This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Plumbing and Mechanical (pmmag) logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Plumbing and Mechanical (pmmag) logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
    • Product Focus
    • Truck of the Month
    • Plumber of the Month
    • Tool Tips
    • PM Profile
    • Ad Index
    • Bookstore
  • Market Sectors
    • Plumbing News
    • Mechanical Systems
    • Radiant/Hydronics
    • Solar Thermal/Geothermal
    • Green
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Fire Protection
    • Water Quality
    • Technology
    • Codes
    • Business Management
  • Columnists
    • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
    • Al Levi: Managing your business
    • Dan Holohan: Heating Help
    • Kenny Chapman: Blue Collar Coach
    • Adams Hudson: Marketing Strategies
    • Jim Hamilton: The Bottom Line
    • Ray Wohlfarth: The Boiler Room
    • Nicole Krawcke: Editorial Opinion
    • Julius Ballanco: Plumbing Primer
    • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
    • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
  • Blog
    • The 7-Power Contractor
    • PM On The Road
  • Radiant & Hydronics
  • Multimedia
    • PM AHR Expo 2019 Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • PM Network Videos
    • PM YouTube Channel
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • Showrooms
    • eBooks
  • Products
  • More
    • History of Plumbing
    • Industry Calendar
    • Classified Ads
    • Industry Links
    • Radiant Comfort Report
    • Green Plumbing & Heating
    • PVF Outlook
    • PB Outlook
    • Sponsor Insights
    • eNewsletters
    • Subscribe to Plumbing Group eNewsletters
    • Market Research
  • Directories
    • RCR Buyers Guide
    • B.I.G. Book
    • Rep Locator
  • Contact
    • Advertise
Home » 13 products to help clients age in place
Plumbing NewsColumnistsBath & KitchenMatt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros

13 products to help clients age in place

13 products to help clients age in place
May 24, 2017
Matt Michel
KEYWORDS ADA-compliant / bath and kitchen showroom / bathroom design trends / plumbing industry / universal design
Reprints
No Comments

The baby boomers are retiring, and they are retiring with money, longer projected lifespans than their parents, and a desire to remain in their homes as long as possible. This spells opportunity for you.

Here are 13 products you can offer mature Americans who want to age in place.


“The cost of assisted living is significant enough that a small remodeling investment in a senior’s home allowing her to remain an extra year or two easily pays for itself.”


  1. Non-skid safety strips. Falls in the tub or shower are particularly dangerous for seniors. Simple adhesive strips with a tacky surface can reduce the potential for slipping. These are a relatively inexpensive, DIY-type item, so don’t sell them separately. Bundle them with other products as a bonus or offer them as a free gift when you make a safety assessment of the home.
  2. Grab bars. Grab bars should be the first addition for seniors. They do not need to look industrial. A wealth of attractive (and safe) designs are available today. Lacking grab bars, there’s a tendency to grasp at towel bars for support. Since most towel bars are scarcely load bearing, this can be worse that putting a hand against the wall. Upgrade the towel bars with attractive grab bars and add additional grab bars were needed.
  3. Elevated toilets and folding grab bars. Getting on and off the toilet can be a challenge for some seniors. Yet toilet booster seats are particularly unattractive. Wall-mounted, fold-down grab bars and an elevated toilet are not only safer but also much more attractive.
  4. Open toilet roll holder. Seniors with arthritis can struggle to change with the common spring-loaded spindles. A better alternative is an open toilet roll holder where the roll can be slid on and off.
  5. Cabinet pulls. Knobs for cabinet doors and drawers can similarly challenge arthritic customers. Offer to replace these with O-, D-, or T-type cabinet pulls. It may not be plumbing, per se, but it is in the kitchen and bath.
  6. Walk-in tub. Walk-in tubs may be an option for some seniors. Certainly it should be offered. However, you should be upfront about the downsides. They are expensive, the walk-in tub still has a lip, and the senior must wait in the tub for it to fill and drain.
  7. Roman shower. A roman shower, which is open at one end without a door, might be a better option than a walk-in tub. If built wide, it is also wheelchair-compatible.
  8. Fold-down shower seat. Movable shower chairs offer flexibility but can be knocked over. A fold-down shower seat fixed to a wall perpendicular to the shower spray, and located under the spray, represents a much better option.
  9. Wheelchair sinks. Using a sink from a wheelchair is a challenge. Fortunately, manufacturers offer a variety of attractive, wall-mounted sinks that are compatible with wheelchairs.
  10. Touchless faucets. Turning a faucet handle can be difficult for arthritic customers. A touchless faucet with a lever handle represents a great option.
  11. Lever handles. If a customer does not want the expense of a touchless faucet, then replacing knob type handles with lever handles should be considered at a minimum.
  12. Pot fillers. Depending on the location of the kitchen cooktop, mounting a pot filler that extends over the cooktop can make cooking easier.
  13. Anti-scald valves. Seniors are particularly sensitive to scalding. Offer a mixing valve at the water heater or tubs and shower anti-scald valves.

