Showers
September 2025
The Shower That Grew With Us. Our shower has a story and it’s time to tell it!
Our almost UD Shower!
UD Checklist for Optimum Showers
Zero Entry
6’ turning radius in shower itself and outside the shower entrance
Grab bars 40” from floor
Flooring non slippery, small tile
Adjustable hand held shower head
Heater
Lighting
A story of a shower, 2 Knees and the power of independence.
We have a shower with a small step up. Its entrance is wide open with no door. Plenty of space in front of the shower and in the shower to turn.
At 61, I faced a major life transition: two knee replacements. Recovery was no small feat, and every step—literally—came with its own set of challenges.
With the help of a shower chair, I was able to bathe myself independently. That simple act—one most people take for granted—became a daily reminder of healing and progress. The two grab bars installed in the shower weren’t just safety features; they were lifelines. They allowed me to transfer in and out of the shower without assistance, giving me a sense of control during a time when so much felt uncertain. Funny enough, those same grab bars also served a more everyday purpose. They were a perfect place to hang running shorts and washcloths.
From Healing to Hosing: The Shower That Became a Family Tradition
Three years after my knee replacements, life had taken a joyful turn—we had four grandchildren. And with them came a whole new chapter for our shower.
As soon as they hit the one-year mark and started swimming in our pool, the post-swim routine became a cherished ritual. I’d march them straight into the shower, line them up, wielding the adjustable shower head like a hose at a car wash. They squealed with laughter as I rinsed them off. The grab bars, once my anchors during recovery, became their favorite handles to hang onto—as well as their swim suits!
A Shower That Cared for Generations
As life continued to evolve, our shower adapted right along with it. When my 93-year-old father came to live with us, the space once again became a place of support and independence. We added a third grab bar at the entrance of the shower, making it even more accessible for him.
Despite his age, Dad was able to shower with ease. The grab bars—those simple, sturdy fixtures—allowed him to transfer in and out of the shower independently, just as they had helped me years earlier, It was a quiet triumph, watching him maintain his autonomy.
Universal Design (UD) tools like grab bars aren’t just about safety—they’re about preserving dignity, fostering independence, and creating a home that welcomes every stage of life. Our shower had become a living testament to that philosophy.
Adapting with Grace: A Shower That Met Us Where We Were
As my father’s mobility declined, our shower once again evolved to meet new needs. He had two shower chairs—one stationary and one with wheels. Over time, he gravitated toward the roller chair, which offered more flexibility and comfort.
To accommodate his preference and ensure safety, we made a simple modification. Instead of stepping up into the shower, he would back up to the small step and seat himself on the locked shower chair, which we positioned at the threshold. This way, he could remain seated while being gently rolled into the shower space—no stepping required. A win- win for all, he and this caregiver.
The Power of Adaptability
If there’s one lesson our shower has taught me, it’s this: be open to modifications. Life doesn’t stand still—people age, circumstances shift, and sometimes a temporary injury can turn routine tasks into real challenges. But with a little foresight and flexibility, even the smallest changes can make a big impact.
Grab bars were the unsung heroes in our home. They supported me through recovery, gave my grandchildren a safe space to play, and helped my father maintain his independence well into his late nineties. For every generation, they offered stability, dignity, and freedom.
Now the nitty gritty of UD showers.
Shower:
Ideally, a UD shower features a zero-step entrance—no need to step up or down. Just a smooth, level transition into the space. Even better, it should be open and doorless, allowing easy access for walkers, wheelchairs, rolling shower chairs, or just a busy parent juggling wet swimsuits and giggling grandkids.
The popular wet area. Zero entry and a large turning radius but no other UD features.
Remember the 6’ turning radius on the front porch, the inside foyer area and any area that someone using an assistive device needs to turn around in easily? You need the same 6’ radius to turn in a shower. If you have the space to make it larger , 6-7’ is so much more comfortable.
I have taken a bathtub space and modified it into a zero entrance shower that would allow for a rolling shower chair. It was a tight squeeze especially when a caregiver was needed to help bathe the person. Because of the small space we opted for glass sliding shower doors. Honestly, the 6-7’ radius rule allows for greater ease to move in the space for a person and their caregiver. The additional space is key to it working.
Zero entry shower modification. UD products include grab bars, adjustable hand held shower, and small tiled flooring and an raised toilet.
The adjustable shower head is a must. Kids love to use it as well as an adult sitting on a shower chair or standing while holding on to the grab bar in the shower.
Adjustable shower head
Notice the horizontal grab bar as you enter into the shower.
