Rethinking Bathroom Design for an Ageing World

Barry Redican, CEO, Showerbuddy

Why I keep asking: why aren't we building accessible bathrooms?

Everywhere I go, I see new homes being built with the same old bathroom design. You know the ones I'm talking about: a shower with a step to climb over, or even worse, a shower installed right over a bathtub.

I can't help but wonder: why are we still doing this?

We all know the population is getting older. We all know that as we age, mobility becomes more challenging. Yet here we are, designing the very space in our homes that should support our dignity and independence in a way that often excludes us instead.

The problem hits you like a brick wall once someone in your family starts struggling with balance, strength, or coordination. For them, that step into the shower isn't just a step anymore. It becomes a huge barrier. And if someone's trying to bathe safely in a shower that's built over a bathtub? It can feel almost impossible.

Here's what really gets to me: once you've built your bathroom this way, changing it later is incredibly expensive and stressful.

The reality of bathroom renovations

I've watched countless families get forced into renovations just to make daily hygiene possible. Trust me, the process is never simple.

You need consents and approvals. Tradespeople are trudging in and out of your home for days, sometimes weeks. Your only bathroom is completely out of action, which means your family might need to move out temporarily. The stress and disruption just add to what's already a massive financial burden.

And then there's the cost itself. In Australia, a full bathroom remodel averages around $26,000. That figure alone puts renovations completely out of reach for so many families.

To make matters worse, government funding rules keep getting tighter. In Australia, the supported home modification fund now comes with a lifetime cap of $15,000. Let me be clear about this: that's not $15,000 per project, or even per year. It's $15,000 for your entire lifetime across all home modifications.

The math just doesn't work. A cap of $15,000 against an average bathroom cost of $26,000? It's a complete non-starter.

The hidden burden

Even if you do have the money, think about the emotional toll. If you're already dealing with mobility issues, the thought of having to move out of your own home while strangers tear apart your bathroom isn't exactly appealing. It adds another heavy layer of stress to what's already a difficult situation.

That's exactly why I believe we can't just rely on fixing things after the fact. We need to start getting this right from the very beginning.

Why legislation has to change

If we're actually serious about supporting our aging population, we need to require accessible design in every single new home that gets built.

We already have laws requiring smoke alarms, proper insulation, and other safety features. Why shouldn't bathrooms get the same treatment?

Making accessible bathrooms mandatory would save future generations from the financial and emotional pain of expensive remodels. It would mean we're designing homes with long-term living in mind, not just whatever's most convenient for builders right now.

Until that happens, though, families are left scrambling to find other options.

The hidden risks of "cheap and easy" showers

Let me share an experience that really drove this point home for me.

I was staying somewhere with one of those modern acrylic shower cubicles. You know the type: bright white walls, bright white slippery floor, no grab bars anywhere. The kind you see in loads of new homes these days.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt completely disoriented. There was absolutely nothing for my eyes to focus on, no texture, no contrast whatsoever. Trying to wash one foot while balancing on the other felt downright dangerous. And if there was even the tiniest bit of soap left on my foot when I put it down, that floor became a total death trap.

That moment really hit me because most of our showers are built exactly like this. Sure, they might be easy for a builder to install, but they're absolutely terrible for people as we get older.

A properly tiled shower, with its varied texture and visual contrast, actually gives you stability and helps you stay oriented. It gives your eyes and body something solid to anchor to. Yet builders almost never choose this as their default option.

What's cheap and easy for the builder too often means unsafe and difficult for the person who actually has to use it.

Why assistive technology is the smarter answer

When renovations are completely out of reach, assistive technology becomes the much smarter choice.

Unlike major structural changes, assistive technology is more affordable, way less disruptive, portable and adaptable, and it's recognized and recommended by occupational therapists and mobility specialists.

In Australia, our funding system actually reflects this reality. While the home modification cap stays fixed at $15,000, the assistive technology allowance can be exceeded when there's solid clinical evidence supporting it. That flexibility means way more families can actually get what they need.

The temptation of going cheap

I know some people get tempted to just grab a $500 shower stool or bath board from the local store. I get it. It seems like a quick, easy win.

But I always warn people against this approach.

Soap, water, and cheap plastic are basically a recipe for slips and falls. These low-cost options might save you money upfront, but they actually increase your risk significantly. The real cost shows up later in falls, injuries, and lost confidence.

That's why I always tell families: please listen to your occupational therapist. Their guidance ensures you're investing in equipment that's actually safe, built to last, and properly suited to your specific needs.

How Showerbuddy was created to solve this

This exact challenge is what led us to create the Showerbuddy system. Our goal was beautifully simple: make bathrooms accessible without having to rip them apart.

Here's how it actually works:

• One safe transfer: A person makes just one side transfer onto the Showerbuddy chair.
• Toilet access: From there, the chair wheels right to the toilet. No additional lifting required at all.
• Shower access: After using the toilet, that same chair rolls directly to the shower.
• Safe entry: It connects to our bridge system that slides the user safely over a step or bathtub edge.
• Privacy and comfort: Once inside the shower, the rolling base disconnects completely, giving full privacy and comfort.

This approach completely transforms bathroom routines. It reduces the physical strain on caregivers, keeps users safe from falls, and most importantly, restores dignity.

Different solutions for different bathrooms

We've designed different models for different situations:

• SB1 works perfectly for step-in showers, sliding easily over those annoying hobs.
• SB2 and SB2T are built for baths with showers overhead, and we include tilt options for extra comfort.
• Our Roll-in series is designed specifically for level-entry showers.

Every single model is designed with both user comfort and caregiver safety as top priorities.

The dignity factor

For me personally, this is where we see the biggest impact.

With Showerbuddy, once someone is safely inside the shower enclosure, we can move the rolling base completely out of the way. The curtain or door can close, and they can wash themselves in complete privacy with a hand-held shower.

That privacy is absolutely priceless. It gives back independence in one of the most personal parts of daily life. For so many people, it's literally the first time in years they've been able to shower alone with real confidence.

Making funding go further

Here's another huge advantage I want to mention.

A Showerbuddy chair costs roughly a third of that lifetime funding cap I mentioned earlier. That leaves plenty of room in your budget for other essential needs like ramps, rails, or grab bars elsewhere in your home.

Instead of blowing your entire allowance on one bathroom remodel, families can spread their funding across their whole living environment.

This makes assistive technology not just safer, but also way smarter financially.

Where I believe families should turn

If you're facing this challenge right now, I always recommend starting with an occupational therapist. They'll properly assess your specific situation and recommend exactly the right equipment for your needs.

Mobility retailers across Australia and New Zealand know Showerbuddy really well. Many stores have staff who are specifically trained to demonstrate how our chairs work and explain all your funding options.

And if you'd prefer, you can always reach out to us directly through our website. We've got a whole library of helpful videos and resources available, and we're always ready to help however we can.

This is exactly the direction I believe bathroom accessibility needs to go. Not trying to patch up the problem later at huge expense, but designing smarter from the start and turning to assistive technology when we need it.

Because bathrooms should never, ever be a barrier to living with safety, dignity, and independence.