The Bath Authority can transform a sketchy bathroom into an affordable and safe place of comfort and joy

By Bill Yurgen

“Now that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious, for you shall only live it once. Be comfortable with growing older.”
—Louise Hay

What a beautiful observation the above quotation is. Unfortunately for some seniors, much of their life journey from as young as age 50 is spent in fear of falling. One accidental fall can be life-changing.

The Difficult Problem
A bad fall can immediately result in injured knees and shoulders, damaged hips, or at the very least bruised egos. In the aftermath, we can be left less sure of our steps and find ourselves fearful of movement we previously never gave a second thought to.

This fear often manifests itself in the bathroom, where slippery wet surfaces in the tub and shower can be difficult to navigate for someone whose movement has become more restricted over time or whose sense of balance is waning due to age-related diseases.

An Embarrassing Hassle
Challenged by a tub with a sidewall stepover height that seems to get higher with each passing year or a “too-high” shower entry that constantly threatens to trip you makes the refreshing bathing experience everyone deserves a hassle—or worse, an embarrassment because your ingress/egress requires the steady hand of another person. Soon you may find yourself bathing or showering on someone else’s schedule. These issues can lead to a cumulative effect of bathing or showering less frequently, which in turn can lead to unnecessary personal hygiene issues.

The Elegant, Affordable Solution
Kalvin Harrington of The Bath Authority explained how the TBA team has tackled these problems.

“A large portion of our customer base is the aging community,” he said. “Instead of selling their home and moving to a more accessible living space due to a non-accessible bathroom, they ask us replace it with a new low-barrier shower base. Our shower bases can be customized as roll-ins (wheelchair-accessible), short curbs, or with 4-inch curbs, depending on the customer’s preference and needs.

“Homeowners love the quality appearance of conventional ceramic tile and grout showers, but they dread the cleaning—often on their knees—and the maintenance that comes with keeping each fixture’s appearance and performance like new. This includes using harsh chemicals to clean the porous grout joints every week or so, sealing the grout every year or two, along with regrouting any shallow points or cracking. If grout is not properly maintained, it’s a breeding ground for mold and mildew.

“Our high-tech polymer showers with laser-etched ‘grout’ offers the beauty and feel of tile, but are 100% non-porous because no grout is required. For those who prefer the classic look of marble or granite we can provide wall panels that closely mimic the real thing without the surface porosity or periodic maintenance. We custom manufacture hundreds of color and design combinations to ensure a truly perfect fit for anyone’s dream bath. Our customers are often ecstatic and surprised after their new shower is installed due to the minimal upkeep. White vinegar and water or Dawn soap with a microfiber towel is all that’s needed to keep its beauty for the years to come.”

Safety Can be Beautiful
User physical stability is paramount, Kalvin said, which means reliable grab bars. “One problem many people have with some baths and showers from the big box retail brands is that the appearance looks more institutional rather than upscale residential,” he said.

“We offer a large selection of various safety features that come in many different finishes, including chrome, brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, and matte black. Our straight Moen grab bars come in lengths of 12 inches, 16 inches, and 24 inches. It’s not uncommon for us to install two to three of these in a new accessible shower wherever a customer wants them. We also offer sleek safety bar designs like a circular grab bar that fits around the plumbing valve, and corner shelves that perform as storage for soap and shampoo but also feature a grab bar. Every grab bar we install is mounted into 2x8” or 2x10” wood blocking behind the wall to assure the user will never be jeopardized.”

Kalvin added that TBA’s custom shower bases and bathtubs are manufactured with a 2-inch coating of high impact spray foam so they are structurally sound. “To take it even further, we set the bases and tubs in Type S mortar for complete reinforcement,” he said.

Sit and Relax
The Bath Authority offers three styles of seating in their showers:

• The Bench seat is 26 inches wide and holds up to 2,200 pounds. It comes in every matching wall color.
• The Corner seat works well with smaller showers and holds up to 900 pounds. It also comes in all matching wall colors.
• The Moen Folding Teak Wood seat holds up to 400 pounds and takes up only 3 inches when folded up. The beautiful teak wood can be complemented in brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze framing. It’s a great option for customers with smaller shower areas or showers with multiple users—some who like to sit and others who prefer to stand.

TBA also offer footrests that can be installed at any preferred height. They assist in washing the lower body and are a handy support when shaving legs.

Yes, Walk-In Tubs, Too
Not only does The Bath Authority offer deep soaking bathtubs, the company is also seeing an increase in demand for walk-in bathtubs. Every walk-in tub is ADA-compliant and comes with a low-entry threshold and customizable features like chromatherapy, aromatherapy, hydro-massage, and in-line heaters. These units come with up to 28 jets located to target the back, feet, thighs, calves, and mid-body areas.

For all Mimi readers, The Bath Authority is currently offering $1,000 off its bath or shower project in addition to special financing terms as low as $99 per month. Please visit TBASale.com/Mimi for more information on this special offer. Better yet, to arrange your free estimate call 216-343-1259.