drawers without reaching and risking a dangerous drop. Most of the cabinetry is
housed underneath the counters, in drawers instead of cupboards. Storing dishes,
glasses and cooking utensils this way makes them readily available without stooping;
items can be stored at lower levels for easy, pull-out access.
Bathroom
Goldwasser says the bathroom can be one of the most dangerous places in the
house for a geriatric resident, considering the combination of water, slippery
tile and hard surfaces. That said, to ensure safety, this room need not look
like a hospital ward either. Goldwasser installed age-friendly toilets and showers and
convenient features to make the bathroom a risk-free place of luxury.
First, the room is spacious with an extra-wide doorway for easy access — even with a
wheelchair or walker. The vanity counter has enough space beneath it to accommodate
a wheelchair too, and at 19 inches, the toilets sit above the standard height.
“It’s the ADA recommended height,” Goldwasser says, “And it makes a huge
38
WBM january 2012