Home Repair

Bathroom safety for seniors: grab bars, help paying and hiring a pro

The bathroom is one of the easiest places in the house to slip. A few low-cost changes can make it much safer for an older adult, and some bigger changes may qualify for help or a tax break. Here’s what federal health experts recommend.

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Planning bathroom safety upgrades?

Call a local bathroom contractor to ask about grab bars, a walk-in shower or other changes and get a written estimate.

Call a bathroom pro

[CALL: Kitchen & bath remodeling (CallScaler) — CallScaler tracking number] — replace the button href “#CALL-aging-in-place-bathroom-top” with tel:+1XXXXXXXXXX, put the formatted number in the button text, then remove “ms-placeholder” from this group’s Additional CSS class(es) to show it. Do not publish a number until CallScaler approves the offer.

MegaSavings may be paid when you call a provider through this page, at no cost to you.

Why it matters

Falls are common

More than one in four people age 65 or older fall each year, and the risk rises with age.

Source: NIA

Many can be prevented

NIA says exercising, managing medications, checking vision and making your home safer can all help prevent a fall.

Source: NIA

Start with the bathroom

NIA recommends grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of the tub and shower.

Source: NIA

Low-cost fixes to do first

  • Grab bars near the toilet and on both the inside and outside of the tub and shower (NIA).
  • Nonskid mats, strips or carpet on every surface that may get wet (NIA).
  • A night light in the bathroom, or one that turns on automatically in the dark (NIA).
  • No-slip strips on tile and wood floors, and no throw rugs (NIA).

NIA suggests going through the home room by room, fixing immediate dangers first, like loose stair railings and poor lighting, then working on other changes (NIA). Grab bars must be anchored securely, so if you’re not sure how to mount one, hire a pro.

Does Medicare pay for bathroom equipment?

Medicare Part B covers medically necessary durable medical equipment (DME) when your doctor orders it for use in your home. Medicare’s DME list includes commode chairs, canes and walkers, and Medicare only pays when you get items from suppliers enrolled in Medicare (Medicare.gov). Ask your doctor whether an item you need qualifies, and check with your plan before you buy. Comparing plans this fall? See our Medicare open enrollment guide.

Can you deduct the cost?

  • The IRS says home improvements whose main purpose is medical care can count as medical expenses. That includes installing railings, support bars or other changes to bathrooms, widening doorways and building entrance ramps (IRS Pub. 502).
  • If the improvement doesn’t increase your home’s value, the IRS says the whole cost can be included. If it does, only the cost minus the increase in value counts (IRS Pub. 502).
  • You can only deduct medical and dental expenses above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and only if you itemize on Schedule A (IRS Pub. 502). Ask a tax professional about your situation.

Where to find help in Illinois

  • Illinois Department on Aging: call the Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 to ask about state programs for older adults, such as the Community Care Program (Illinois Department on Aging).
  • Your Area Agency on Aging: NIA says your local Area Agency on Aging may have lists of services in your community (NIA). Search the Eldercare Locator to find yours.

USDA home repair grant (hidden)

[TODO: USDA Rural Development’s Section 504 Home Repair loans and grants page (rd.usda.gov) returned 403 to the build box. Open it in a browser, confirm the current age, income, rural-area and grant/loan limits for Illinois, then add a bullet here with the link. Don’t add amounts until checked.]

Hiring a contractor

  • Get written estimates from more than one contractor, and never pay in full before the work is done.
  • For work over $1,000 in Illinois, get a written contract and the “Home Repair: Know Your Rights” pamphlet (Illinois Attorney General).
  • Ask whether moving plumbing or electrical needs a permit in your town. For a bigger remodel, see our kitchen and bath remodeling guide.

Ready for a safer bathroom?

Call a local bathroom contractor to compare written estimates for grab bars or a walk-in shower.

Call for a free estimate

[CALL: Kitchen & bath remodeling (CallScaler) — CallScaler tracking number] — replace the button href “#CALL-aging-in-place-bathroom-bottom” with tel:+1XXXXXXXXXX, put the formatted number in the button text, then remove “ms-placeholder” from this group’s Additional CSS class(es) to show it. Do not publish a number until CallScaler approves the offer.

MegaSavings may be paid when you call a provider through this page, at no cost to you.

Common questions

Where should grab bars go?

NIA recommends grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of your tub and shower.

Does Medicare cover a commode chair?

Commode chairs are on Medicare’s list of covered durable medical equipment when your doctor orders one for use in your home and you use a Medicare-enrolled supplier.

Are bathroom safety changes tax deductible?

They can be. IRS Publication 502 lists support bars and other bathroom changes made for medical care, but you can only deduct medical expenses above 7.5% of AGI if you itemize.

Who can help an Illinois senior with home safety?

Call the Illinois Department on Aging Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966, or find your Area Agency on Aging with the Eldercare Locator.

Does MegaSavings get paid?

MegaSavings may be paid when you call a provider through this page, at no cost to you. It doesn’t change the tips on this page, and you’re never obligated to hire anyone.

Sources

More guides: Kitchen & bath remodeling · Home repair · Plumbing · Medicare open enrollment

Last reviewed: October 28, 2026