Shower chairs: Shower chairs can be stationary or have wheels, called a rolling shower chair. If using a rolling/ mobile shower chair make sure the wheels lock! Shower chairs are so helpful with anyone with back issues, a cast or boot on their leg. Shower chairs allow for safe and comfortable bathing, all UD principles.
Swivel Shower Chair that moves 360 degrees. Great for a tight spot.
I love, love, love GRAB BARS: Use your design sense and find bars that reflect your style. It is imperative that the bar is held in place with the appropriate hardware so that a 250# person can safely pull on it.
I prefer finding a stud in the wall when remodeling but there are many types of molly bolts and anchors to attach a grab bar. Home Depot has a product called WIngits. This hardware allows you to place a grab bar wherever you need. It.
Horizontal Grab bar is at the standard height in the shower.
Grab bars should be placed at about 40” from the floor, whether for kids or adults. I have found all kids love to hold on to a grab bar when showering. We also find they are great places to put a washcloth or drip dry clothes like gym shorts or bathing suits.
When placing a grab bar in a tiled wall surface you will go through several concrete or tile drill bits. I mean several like 10! Don’t use a person who has never installed a grab bar for your installation. Use someone who has experience, or it will be a disaster. A way to determine if this person can really install a grab bar is to ask how many drill bites they anticipate using to install the grab bar(s). If they don’t laugh and say a lot, you need to keep looking for another person!
Grab bars now come in variety of finishes and designs. Grab bars come in different shapes to fit a space: circular, angled, straight line, wavy line and serve a particular function. Display your design style by selecting just the right grab bar. Notice in the picture below on the left, that the horizontal grab bar nearly disappears into the glass sliding door handle. Where as the vertical one as you enter the shower is obvious. The bars don’t need to be obvious. Finding an interesting grab bar as in the pictures below center or on the right look more like a decorative item. Esthetically nice and practical that’s great UD!
People often reach for a towel bar thinking it is a grab bar. The bars do not function the same. Depending on your situation you may choose to remove towel bars and install grab bars eliminating the issue. I install towel hooks so there isn’t a towel bar close to the shower area. I put the towel bars further away so it won’t be used as a transfer assist.
This shower has a vertical grab bar inside and the vanity has a grab bar instead of towel bar.
This shower has several UD features, hand held shower head, curved glass partition with no door, zero entry, vanity is open to allow a wheelchair to get closer to the sink.
Properly placed grab bars usually eliminate the problem of reaching for a towel bar. Make sure all grab bars are along the path of transfers, in any slippery area, in and out of showers and toilet areas and that should make for a safe shower area.
Horizontal Grab bars follow you into the shower. This shower has the UD feature of a turning radius before you enter the shower and in shower.
Floors: I can not stress enough about the correct size of the tile in a shower and bathroom area. It is not safe to use any large tile on a wet bathroom floor. Particularly in the shower pan area. The tile must be a small sized tile (1”) to reduce slips.
This penny tile with lots of grout lines will reduce slipping/falling in the shower. Notice larger tiles on walls of shower.
Great UD.
Use large tiles on the walls of a shower but for safety sake only use small tiles on any floor surface inside or outside the shower or wet area in a bathroom. A small sized tile will have more grout lines and this allows the toes to grab onto something and prevent a slip or fall. Believe me, a fall in a bathroom usually results in a poor outcome. Remember for safety, comfort and independence, use at least 1” tile in the shower pan and no more than 5” on the rest of the bathroom floor. The walls of the shower are great for the larger tiles. Your Designer should always steer you towards a small tile for the shower floor.
Bathroom floor with lots of grout lines in this pattern. Great UD.
Other materials could be used in a bathroom wet area. Whatever it is make sure its’ waterproof! Luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) provides many options to select from. I would not use carpet in any wet area. I also recommend using waterproof moldings in the bathroom.
An all in one shower and pan can be slippery. Kohler offers anti-slip floors, shower seat and grab bars as features. All good UD components, which in turn means greater independence. If the product you are considering doesn’t offer these features, use the ideas from the shower and bathtub blogs which include sections on floors and shower chairs.
Heater: a heater in a bathroom is great UD for everyone whether toileting, showering or brushing their teeth. Everyone at all ages loves the heater. This is a separate heater unit from your HVAC system. This heater can be part of the light and exhaust fan unit.
Bathroom Heater Unit makes a huge difference in comfort.
Another feature that is popular is in floor-heating. The cost seems to have come down making it more affordable in a small bathroom space.
Lighting: This is where your style and design can shine literally! Mirrors can have lighting in them (see the grab bar picture above). Task lighting and overall lighting in a bathroom are parts of good UD.
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