I've been doing bathroom renovations in New Jersey for 43 years. I've seen trends come and go—jacuzzi tubs, corner tubs, clawfoot revivals.

But here's what I'm seeing now that's different.

Deep soaker tubs are disappearing from new construction aimed at anyone over 50. Not because they're ugly. Not because tastes changed.

Because the math doesn't work anymore.

The Data Insurance Companies Are Already Using

Approximately one-third of adults aged 65 or older fall each year, and 80 percent of those falls happen in the bathroom.

That's not a design problem. That's a crisis.

Over 230,000 Americans suffer bathroom injuries annually. Among adults 85 and older, 38 percent end up hospitalized.

Falls in the bathroom are more than twice as likely to result in injury compared to falls in the living room. And two-thirds of all bathroom injuries happen in the tub or shower.

The most dangerous moment? Getting out.

Only 2% of injuries occur getting in—when surfaces are dry. The vast majority happen during or after bathing, when everything is wet and you're tired.

The Real Cost of Waiting

We do about 300 bathrooms a year. Half are tub-to-shower conversions.

The renovation runs $20,000 to $30,000.

But a hospital bill from one fall? That can be three times that amount, depending on the injury and recovery plan.

Fall-related injuries now generate over $50 billion in annual healthcare expenses. Medicare alone pays $28 billion for nonfatal falls.

Insurance companies are watching this. They're starting to connect bathroom design to claim patterns.

And here's what makes this predictable: only 55% of seniors who've already fallen have bathroom modifications.

That means nearly half the people who've experienced a fall still haven't changed their bathroom setup.

Why Soaker Tubs Are on Their Way Out

The homeowner population is aging. The average age keeps rising.

The people who still want bathtubs? Younger parents doing bath time with kids.

Everyone else is making different calculations.

I'm not saying tubs are bad. A good soak has value. But having to navigate a tub every single day is where the problem lives.

Tubs aren't easy to navigate when you're 35. They're dangerous when you're 75.

And if you're just trying to shower, they're even more slippery.

What's Coming Next

Design trends are already shifting. 66% of homeowners now address accessibility during bathroom remodels, incorporating features like curbless showers and grab bars.

Builders are responding to demographic reality. Accessibility features—wider aisles, single-level layouts, easy-reach storage—are becoming standard in homes designed for long-term living.

Within five years, I expect deep soaker tubs will be rare in new construction for buyers over 50.

Not because of regulations. Not because of mandates.

Because the industry follows the data. And the data is clear.

The soaker tub era is ending.

Most people just don't know it yet.