Showering Your Family with Love & Safety: Aging in Place Missouri
- Denelle Smugala
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
It's hard to imagine growing old, and even more difficult to watch our parents age. Unfortunately, it's a part of life that many of us will experience if we're lucky. Recently, I faced a life-changing moment when my bonus dad was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's. Like many people in his situation, he wanted to stay in his home, but his bathroom was nearly impossible to navigate, especially with his walker.
This situation highlighted for me the profound challenges and emotional burdens associated with these conditions. One of the best ways Southeast Missouri families are choosing aging in place in Missouri is with simple, beautiful bathroom upgrades…even minor renovations can significantly enhance safety, promote independence, and provide dignity. Wanting to help in any way we could, my husband and I asked ourselves, "How can we make this tiny bathroom work for him and his walker?"
Our first step was to visit the design team at Farmington Hoods Discount Home Center. After several visits and many questions, we gave the designers, Nathan and Trinity, the bathroom measurements and let them work their magic. They presented a variety of high-quality products, helped me select items that would look great, and even devised a creative storage solution. If you have any DIY skills or are working with a contractor, I highly recommend Hoods Home Center. From the bottom of my heart, I can say they have excellent products and professional, knowledgeable service at a no-frills price.
Meet our Hoods designer, Nathan Lix.Â
Here at Hoods, we offer a variety of services. We handle everything from flooring and doors to kitchen cabinets, custom showers, and so much more. We also have in-house free design services for kitchens and showers, along with a variety of displays. Our design services are free, very easy, and fast. All we need are measurements of the area; we can handle it from there and, at the end, show a 3D rendering of the area.
For older adults or people who may be disabled, showering can be a hassle or even sometimes dangerous.
One thing is for sure: everyone ages, and as we age, our needs change. For older adults or people who may be disabled, showering can be a hassle or even sometimes dangerous. However, it doesn't have to be a fully ADA-accessible shower unless that is your need. Appropriate shower units can relieve the stress and hassle of a shower for many people. Â
The Onyx collection is super easy to install.
The Onyx Collection is an amazing, high-quality brand to work with, and the best part is that they offer a wide variety of handicap-accessible showers and accessories. They stand behind their products with a lifetime guarantee. The Onyx collection is super easy to install. Still, it is always best to have a professional do the installation unless you have the skills needed to install a shower unit and plumbing. However, this material is excellent to work with. It is easy to cut, and the shower walls are just glued up with the adhesive provided by Onyx. They also make a color-matched silicone to finish off the shower so it all looks seamless and clean. I would say that if you know plumbing and basic construction, installing an onyx shower could be done in one or two days with ease.Â
Brillant low maintance and longlasting Onyx shower systems. Thick marble-like durable plasic in a varity of styles.
Easy to use body washing shower systems.
Heavy-duty roll-in or walk-in showers.
Here is our DIY bathroom makeover.
The first improvement was installing a raised toilet with sturdy grab bars that are securely anchored to the wall studs. Nathan advised against using suction-cup types for added safety. Next, we replaced the traditional tub with a walk-in shower, which also features grab bars and heavy-duty sliding doors. We opted for waterproof, non-slip luxury vinyl plank flooring that utilizes a drop-and-lock system, eliminating the need for nails, glue, toxic adhesives, special tools, or training. This hassle-free solution is perfect for DIY installation and comes at a fraction of the cost.
Step 1: Tear out the old tub and sink.
Step 2: Repair the floor.
Step 3: Install the shower floor and ensure proper drainage.
Step 4: Hang the tile backing.
Step 5: Tile and grout.
Step 6: Secure the hand-bars and install heavy-duty shower doors.
The shower door has rollers for ease of use.
Step 7: New flooring, high-seat toilet, secure hand-bar and sink installed.
Easy-use faucet handles.
A little sanding and paint, and the small, outdated bathroom provides a secure showering experience and looks good, too!
At Hood's, not only do they offer discounted prices on all their quality-stocked materials, but they also have highly knowledgeable staff always willing to help you figure out your DIY project—the best way to save and build equity in your home. The money you save and the quality you get make a drive to Hoods worth it, even coming from Perryville or Cape Girardeau.Â
Get Out There! Create something. Learn something new. Take a hike. DIY your shower. Do something. Do anything. What one person can do, another can do. That sunken sofa will be fine without you.Â
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