Aging with dignity: inside Caroma’s innovative approach to accessible bathroom design

As we age, our support needs change, and eventually even the most comfortable home will present accessibility challenges. While every room in the house should have aged care consideration, bathrooms are perhaps the most important. When well-designed, accessible bathrooms allow older or less-abled residents to maintain their dignity and autonomy, without the risk of life-threatening accidents.

​Whether you’re planning for your own future, considering the needs of a client, or looking out for a loved one, Caroma’s aged care bathroom fixtures and comprehensive knowledge are invaluable.  

“Caroma's design philosophy is one of empathy and evidence-based practice. Accessible design allows people to remain independent for longer, which is crucial for both physical and mental well-being,” says Adeline Chua, Head of Customer Insights and Programs at Caroma. “Through collaborations with UNSW Built Environment and aged care providers, Caroma has developed products that address our customers’ real-world needs.”

Aged care design that puts people first

For Caroma, designing accessible bathrooms is more than just meeting compliance; it’s about creating spaces that support ongoing independence and wellbeing.

“Bathrooms are one of the most critical rooms for safety and comfort in the home. Poor design can lead to falls, frustration, and a loss of independence,” Adeline explains. “We’ve designed the Caroma LiveWell Care and Opal collections with the understanding that aging doesn't necessarily mean compromising on style or functionality.”

Products like the Opal and Care CleanFlush raised-height toilets feature rimless flushing for enhanced hygiene and easy cleaning, with the option to add nurse call buttons to the armrests. For budget-conscious residential and aged care settings, the Caroma LiveWell Bidet Seat is ideal. It can be easily retrofitted to existing toilet pans and offers intuitive hygiene support with remote control options. Perfect for mobility support around the toilet, the Opal and Care Support Rails have been engineered to handle 110kg of multidirectional load, reducing physical effort and injury.  

“Caroma LiveWell’s Opal Collection includes discreet load-rated support rails that double as towel rails or toilet roll holders — designed for safety without compromising on style. The dementia-friendly tapware, with large colour indicators and easy-turn handles, also supports cognitive and physical access. These thoughtful gestures build confidence, dispel anxiety, and promote a sense of ease in day-to-day routines.”

Alongside their extensive product range, Caroma has developed an immersive design tool that puts designers in their client’s shoes.

“The Caroma LiveWell Age Lab allows designers to literally experiment with ageing challenges, such as arthritis or vision impairment, so they can empathise on a fundamental level and design with purpose,” Adeline explains. “By experiencing the physical and emotional impact of aging, designers have a better understanding of what a space needs to be accessible. This allows them to integrate assist features into their design, and think long-term about how the space should adapt as the user’s support needs change.”

​Though their product design process is about more than just meeting compliance requirements, designers can rest assured knowing that Caroma takes these standards seriously.  

​“Our approach to meeting and exceeding these standards is grounded in rigorous testing, human-centred design, and continuous innovation. At the core of this is the Caroma LiveWell Age Lab, which has been actively deployed across New Zealand in collaboration with aged care providers like Ryman, Summerset, and Sanderson.”

All products are subject to rigorous lifecycle testing and have been developed with input from Aged Care Developers, Occupational Therapists, Architects, Designers, and Carers. Caroma’s design and engineering teams also work closely with National Authorities Testing Australia-accredited labs (NATA) to validate their hygiene, infection control, and water efficiency claims — certifications that are critical for aged care specifiers.

“We don’t just design to meet compliance, we design to anticipate it. Through co-design with the care community, evidence-backed testing, and localised innovation, Caroma ensures that its bathroom solutions are not only compliant with New Zealand standards, but also genuinely fit for purpose in both aged care and independent living environments.”

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Learn more about Caroma.