Redfin asked contractors for the single bathroom change that does the most for safety as people age. We gave them ours.
We were featured as an expert on Redfin powered by Rocket. Read the full article here: Smart Tech Upgrades for Aging in Place
Here is what our co-founder Jeremy Maher told Redfin:
“The smartest upgrade is a thermostatic digital shower valve paired with a curbless, zero-threshold entry. You take away the step people trip over and the scalding-water risk in one move. Safer and easier to use every day.”
Why the bathroom comes first
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults 65 and older. According to the National Safety Council, 43,020 people in that age group died from preventable falls in 2024, and more than 3.85 million were treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries in 2023. A large share of those falls happen in the bathroom. That is why, when a homeowner tells us they plan to stay in their home for the long run, we start the conversation there.
Upgrade one: a thermostatic digital shower valve
A thermostatic valve holds the water at a temperature you set. When someone flushes a toilet or starts the dishwasher on the other side of the house, the pressure shifts, and on a standard valve that shift can send a burst of scalding water. A thermostatic valve holds the line, so the shower stays at the temperature you chose. For older adults with thinner skin and slower reaction time, that is a real burn risk removed.
Upgrade two: a curbless, zero-threshold entry
Most showers have a raised lip you step over to get in. That lip is a trip hazard, and it is the one part of the shower a walker or wheelchair cannot cross. A curbless entry removes it. The floor runs flat from the bathroom into the shower, pitched just enough to drain. You lose the step. You gain a space that works whether someone is fully mobile today or using a mobility aid down the road.
Why they belong together
Either upgrade helps on its own. Together they solve the two biggest bathroom risks at once, and they cost less to do in one project than as two separate visits. The catch is that a curbless entry has to be planned into the floor and drainage from the start. It is not something you add later without opening up the floor again, which is why we plan it in up front rather than bolting it on.
How we approach accessible bathrooms in the Phoenix area
We are a design-build company, which means the same team designs and builds your project. We use a planning-first process that defines the full scope and pricing before any construction starts. That approach helps us hold change orders to about 2.1%, against an industry range of 20 to 32%, so you know what the project includes and what it costs before we begin.
Phoenix Home Remodeling operates as CMC Group Ventures, Inc. (Arizona ROC #313636, B-3 General Remodeling and Repair Contractor). We have completed 1,000+ kitchen and bathroom remodels, hold a 4.9-star rating across 200+ reviews, have been BBB A+ accredited since 2018, and have earned Best of Houzz recognition from 2020 through 2026. Every project is backed by a 2-year workmanship guarantee.
If aging in place is part of your plan, the bathroom is the right place to start.
Call us at (602) 492-8205 and we will walk you through what a safer, more usable bathroom looks like for your home.
