Walk-In Tubs · Repair, replace or choose · Updated November 2026
Aging-in-Place Bathroom Checklist
The bathroom is one of the most common places for falls at home. Many safety changes are inexpensive; others are best done during a remodel. Use this checklist to plan both.
Quick, low-cost changes
- Grab bars by the toilet and in the tub or shower, anchored into studs or blocking (towel bars are not grab bars).
- A handheld shower head on a slide bar.
- A shower chair or transfer bench.
- Non-slip mats or adhesive strips in the tub or shower.
- Night lights between the bedroom and bathroom.
- Lever-style faucet handles.
Changes that take a contractor
- A low-curb or curbless walk-in shower (conversion costs).
- A built-in shower bench.
- A comfort-height toilet.
- An anti-scald or pressure-balancing shower valve.
- Slip-resistant floor tile.
- Brighter, glare-free lighting and lighted switches.
- Wood blocking inside the walls so grab bars can be added later anywhere you need them.
For wheelchair or walker access
- A wider doorway; ADA guidance calls for at least 32 inches of clear opening.
- A door that swings out or a pocket door.
- Enough clear floor space to turn around.
- A wall-hung or open-front vanity so a seated person can reach the sink.
Shower or walk-in tub?
If you are deciding between the two, see walk-in shower vs. walk-in tub. For stairs to the bathroom, see straight vs. curved stair lifts.
An occupational therapist can do a home safety assessment and recommend changes for a specific person. Ask your doctor about a referral.
Cost figures are national ranges from the sources listed in our walk-in tubs cost guide, not a quote from FixFinch or any contractor.