Bathrooms
Walk-In Tub Cost Guide
The tub is often less than half the invoice. Plumbing, electrical, and the water heater decide the rest.
Sarah Jenkins
Editor, Bathrooms & Remodeling
Sarah writes about accessible bathrooms, remodeling budgets, and the difference between a $6,000 shower and a $22,000 one. She reviews product specifications against real installation constraints and has toured more than fifty accessible remodels in progress.
Areas of expertise: Accessible bathrooms · Walk-in tubs · Remodel budgeting · Universal design
Articles
Written by Sarah Jenkins
Bathrooms
Best Walk-In Tubs
Fill and drain time separates the good ones. Almost nothing else in the brochure does.
Bathrooms
Walk-In Tub vs Accessible Shower
For most households the shower wins. Here is when it does not.
Bathrooms
Accessible Bathroom Remodel Cost
The full room is $12,000 to $35,000. A targeted version delivers most of the safety for a third of that.
Bathrooms
Best Grab Bars
The bar matters less than the anchor. Suction cup products are not grab bars.
Bathrooms
How High Should Grab Bars Be?
33 to 36 inches is the standard. The person's reach is the real specification.
Aging in Place
How Much Does Aging-in-Place Remodeling Cost?
Budget by scope, not by wish list. Most of the safety benefit arrives in the first $10,000.
Aging in Place
Aging in Place vs Assisted Living Costs
A renovation is one-time. Care is monthly. The crossover depends almost entirely on care hours.
Bedroom
Best Mattresses for Adjustable Beds
Thickness affects how easily you get out of bed. Most buyers ignore it.
Aging in Place
How to Pay for Home Accessibility Modifications
Medicare almost never pays. These are the programs that sometimes do — and how to check.
Fact-checking
Reviewed by Sarah Jenkins
Aging in Place
The Complete Aging-in-Place Guide
Homeowners who plan spend far less than homeowners who react to a hospital discharge. Here is the order that works.
Bedroom
Bed Rails: What to Know
A useful transfer aid with a real, documented risk when the fit is wrong.
Aging in Place
How to Prevent Falls at Home
Home changes are half of it. The other half is medication, vision, and strength.
Aging in Place
How to Monitor an Aging Parent's Home Without Invading Their Privacy
Most of what families want to know can be answered without a single camera.
Aging in Place
Backup Power for Aging in Place
Work out what has to keep running, then size the solution to that list.
Ramps & Entry
Best Portable Wheelchair Ramps
Get the length right first. Everything else is secondary.