Walk-In Tubs for Golden and Foothills Homes

Steps, slopes and access

A walk-in tub is delivered and carried in whole. In a hillside home, the route from the street to the bathroom can include exterior steps, a deck, a narrow side path, and an interior staircase. That is all manageable with planning:

1. Pick the best entrance. Sometimes a garage or walkout door at the bathroom's level is far easier than the front door.
2. Photograph every step and turn on the route, inside and out.
3. Measure the narrowest point, including handrails.
4. Plan for weather. Clear snow and ice in winter; the crew is carrying something heavy on a slope.

If the route simply will not take a one-piece tub, a walk-in or roll-in shower is built in place and avoids the problem altogether.

Steps matter for the bather, too

The same steps that make delivery tricky make daily life harder as mobility changes. If the bathroom you use is up or down a flight from the bedroom, or the entry to the house has many steps, think about the whole path, not just the tub:

• Is there a bathroom on the same level as the bedroom?
• Are there sturdy handrails on both sides of every stair?
• Is the path lit at night?
• Could a main-level or walkout-level bathroom become the accessible one?

Our fall prevention guide covers the CDC and NIA recommendations for the rest of the house.

Golden is Jefferson County's seat

Golden is the county seat of Jefferson County, so many county offices are close by. For older adults, the county's main entry point is Jefferson County Human Services' Aging and Adult Services, which helps with programs such as Long-Term Care Medicaid, Old Age Pension and the Home Care Allowance. DRCOG is Jefferson County's Area Agency on Aging.

Home repair help in the Golden area

Jefferson County's housing resource listings include several organizations that do repairs for older or lower-income homeowners. Among them, Community Faith in Action is listed for home repairs in the Golden area, and Brothers Redevelopment, a Denver nonprofit, runs a home modification program whose services include shower conversions, grab bars and handheld showers. Availability and eligibility vary, so call first.

Golden's community center

The City of Golden runs the Golden Community Center, with recreation programs for adults. Check the city's recreation registration site for current classes.

Permits in Golden

Golden is its own city, and Denver's building rules do not apply. Your installer handles permits where required.

Walkout levels as an accessible suite

Many hillside homes have a walkout lower level with its own exterior door at grade. If that level has, or could have, a bedroom and a bathroom, it can become the accessible part of the house: no exterior steps if the walkout door is at ground level, and no interior stairs between bed and bath. A low-threshold or roll-in shower there can be easier to install than a tub upstairs, because there is no tight staircase to carry it through.

Questions to answer before deciding which level to change:

• Can the bather get from the car to that level without steps?
• Is there a bedroom, or a room that could become one, on the same level?
• Is the lower level warm enough in winter for comfortable bathing?
• Where is the water heater, and how far are the drain lines?
• Would the rest of the household still have a bathroom they like?

We are glad to look at both options with you. Our comparison guide helps with the fixture choice.

Older homes near downtown Golden

Golden's older houses close to downtown and Clear Creek can have small bathrooms, original fixtures, and plumbing that has been altered more than once. When the old tub comes out, the installer should inspect the subfloor and drain before setting anything new. If repairs are needed, you should see the problem and agree on the fix and its cost before work continues. In a compact room, an inward-opening walk-in tub door or a low-threshold shower usually fits better than an outward door, which needs clear floor space to swing.

Aging Safely Baths & More is based in Denver and installs in Golden and the west metro. We have installed walk-in tubs and roll-in showers since 2012, most in one day.

Golden questions

Last reviewed 2026-10-10.