Long-Term Support

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www.moen.com

In a recent study, the National Association of Home Builders found that almost 70 percent of the remodelers surveyed reported undertaking home-
improvement projects that involved universal-design modifications—and many of those modifications were made in bathrooms. “Baby boomers and our oldest demographic make up half our population,” says Laurie Birko, a brand manager at the bath-products manufacturer Moen. “We started our range of bath-safety products in early 2004 because we knew that they were going to be a long-term need.” Last November, the company added safety accessories and a full range of furniture to its aging-in-place offerings, all designed to stand out as little as possible in today’s bathroom. Moen’s grab bars, for instance, are available in a variety of finishes, including brushed nickel and bronze. The latest versions can also come with an integrated toilet paper holder, towel rod, or shelf, building extra functionality into a product that was once seen as an unsightly add-on. “What’s nice about them is that they take away the stigma that bath safety is institutional,” Birko says. “We hear so many times about these products, ‘I love them because they don’t make me feel old.’”