The bathroom can be the most dangerous place in a senior’s home. Floors are slick, surfaces wet and everything in the area is solid. Conditions in the bathroom can be the perfect storm for falls. In fact, studies show that for people aged 65 and older, falls account for about 60% of all injury-related emergency room visits.
The risk of falling is among a senior’s worst fears.
BathWorX in Cambridge specializes in making a home much safer. The Horinga family has been in the bathroom renovation business for decades. Brent Horinga said, through the pandemic there’s been a huge demand from seniors who want to make modifications to ensure they can remain safe and secure in their own home for as long as possible.
BathWorx designs safe and accessible bathrooms. A popular request is a tub to shower conversion. Horinga said, “If they can step into a shower that is only 3 inches high as opposed to a bathtub that is 20 inches high, it makes a huge difference.”
Horinga said, there’s also a lot of interest in cut-out tubs.
BathWorX can also install a number of safety accessories, including permanent seating and pot-lighting in the shower. Grab bars provide much more stability than using a hamper for support. In fact, grab bars can be the difference between taking a routine shower and a trip to the hospital. All of these added features can give a senior confidence, independence and dignity. The results gives the team at BathWorX a great sense of satisfaction.
Horinga said he did a bathroom renovation for a 96 year old man who was determined to remain at home. BathWorx installed a walk-in tub that included massage jets and aromatherapy which relaxed his aching muscles and arthritic joints, giving him a spa experience at home.
People who want to stay in their own home, may think that bathroom renovations are financially out of reach for them. But that’s actually not the case.
This year, the Ontario government is offering homeowners 65 years of age and older, the Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit. This is a refundable tax credit for renovations or improvements that would make a home safer and more accessible.
The program offers seniors a 25% discount on renovations up to $10 thousand. The tax credit is also available to individuals who live with senior relatives.
Let’s take the example of John and Jane Doe. They paid $10,000 to make their bathroom more accessible. The couple divided the tax benefit between them. Jane will claim $7500 on her 2021 personal income tax return and will receive a Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit of $1,875. Meanwhile, John will claim the remaining $2,500 renovation cost and receive a credit of $625.
Another example is Sue whose mother recently moved into her home. This year Sue will spend $1000 to add grab bars and other safety features in the bathroom. Sue will claim that amount on her 2021 personal income tax return and receive a Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit of $250.
The Tax Credit is worth 25% of up to $10 thousand in eligible expenses for a senior’s principal residence in Ontario. The maximum credit is $2,500. If an individual is eligible, they can receive a tax credit regardless of their income or whether they owe taxes in 2021.
BathWorX is urging seniors to take advantage of this tax credit program which ends on December 31st of this year.
For more information on the Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit please click this link or go directly to the BathWorX website, Facebook or Twitter pages.