 

Preparing, promoting and presenting options

Meet with the manager of your favorite plumbing supply house and tell him you want to assemble an aging-in-place offering. Select the product lines you want to promote and ask the manager to stock them. Using manufacturer images, assemble a brochure of “Elegant, Safe, and Convenient Plumbing Options.” In the brochure, note the features and benefits of each product.

Call on occupational therapists who work with seniors to talk with them about the aging-in-place options. Give them brochures to leave with their customers.

Call local civic and service clubs. Tell them you would like to speak at a meeting about options for aging-in-place.

When your plumbers are called to a senior’s home, present the brochure at the start of the call. When the repair work is complete, the plumber should ask the homeowner if there are any questions he can answer about the products in the brochure. This is a discretionary purchase, so a soft sales approach works best.

Remember, many of these senior citizens have money and a desire to remain in their homes as long as possible. Moreover, the cost of assisted living is significant enough that a small remodeling investment in a senior’s home allowing her to remain an extra year or two easily pays for itself.

pm-subscribe

Recent Articles by Matt Michel

Matt Michel: 8 things you should include in your employee recruiting brochure

Matt Michel: Are you a whiner or a winner?

Matt Michel: 9 lies small contractors tell themselves

Matt Michel: 5 ISH trends

Matt Michel: 8 steps to service recovery

Matt-michel

Matt Michel is founder of Service Nation and operates the contractor best practices groups Service Roundtable and Service Nation Alliance as well as the Retail Contractor Coalition and buying group Roundtable Rewards. He is a highly acclaimed speaker on subjects such as marketing, branding, sales, pricing, leadership, strategic planning and goal-setting. He also publishes the popular “Comanche Marketing” blog. For information, visit www.serviceroundtable.com or call 877-262-3341. You can reach Michel at matt.michel@serviceroundtable.com.

Related Articles

An aging population brings opportunities

Matt Michel: 7 products for the modern plumber

Matt Michel: The 13 actions of profitable plumbers

Matt Michel: 6 reasons to attend Service World Expo

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Space-saving

Preventing scale damage in tankless water heaters

The Glitch.jpg

The Glitch and Fix: Keep the cost down

Pre-fabricated snow melting

Radiant: More than just a luxury home building option

Siggy_single coil

Single coil solution

exhaust line

Dave Yates: Dominoes

PM-Rectorseal-Quiz-360x184


PM-COTY 2019

Events

December 30, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Products

2020 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator

2020 National Plumbing & HVAC Estimator

See More Products

PM_Top20Products360

Plumbing and Mechanical

Plumbing & Mechanical December 2019

2019 December

Check out the December 2019 edition of Plumbing & Mechanical: 2020 B.I.G. Book, John Siegenthaler on geothermal water-to-water heat pump system design and installation, maximizing efficiency on small-diameter piping projects and much more!
View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • Reprints
    • List Rental
    • Contact Us
    • AEC Store
    • Blogs
    • Radiant & Hydronics
    • Industry Links
    • Market Research
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Privacy Policy
  • Want More
    • Connect
    • Survey And Sample
  • Plumbing Group
    • PM Engineer
    • Supply House Times
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Plan for 2020!

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing