Aging in Place Bathroom Design for Cobb County Homes

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

Is a Walk-in Bathtub or an Accessible Shower My Best Choice?

Accessible bathrooms are designed to enhance the comfort and enjoyment of any elderly individual, or person with a disability, who wishes to live independently in his own home. When considering upgrading a bathroom, how does one decide which is the best choice, a walk-in bathtub or an accessible shower?

Walk-in bathtubs are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners in the Atlanta Shower Installation - Schrader - 2and north Georgia and ideal for even moderately mobile users. Specific features include:

  • An average 4” step into the tub, which is much more convenient than a standard tub
  • Comfortable, accessible seat
  • Deep muscle hydrotherapy, great for home rehab programs
  • Non-slip floor and seat surface

Accessible showers are much safer and highly recommended for those who are more restricted in their mobility. These are characterized by:

  • Shower floor at the same level as that of the bathroom
  • Curb-less showers to allow smooth, safe transfer from wheelchair or walker to shower chair
  • Generous sizing to accommodate users who require assistance
  • Slip-proof textured base

Given these distinguishing features, your choice of a walk-in bathtub or accessible shower is largely dependent on the abilities of the primary user.

Hydrotherapy therapy soothes and relaxes sore muscles.

Hydrotherapy therapy soothes and relaxes sore muscles.

Americanstandard-us.com for example, has designed walk-in tubs that “… incorporate the therapeutic benefits and luxury of a whirlpool tub, with the safety, accessibility and simplicity of a walk-in bath. Perfect for those with limited mobility who wish to enjoy the freedom of living comfortably at home.” A well designed, accessible bathroom will be a great experience for the independent Atlanta or north Georgia homeowner!

Contact Atlanta Home Modifications
For additional information regarding walk-in tubs and accessible showers in the Atlanta metro area and north Georgia, please contact Atlanta Home Modifications by telephone at 770 880 3405.

Facts about Hydrotherapy Jets for Your Home Spa Bath

Hydrotherapy, or the therapeutic use of water, has been practiced for centuries for the relief of pain, improvement of blood circulation, and general relaxation and well-being of the individual. In the past, one had to travel to specific geographic regions in order to benefit from the healing powers of water. Now, through modern advances in engineering, hydrotherapy jets are available for your Atlanta home spa bath.

Hydrotherapy soothes and relaxes sore muscles.

Hydrotherapy soothes and relaxes sore muscles.

What exactly is hydrotherapy? What are its benefits?

Massaging hydrotherapy jets are typically included with the installation of a therapeutic walk-in spa bath. These spa jets come in different forms, or strengths, and offer singular health benefits, the particular selection of which is dependent on the needs of the primary user.

  • Whirlpool or air jets release air bubbles into the bath water, supplying a gentle massaging action, and is perfect for those with sensitive skin issues.
  • Hydrotherapy or water jets continuously recirculate the water in order to promote a stronger, more forceful massage sensation, offering special relief for such ailments as arthritis, circulatory issues, and chronic pain.

There are therapeutic hydrotherapy jets designed to meet the specific needs for your Atlanta home spa bath! Discover yours today!

The deep muscle massage of hydrotherapy (water) jets brings you the benefits of pain and ache relief, improved circulation and faster healing. (Via accessibility professionals)

For more information about hydrotherapy jets for your home spa bath, 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. (Author: J. Vernon)

 

How Long Does it Take for Walk-In Tubs to Fill and Drain?

Here’s a popular question about walk-in tubs and spa bathtubs:

“I’ve heard that one of the main negative features of a walk-in tub is the amount of time it takes to fill it up, and then drain it when you are done bathing. How long does it take for walk in tubs to fill up, and also drain?”

There are a number of factors that impact the fill time and drain time, including the size, age and quality of the existing plumbing; water pressure at your home and the size of the walk-in tub.

Bathtub Filling Time:
The main factors that will affect how long it takes for your walk-in tub to fill are home water Ella's Walk-In Tub Perspectivepressure and the size of the walk-in tub. Typically, it will take a few minutes to fill, but, naturally, it depends on the tub size. One precaution prior to purchasing a walk-in tub? Your water heater should be a minimum size of 40 gallons for a standard-sized tub, and larger for larger tubs. When purchasing a walk-in or spa bathtub, be sure to ascertain the exact number of gallons the tub will hold when full.

Bathtub Drain Time:
Typically, if your tub now drains at a reasonable pace, your walk in tub will as well. Usually it will take 2 to 4 minutes for the tub to drain if the tub is installed correctly and existing drain lines operate properly.

