When building owners and managers design public restrooms, they discuss, review, and consider countless features and products but consistently base their final decisions on two priorities: the number of individuals the restroom must accommodate at one time and the overall cost. Unfortunately, this narrow approach to restroom design leaves little to no room for considering the varying needs of the restroom users themselves.

Accommodate the boomers

According to the World Population Review, the United States has a population of more than US341 million. It’s fair to suggest that the majority have used or will use a public restroom at some point during their lives. For many of those people, public restrooms are sufficient. That is, they provide access to the essentials, such as a toilet, toilet paper, a sink, soap, and paper towels and/or a hand dryer. But for many others, public restrooms present a myriad of challenges.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, at 73 million strong, baby boomers—those individuals born between 1946 and 1964—make up 24.3% of the U.S. population, the second largest group after millennials. The census also projects that older adults will outnumber children under 18 years old for the first time in U.S. history by 2034 due to increased life expectancy rates and lower birth rates.

Not only do baby boomers make up the second largest group of Americans but, according to Bank of America, in 2023, they spent a higher share of their income on travel and entertainment than any of the younger generations. Bank of America’s data also points to boomer spending remaining robust throughout this year, partly due to boomers delaying retirement, cost of living increases to social security, and the fact that they collectively have roughly five times the amount of assets as millennials.

Generally, the data suggests that a considerable number of older Americans are now and will continue to go to work, dine out, attend live events, and travel the country. In all probability, they will be using public restrooms while doing so.

Why age matters

No typical senior exists, and no typical aging timeline has developed. However, during the aging process, molecular and cellular damage can occur over time, often leading to a gradual decrease in physical and mental capability. The World Health Organization lists aging-associated health conditions, including hearing loss, cataracts, back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, and diabetes. Scripps identifies Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and joint replacement among the top health conditions affecting older Americans.

Each health condition noted above includes symptoms that can impact a person’s quality of life. Type 2 diabetes, for example, can cause nerve damage and foot problems that make it difficult to walk or stand. Cataracts can cause clouded or blurred vision that impacts depth perception. Arthritis can impact dexterity, mobility, and stability. And the general decrease in physical ability caused by aging leaves many seniors contending with fragile skin, a loss of grip strength, and a lack of coordination, along with instability and balance problems.

An awareness of these potential health conditions and their related limitations and impairments is crucial in designing restrooms that can better accommodate aging Americans who pursue active lifestyles.

Design with intention

Designers often create public restrooms to cater to the needs of the “average” adult. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average adult male is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs just less than 200 pounds, and is 40.5 inches wide. The average adult female is 5 feet 3.5 inches tall, weighs more than 170 pounds, and is 38.7 inches wide.

Designs for all public restrooms must comply with national health, safety, and disability regulations, which encompass incorporating a baby-changing table and accommodating a wheelchair, as well as placing dispensers at accessible heights. While these factors are a great first step in ensuring a restroom meets a wide range of user needs, additional considerations emerge when designing a restroom that also improves the experience for older Americans.

First and foremost, approach restroom design with the “Seven Principles of Universal Design” in mind. Developed at North Carolina State University in 1997, these principles provide a framework for designing inclusive and accessible environments and products and for reducing or eliminating barriers to their use. The first principle, for example, is to design for equitable use, which means making what you design usable by people with diverse abilities. Another principle focuses on designs that enable simple and intuitive use, and a third suggests designs that require minimal physical effort.

You can apply these principles to the overall design of a public restroom and the features and fixtures it will include, such as by:

• Eliminating large, heavy doors at restroom entrances to make it easier for those with canes, walkers, and wheelchairs to gain access.
• Installing touchless soap, sanitizer, and paper towel dispensers, as well as touchless faucets and flush valves, eliminates the need for users to push buttons, press levers, and turn handles.
• Purchasing products that are gentle on the skin, including soaps that both improve hygiene and are soothing and moisturizing, and paper products that are absorbent and soft.
• Increasing lighting will make it easier for older restroom users to see the layout of the space and potential obstacles, such as garbage bins, and to read signs and labels without difficulty.
• Mounting larger disposal bins in stalls to accommodate incontinence products.
• Incorporating stall doors that swing out to enable easier movement within the stall and to accommodate a walker or cane.

An especially senior-friendly restroom addition is the inclusion of at least one completely private stall with an adult changing station and a size large enough to accommodate a restroom user and a caregiver. Such a space will not only provide privacy but also help older restroom users maintain their dignity in what they may perceive as a vulnerable situation.

Take baby steps

For facilities working with the potential constraints of existing restrooms, taking baby steps to meet the needs of older individuals is a wonderful way to start down the path of providing a more inclusive, universal restroom experience. Any step forward, from changing out products to those gentler on the skin, is a step in the right direction.

Ronnie Phillips, Ph.D., is senior director of washroom innovation at GP PRO, the Away-From-Home division of Georgia-Pacific, and an adjunct faculty member in Georgia State University-Perimeter College’s Chemistry Department. GP PRO is a recognized leader in designing innovative restroom solutions that meet the needs of both restroom users and maintainers. To learn more, visit gppro.com.