the home with special needs, or are an individual recovering from an illness, you may require modifications such as a walk in barrier free tub, roll in showers, or other home modifications to make your bathroom accessible.

  • Walk-In Bathtubs: For those who cannot stand for long periods of time (or at all), the walk-in bathtub allows easy access to bathing without having to hoist oneself dangerously into a contemporary tub.
  • Roll-In Showers: These showers not only have easier access but are designed to be used while safely seated. These showers also have the space needed for a caregiver to help out.
  • Grab Bars: Strategically installed around the bathroom can give a fall preventing hand-hold. Additionally can be used to hoist oneself out of a wheelchair.
  • Safety Lights: Bathrooms get steamy which can disorient the elderly. Backlit LED lights help keep a person oriented and safe.

jacuzzi_walk-in_tub_Atlanta_GA_frontHome Modifications–Ramps, Stair lifts and Bathroom Upgrades
Preventative measures to help 50+ seniors and elderly Atlanta residents stay safe include home modifications such as wheelchair ramps for homes, straight and curved stairlifts, and roll-in shower and walk-in bath installations. Would any of these accessibility home modifications or bathroom remodeling projects solve your mobility problems and enable you to move freely within your home?

Call Today!
Get more info from the certified aging in place professionals at Atlanta Home Modifications at 770-880-3405 to learn more about bathroom fall prevention for 50+ seniors and elderly Atlanta residents. Bathroom remodeling is challenging for many metro Atlanta homeowners living in diverse north Georgia communities such as Lawrenceville, Dunwoody, Buckhead and Marietta—but, for a person with a disability, it can be overwhelming. We would like to help!

Aging in Place Design Strategies for the Accessible Atlanta Bathroom

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Are you or a loved one experiencing challenges at home in the bathroom? Consider Kohler-ADA-Compliant-Handicapped-Accessible-Sinkstrategic aging in places changes to your bathroom to make life more manageable. Some of the best aging in place design strategies for the accessible bathroom include:

  • Expand the space to accommodate a wheelchair, scooter or walker
  • Add a roll-in shower or walk-in tub
  • Replace toilet with a comfort height model
  • Add anti-slip flooring
  • Rebuild the vanity to add knee space under lavatories
  • Lower vanity / counter heights
  • Add grab bars at toilet, shower and tub
  • Switch out hardware to add single-lever faucets
  • Widen doorways
  • Add anti-scald devices to shower, sink and / or tub
  • Improve bathroom lighting

Contact Atlanta Home Modifications to make an appointment to schedule an in-home assessment to evaluate your family home. We will evaluate your home and determine whether or not with strategic aging in places changes to your Atlanta home, your home will become more manageable.

Aging in Place Accessible BathroomAtlanta Home Modifications, LLC specializes in handicap accessible home modifications for people looking for barrier free accessibility design, including grab bar installation, stair lifts, platform lifts, chair lifts, wheelchair ramps for homes, assistive technology, roll-in showers and walk-in hydrotherapy bathtubs. (Images via Istockphoto and Wikipedia)

A walk-in bathtub (bathing, tub), with a door,...We desire to help people who are:

  • Returning home from rehab;
  • Experiencing a disability after an accident;
  • Suffering from a progressive disease;
  • A person with a disability visiting or moving to a new home

You can contact Atlanta Home Modifications by telephone at 770-880-3405 or by visiting the Atlanta Home Modifications website. Stop by and read Our Story!

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The Georgia Dept of Human Services Offers Community Based Disability & Home Modification Services

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Montage of Atlanta images. From top to bottom ...

Montage of Atlanta images. From top to bottom left to right: Atlanta skyline Georgia State Capitol Olympic Centennial Park Old World of Coca-Cola museum Downtown skyline Turner Field (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Are you a senior 55+, elderly or person with disabilities desiring to remain living in your Atlanta home longer, in spite of mobility challenges? The Georgia Department of Human Services offers community based services to assist people in need, and some of the services include home modifications. The following is quoted from the GA Dept. of Human Services Division of Aging Services website, the 2008 – 2011 State Plan stated:

“The Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program makes available a variety of services to individual consumers, and to groups of consumers, to support and assist older Georgians ( and their caregivers, when present) in maintaining their independence in their homes and communities These services support older persons and their families in living longer, living safely and living well. In SFY 2006, 36,793 individual older adults, including caregivers, received one or more HCB individual services.”

The Division of Aging Services, along with Area Agencies on Aging, offer support and services to infirm elderly and their care givers, including home modifications.

According to the 2008 – 2011 plan, one of the future areas of emphasis for the community based services is to provide additional home modifications and assistive devices to promote independence. Non-Medicaid Home and Community Based Services focus on solutions to help older Georgians live with safety and independence in their own homes.

For additional information about funding assistive technology and disability home modifications such as ramps and stair lifts, visit the Funding Resources page at Atlanta Home Modifications, LLC, — an Atlanta based accessibilty design and installation company.

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