Aquassure Active Living tub can transform a bathroom into an oasis of safety and comfort.

(STACY PAVLOV / iNFOnews.ca)

Most of us think of our home as our castle, where memories are made, and as an oasis of comfort and safety.

But as we age, our oasis may not provide us with the safety and comfort we need. Statistics show that one-third of seniors over age 65 fall in the bathroom each year, and 35 per cent of those falls result in serious injuries. As we age, bathrooms should be anti-slip, functional and safe for bathing and showering to prevent injuries. Young families or those with mobility challenges also have these same needs.

Remodeling the bathroom for safety and functionality is sometimes put off due to fears that the remodel will look and feel institutional; however, that’s not the case with some revolutionary new products that are available.

“You don’t have to give up good looks for functionality. We focus on making bathrooms pretty, modern, functional and safe,” says Shari McDowell, co-owner of Aquassure Accessible Baths in Kelowna.

Along with her husband Matthew Longman, a Registered Massage Therapist turned inventor, the pair founded Aquassure in 2003. Their original product was a slide-in bathtub that was accessible from walkers, wheelchairs and lifts. They worked with engineers, ergonomists, gerontologists, plumbers and end-users to create a tub that worked for people with a wide range of mobility issues. The idea was spurred on after Longman realized that a large number of people he was treating in their homes were having falls getting in and out of the bathtub and there were no home-based products available at that time.

“I realized that some people were not making needed changes to their bathroom because they didn’t want ugly, institutional equipment in their home. So when I designed the Aquassure Active Living tub, I did so with both function and aesthetics in mind. I designed a tub that would look good in people’s homes with finish options to integrate into any bathroom décor,” says Longman.

“The tub was even invited to be on Dragon’s Den, due to its unique design and patented sliding door.”

Since 2012, Aquassure has expanded the initial product offering of the Aquassure slide-in bathtub to include walk-in bathtubs, barrier-free showers and shower and bath accessories that are both functional and beautiful.

“People just love their new bathrooms and they are amazed that it can look like one in a magazine. The new design moves people from the bathroom being a place of fear to a place they can relax again in,” says Aquassure manager Brook Harrison. “It revolutionizes the space for them.”

“In the past, grab bars were clunky with exposed screws and few colour options. Now grab bars can integrate into any home décor and are available in dual-purpose designs: shampoo shelf, towel bar, toilet roll holder. Dual purpose grab bars are available in finishes like polished chrome, oil rubbed bronze, brushed stainless and matte black to match any décor. These grab bars are both discrete and functional, no one will know unless you tell them,” says McDowell.

Aquassure Accessible Baths & Showers showroom provides the opportunity to see first hand the options and quality.

(STACY PAVLOV / iNFOnews.ca)

“For showers, we have vertical sliding shower heads, wall-mounted bamboo shower seats, and custom shower colours. Showers can have low, barrier-free, roll-in thresholds, as well as trench drains for true curbless appeal. With the addition of glass shower doors, dual-purpose grab bars, and a spa fold-down seat, your shower can look like a showroom masterpiece, and still deliver safety and security. There is no need to compromise,” ensures McDowell.

For a complete list of products and services as well as a photo gallery, visit www.aquassure.com.

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News from © iNFOnews, 2018