A common bathroom improvement is adding grabbars or safety rails for support, safety, and stability, But, how many do we use, what configurations, and where? Can we can this a good improvement or the best?
A world of superlatives
As we are interested in being the best or number one, in business, reputationally, or with our favorite sports teams, the competitive swagger is rampant. We want the biggest, most visited website or social media page. We want the most hits on a post. We want to win contests. We want to finish number one in any competition we enter.
We may want to do something quicker than it’s ever been done – in a record pace but still done correctly. We may want to get the correct answer to a riddle or puzzle before anyone else does who also is trying to solve it. We want to lift more weight or shed more pounds, or simialar activites or a personal best or of note to others.
Life is competitive, and many people love participating in life this way. Others are more casual or reserved, but the competition cannot be ignored.
Not a popularity contest
Being the best or choosing the best applies to many things in life, but aging in place solutions can have many successful results. We aren’t always choosing something because it’s the most popular. We are selecting it because of what it means for the client and what it can provide in terms of function and safety for them. It may be quite common to use, but the main factor is what it means to the client.
Whether we use a particular feature, solution, or design frequently or rarely – maybe just once – the important factor is what it means for the safety, comfort, and convenience of the client. If they like it, want it, and it helps them, it’s the correct choice in that situation.
So, what is the best improvement?
The best improvement or solution for someone is exactly what they need or require at the moment. It may have been something else at a previous time or situation, and it could be something different in the future. Now, however, it’s what is required to address the specific needs of the clients in their living space. Regardless of how simple or extensive, reasonable or pricey, it’s what will help the clients the most today.
There is no single best or recommended improvement to use. It’s what will meet the client’s needs the best and what they agree to have us install or create.
Each opportunity, and the resulting solution, is unique.