Grab bars and shower seats used to be a necessary eyesore for bathroom safety. But no more.
A grab bar can be helpful for anyone concerned about bathroom safety. We’ve all encountered times when we needed a little help because of broken bones, sprains, strains, and other illnesses and injuries. It happens to most everyone.
So why aren’t homes designed with bathroom safety in mind?
Maybe it’s because we design optimistically. We design for the holiday meal, the baby we hope will be born, the backyard cookouts with friends. But until recently, the conversation about designing for a lifetime wasn’t part of the essentials list. And the safety products weren’t all-too-glamorous.
It’s not fun to think about the possibility that someone in our home could be hurt or need assistance with activities of daily living. Our home is our dream, and we don’t want our dreams less than amazing. But being ill-prepared is even worse.
There is a change happening in the design community, a change that was whispered about, then discussed, and now openly celebrated. We call it aging-in-place, universal design, design for all, and many other labels that all essentially mean the same thing. We want our homes to keep us safe and happy for our entire lives. It’s not too much to ask for or expect.
Since National Bath Safety Month is celebrated every January, it’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate the design of bath safety products that actually are designed for a stylish home. Just take a look at these options from American Standard.
What do you think about these options? Would you feel comfortable with this kind of grab bar in your home?
[…] are talking everything from the best toilet flush to 3D printed faucets to touch-free faucets and universal design from the American Standard pavilion at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in […]