After a fall or a near-miss
If someone in your home has slipped getting out of the tub, or has caught themselves on the towel bar, you are probably reading this page with some urgency. Three things are worth doing right away, before any remodeling:
- Tell their doctor. The CDC recommends that older adults talk with a health care provider about any fall and ask for a fall risk check, including a review of medicines.
- Make the current bathroom safer tonight. A non-slip mat inside and outside the tub, a night light, and a sturdy shower chair are inexpensive, temporary steps. Do not rely on suction-cup handles or towel bars for support.
- Then plan the real fix. If stepping over the tub wall is the problem, a walk-in tub, a low-threshold shower or a roll-in shower removes it.
Apex Park and Recreation District for older adults
Most of Arvada is served by the Apex Park and Recreation District, and its Community Recreation Center at 6842 Wadsworth Blvd. is the main home for active adult programming. Apex PRD's calendar has included a fall prevention workshop presented with the Arvada Fire District, a session for adult children supporting aging parents, and a “No Place Like Home” expo focused on senior housing and in-home services. Those are exactly the kinds of events where families compare notes on bathroom changes. Check the Apex events calendar for current dates.
Apex also points older adults who need help with housing, meals, transportation and similar needs to the Seniors' Resource Center, a long-running Denver-area nonprofit.
Choosing the fixture
Fall history changes the conversation. Here is how we think about it:
Fell stepping over the tub wall
The threshold is the problem. A walk-in tub's low step or a walk-in shower's low curb addresses it directly.
Fell standing in the shower
Balance while standing is the problem. Washing seated, on a tub seat or a shower bench with a handheld shower, matters most.
Fell getting up from the tub floor
A chair-height seat is the answer: either a walk-in tub's built-in seat or a shower bench.
Fell at night on the way
Lighting and the route matter as much as the fixture. Add motion night lights and clear the path.
See our comparison guide for the full trade-offs, and our fall prevention guide for the CDC and NIA recommendations.
Grab bars belong in the plan
Whatever fixture you choose, grab bars are part of a safe bathroom. The National Institute on Aging recommends bars near the toilet and both inside and outside the tub and shower. A walk-in tub comes with bars built in; we also look at where a bar outside the door, and one by the toilet, would help. Grab bars must be anchored properly, into framing or with anchors rated for the purpose.
Arvada homes
Arvada's housing ranges from older homes near Olde Town to subdivisions built across later decades as the city grew west and north. Split-levels and bi-levels are common, which means the delivery route often includes a short flight of stairs with a turn. We ask for a photo of any stair turn on the way to the bathroom, because that is usually where the fit question is decided.
Arvada spans Jefferson and Adams counties. Both are in DRCOG's service area, but county benefits are handled by whichever county your home is in.
Arvada resources
Apex PRD Community Recreation Center
Active adult programs, events and classes. apexprd.org
DRCOG Area Agency on Aging
Jefferson County Aging and Adult Services
Permits in Arvada
Arvada sets its own building rules; Denver's do not apply. Moving plumbing or adding a circuit for a jetted tub may need a permit. Your installer handles permits where required.
Quick fixes vs. a full conversion
Not every Arvada bathroom needs a new fixture right away. Here is how the options compare, from least to most change:
| Change | What it solves | What it does not solve |
|---|---|---|
| Non-slip mats and a night light | Slippery surfaces, dark nighttime trips | The high step over the tub wall |
| Shower chair or transfer bench | Standing to wash | Climbing in; benches can be awkward in a small tub |
| Properly anchored grab bars | Something solid to hold | The step itself |
| Walk-in tub | The step, the low tub floor, and seated soaking | Wheelchair entry; waiting to fill and drain |
| Low-threshold or roll-in shower | The step, seated washing, room for a helper | No soak |
Many families do the first three now and the fixture change within a few months. That is a sensible order, as long as the temporary steps are not mistaken for the permanent fix. Our cost guide explains what moves the price of a full conversion.
Aging Safely Baths & More is Denver-based, has installed walk-in tubs and accessible showers since 2012, and completes most installs in one day.
Arvada questions
What can I do this week while we decide on a tub?
Add non-slip mats, a night light, a shower chair and a handheld shower if you can. Have grab bars installed properly. These help immediately and still help after a new fixture goes in.
Is there a fall prevention class in Arvada?
Apex PRD has hosted fall prevention workshops with the Arvada Fire District. Check the Apex events calendar for the next one.
Do you install in the Adams County part of Arvada?
Yes, throughout Arvada.
Sources
- Apex Park and Recreation District, Community Recreation Center and events. apexprd.org
- CDC, STEADI older adult fall prevention. cdc.gov
- National Institute on Aging, “Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room.” nia.nih.gov
- DRCOG Area Agency on Aging. drcog.org
- Jefferson County, Aging & Adult. jeffco.us
Last reviewed 2026-10-10.