Senior Bathroom Safety Remodels in Paramus, NJ

The bathroom upgrades that help most with aging in place are a curbless or low-entry shower, grab bars by the toilet and shower, a shower bench with a handheld showerhead, and a comfort height toilet that sits 2 to 3 inches higher than a standard one. You can do them all in one remodel or add them one at a time.

This page is for homeowners in Paramus and nearby towns who want to stay in their homes as they age, and for adult children helping a parent.

Replacing a tub is often the first step, so see tub to shower conversion. For no-step options, see walk-in showers. To redo the whole room, see full bathroom remodeling. Prices are on our cost page.

Curbless walk-in shower with a glass panel, a handheld shower and a wood bench

Curbless Showers

A curbless shower has a floor that is level with the bathroom floor, so there is nothing to step over. That removes a common tripping spot and makes room for a walker, a shower chair or a wheelchair. The floor slopes gently to the drain to keep water in the shower. For a wheelchair friendly layout, the National Association of Home Builders points to at least a 60 inch turning space, as AARP reports. AARP also suggests floor tile rated for wet areas with a coefficient of friction of at least 0.42, which helps feet grip when the floor is wet.

Small white bathroom with a glass walk-in shower and a gray vanity

Grab Bars and Wall Blocking

A grab bar has to be anchored into the wall framing or into solid backing. A towel bar is not built to hold your weight, so never use one as a grab bar. We place grab bars at the shower entry, inside the shower and beside the toilet. The ADA guideline for accessible restrooms puts grab bars 33 to 36 inches above the floor, and that is a useful starting point at home. Not ready for grab bars yet? We can add wood blocking inside the walls now so bars can go up later with no tear-out.

Walk-in shower with dark porcelain tile, a rain shower head and a built-in niche

Shower Benches and Handheld Showerheads

Sitting down to shower takes a lot of strain off the legs and back. A built-in bench is part of the shower itself and stays put. A portable shower chair is a simpler option for a shower you already have. Pair either one with a handheld showerhead on a slide bar so you can rinse while seated. AARP calls a handheld showerhead one of the simplest upgrades you can make. A grab bar within reach of the bench finishes the setup. Together, a bench and a handheld showerhead can help someone keep showering on their own with more confidence.

Small bathroom with a single gray vanity, a medicine cabinet and a tiled tub surround

Comfort Height Toilets

A comfort height toilet sits 2 to 3 inches higher than a standard toilet, according to AARP. That small change makes it easier to sit down and stand up, which helps people with back or knee pain. The ADA guideline for accessible toilets puts the seat 17 to 19 inches above the floor. Adding a grab bar beside the toilet helps even more. Under New Jersey's construction code, swapping a toilet for a similar one with no change in the piping counts as ordinary maintenance, so this is often one of the easier upgrades to make.

What It Costs

Tub to shower conversion: $2,000 to $12,000, typical about $7,000
Prefab walk-in shower: $1,000 to $8,000
Tiled walk-in shower: $3,500 to $15,000
Plumbing work: $400 to $2,000

These are national figures from HomeGuide. Bergen County often runs higher. Smaller jobs, like grab bars or a new toilet, are quoted on their own. See the full cost guide, or call (201) XXX-XXXX for a quote.

Bathroom Safety FAQ

Q: What is the most important bathroom safety upgrade for seniors? It depends on the person, but removing the step into the tub or shower is often the biggest change. A curbless shower with grab bars and a bench makes the hardest part of the bathroom easier.

Q: Can grab bars go on any wall? They can go on most walls, but they must be anchored into the framing or solid backing, not just drywall or tile. If the backing is not there, we can add it.

Q: Can we make these changes one at a time? Yes. You can start with grab bars and a handheld showerhead, then replace the tub with a walk-in shower later. We can add wall blocking now so future grab bars go up easily.

Q: Do I need a permit for these changes in New Jersey? Some, yes. Swapping a toilet or other fixture for a similar one with no piping change is ordinary maintenance under the state code. Converting a tub to a shower usually changes the piping, and that needs a permit.