If you're reading this, chances are you're one of three things: a child of a baby boomer, a parent of a boomer, or a boomer yourself.
As more and more members of this generation enter their golden years, products aimed at the senior set gain in popularity.
But, sometimes these products offer as many benefits to those more familiar with YouTube than the boob tube.
One such amenity is the walk-in shower.
Once acclaimed for the added safety it provided to frail or unsteady senior citizens, it is now a mark of distinction to any home, including those of young families.
While seniors may have settled into their final home of choice, younger homeowners may find great benefit in adding this feature to increase not only their own enjoyment of their homes but their resale value as well.
More Space = More Comfort Everything may be bigger in Texas, but the rest of the states like a fair amount of room to roam as well.
Some people may enjoy the added space to accommodate a larger body frame, but even the most petite of homeowners can appreciate the luxuriousness of a spacious shower.
The pleasure of the experience is only compounded when complemented with additional features such as custom showerheads.
Reacquaint Yourself with Mr.
Clean The 2011 US Census indicated that there were 877,980 people who identified themselves as maids or housecleaners.
While the census doesn't provide insight into why these people were hired, one could imagine that at least some were retained for the sole purpose of handling bathroom duty.
Walk-in showers alleviate some of that unpleasantness by creating an easier space to enter and clean.
No more hunching over traditional bathtubs like a cheerless criminal bending before the guillotine.
Walk-ins accommodate a fuller range of motion, allowing a cleaner to easily reach nooks and crannies that may go unnoticed in a traditional bath (a quality that would make any cleaner happy, be it you or the maid service).
Safety First Although this is a clear benefit for seniors, the fact is anyone can have an accident in the bathroom.
In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 230,000 non-fatal bathroom accidents in the United States among people as young as 15, two-thirds of which occurred in the tub or shower.
The walk-in shower removes that potentially dangerous step between safely preparing for a shower and finding oneself flat on his back.
Let's Face It - They Look Cool Walk-in showers come in a variety of refreshing, modern designs, including clear glass, uniquely etched patterns, and even stained glass.
While choosing a flashy avant-garde motif may be risky from a resale standpoint, a distinctive look will certainly give any home an added touch of flavor that will reflect its owner's personality and set it apart from similar bathrooms.
The Choice Is Yours Senior citizens have long been key buyers of walk-in baths and showers and will most likely continue to be as millions of baby boomers enter retirement.
However, even younger homeowners should consider them as both a potential source of delight and selling point in their homes.
The housing market has been kind to few homeowners in recent years, but by rethinking past stereotypes and giving new twists to old features, even non-seniors can benefit from features like the walk-in shower.