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.

Your Home Assessment for a Walk-In Tub or Spa Bath is a Necessity

People often ask, is an in-home assessment important and necessary before I can get pricing estimates on a walk-in bathtub or spa bath? Many aging in place bathroom remodelers attempt to give detailed information and price quotes over the phone without meeting you, seeing your home, or performing a home assessment. Steer clear! It is necessary to do an in-home assessment prior to specifying equipment and providing prices.

Different models of walk-in tubs and spa baths vary in pricing, due to the size, featuresIn home assessment Atlanta for walk in tubs spa baths and quality. A “soaker tub” with no jets will cost less than one with air jets and hydrotherapy. An in-home assessment is necessary in order to determine the type of tub appropriate for you and your home.

Factors that impact the walk in tub installation may complicate the installation and impact the price. Installation not only involves plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work; new finishes may be required such as flooring, tile or paint.

The bathroom remodeling design consultant has the expertise you need to solve all of the details to create an attractive space that functions well. 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.

Safe & Accessible Roll-in Showers and Walk-in Bath Tubs

Accessible Roll-in Showers and Walk-in Bath Tubs
Father in wheelchair with family
Proper bathing and showering facilities in our homes are essential amenities for safe and peaceful living. Equally as important is the ability to easily access these facilities. At certain times in life, due to an accident or illness, it may become difficult to get in and out of a traditional tub or showers—that is when it is time to consider a bathroom remodel that offers an accessible walk-in tub or roll-in shower.

Curbless Accessible Roll-in Shower
Curbless accessible showers are easier to get in and out of than the conventional shower with a curb. People with mobility challenges can more safely walk in or transfer into a barrier free shower with a wheelchair or transfer with a transfer bench to a built in seat.

Retrofitting a Bathroom Floor to Accommodate a Roll-In Shower
There are many design options available for retrofitting a bathroom to accommodate the construction of a barrier free shower. Design options include the use of a low threshold shower unit or custom made shower, creating a safe, independent and convenient alternative to a traditional bath tub. If a standard shower unit does not fit, a custom shower base, shower pan, and walls can be designed to fit your bathroom.

Walk-In Tubs Offer Many Features
Bathtubs offering an easy, safe and pleasant bathing experience are now available with walk-in doors, along with many product options including a built-in seat, jetted spray, hydrotherapy and whirlpool systems, in-line heater, slip resistant AquaCareBathfloor and a low step for easy access. Accessible roll-in showers and walk-in bath tubs solve mobility challenges for many people with disabilities in the Atlanta area. We serve the entire Metro Atlanta area including the Georgia counties of Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth, and Hall.

 

For more information, contact Atlanta Home Modifications. Financing options may be available, along with other accessibility and mobility equipment such as stair lifts. For additional information or an in-home assessment by a qualified accessibility bathroom design consultant, call us at 770.880.3405.

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

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

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

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!

Jacuzzi Walk-in Tubs – Features & Prices for Atlanta Homes

The Jacuzzi® Finestra™ Therapy Walk in Bathtubs are designed to provide safe andjacuzzi_walk-in_tub_Atlanta_GA_accessibility convenient access for a comfortable bathing experience in homes throughout metro Atlanta and north Georgia. Equipped with the latest Jacuzzi technology and a variety of standard safety features such as grab bars and slip-resistant flooring, the Finestra Therapy Walk In Bathtub features a precision-close double-sealed door with a new magnetic latching system that locks out leaks and water loss, and an integral seat in two heights of 14-inch or 17-inch.

Offering the soothing massaging action of the patented jets, along with the ability to fine-tune your experience from stimulating to serene—the Finestra Walk In Bathtubs are available as Soaking Baths, Whirlpool, Pure Air™, and Salon™ Spas. Learn more at Finestra Walk In Bathtubs about additional Luxury Collection Baths from Jaccuzzi.

Competitive walk-in tub pricing includes a solid warranty and shipping and installation jacuzzi_walk-in_tub_Atlanta_GA_accessibility_Finestracosts giving you the peace of mind that comes with protecting your independence. Installation costs are dependent upon the layout and design of your home, and require a personal in-home evaluation to assess. The electrical, plumbing and physical layout of the home all play a role in proper and safe installation of your walk in tub. We offer a free in-home consultation where a trained representative will discuss your needs, evaluate the installation requirements in your home, and give you a firm price estimate for the Jacuzzi walk-in tub installation before he leaves.

For more information, contact Atlanta Home Modifications, LLC by telephone at 770-880-3405.