By Zach Wennstedt, owner of Aging Safely Baths, installing walk in tubs and accessible showers since 2012. Updated October 2026.
If you are planning for 2027, you are planning at the right time. The oldest baby boomers reach 80 in 2026, and the U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2030 all boomers will be 65 or older. Surveys from AARP have found for years that most adults 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. Wanting to stay is the easy part. Making the home work is the plan.
We are a bathroom company, so we are biased, but for a good reason: the bathroom is usually the first room that stops working, and it is where many of the most serious household falls happen. Start there.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; CDC, Facts About Older Adult Falls; AARP Home and Community Preferences Survey.
The one rule: plan for today and 3 to 5 years out
The most expensive bathroom is the one you remodel twice. If a walker is likely in a few years, choose a shower a walker or wheelchair can roll into now. If someone loves to soak but may need help later, choose a tub with a door and seat that a caregiver can work with. Read our 10-year bathroom planner for the long view.
What to change first, in order
- The tub step-over. Stepping over a 15 to 20 inch tub wall is one of the riskiest moves in the house. Replace it with a walk in tub or a low-threshold or roll in shower.
- Grab bars at the tub or shower, beside the toilet and near the door, anchored into solid backing.
- A seat and a handheld shower so bathing can be done sitting down.
- Floor and light. Slip-resistant floors, no loose rugs, bright lighting and a lit path from the bedroom.
- Toilet height. A comfort-height toilet, or a raised seat with arms, makes standing up easier.
- Doors and clearance. A 32 inch clear doorway and room to turn make a future walker or wheelchair possible.
- Water temperature. A pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve and a water heater set around 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
A realistic 2027 timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now | Walk the house with the checklist below. Note every step, rug, dark spot and hard transfer. |
| Month 1 | Get written price ranges and look into funding: VA, Medicaid waivers, local programs and tax rules. |
| Month 1 to 2 | Pick the tub or shower. The tech does the in-home site visit to measure and plan. |
| Month 2 to 3 | The unit is built and shipped; install day is scheduled. Most installs take one day. |
| Every year | Re-check grab bars, caulk, lighting and whether needs have changed. |
Timelines vary by product and location. Built-to-order tubs take longer than in-stock showers.
What it costs, and how people pay
Many small changes cost little: grab bars, lighting, a raised toilet seat and a handheld shower. The tub or shower is the big item. National brands often run $25,000 to $30,000 installed. Our walk in tubs installed typically start around $15,000, and most projects come in well under $20,000 depending on the unit and the home. See the full walk in tub cost guide and handicap shower installation cost.
- VA HISA grants for eligible veterans.
- Medicaid home and community waivers in many states.
- Grants and local programs, including some Area Agencies on Aging.
- Medical expense tax rules, which may apply when a doctor recommends the change.
- Financing to spread the cost.
Medicare generally does not pay for walk in tubs. See Medicare and walk in tubs.
Smart safety tech worth considering
- Fall detection on a wearable or medical alert system.
- Motion-sensor night lights on the path to the bathroom.
- Water leak sensors near the tub and water heater.
- Smart thermostatic valves that hold a set shower temperature.
- Voice assistants that can call family hands-free.
Technology helps you respond to a fall. A safer bathroom helps reduce the risk in the first place. You want both.
The 2027 bathroom checklist
- No step-over: walk in tub or low-threshold shower
- Grab bars at the tub or shower, toilet and door
- Shower seat or tub seat at a comfortable height
- Handheld shower on a slide bar, 59 inch hose or longer
- Pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve
- Water heater around 120 degrees Fahrenheit
- Slip-resistant floor, no loose rugs
- Bright light and a night light path
- Comfort-height toilet or raised seat with arms
- Doorway 32 inches clear, or offset hinges
- Room for a caregiver to stand beside the shower
- Phone or alert device reachable from the bathroom
Helping a parent? Read how to set up the bathroom for a caregiver.
Start with one call
Call 1-888-779-2284 for a written price range. When you have picked the right tub or shower, a factory-certified tech comes to your home for a full site visit before install day.
Call 1-888-779-2284 (7 days, 7am to 8pm MT) or request your price range. No high-pressure sales pitch. Once you pick your unit, a tech visits your home before install day.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first to age in place safely?
Start with the bathroom. Replace the tub step-over with a walk in tub or a low-threshold shower, add grab bars, a seat and a handheld shower, and fix floors and lighting.
When should I start planning to age in place?
Before you need it. Plan for mobility today and 3 to 5 years ahead, so the bathroom does not have to be remodeled twice.
Does Medicare pay for aging in place bathroom changes?
Medicare generally does not pay for walk in tubs or bathroom remodels. VA HISA grants, Medicaid waivers in many states, local programs and medical expense tax rules may help, depending on the situation.
How long does a walk in tub or accessible shower installation take?
Most installations are done in one day once the unit arrives. Built-to-order tubs take longer to arrive than in-stock showers.
What smart technology helps seniors age in place?
Fall detection devices, motion-sensor night lights, water leak sensors, thermostatic shower valves and voice assistants are all useful. They work best alongside a safer bathroom.