Planning Ahead in the Bathroom: The Smartest Design Principle

The owner of this bathroom is a healthcare interior designer who doesn’t yet need special accommodations, but who knows the value of planning ahead.
When asked to redesign her bath, I specified ¼” plywood sheets behind the tile in the shower surround to prepare for future grab bar installation. This is the flexibility needed for aging-in-place — your home is ready to accommodate you when you need it. There is a minimum cost to do this at the initial upfit, but would be a terrible burden at a later date.
Note the slider/grab bar with the handheld shower — more grab bars can be easily added.