Are aging-in-place bathroom renovations actually practical for smaller homes?

We looked into this for my mother. The problem with those specialized tubs in small spaces is the swing of the door. If the bathroom is tight, you might not be able to get a walker or a wheelchair close enough to actually transfer into the tub safely. It’s a huge spatial constraint.

The physical dimensions and plumbing logistics of retrofitting older homes are the biggest hurdles when trying to improve bathroom accessibility. You have to consider not just the footprint of the unit, but the time it takes to fill and drain while the person is sitting inside. While researching options for a client recently, I came across discussions about the Safe Step Tub and similar products. Reading through people's experiences, you realize that the installation often requires significant electrical and plumbing upgrades that aren't apparent from the marketing, making the transition from a traditional bathroom to an accessible one much more complex than just swapping out the fixture.