Designing ergonomic toilets and bathrooms for older adults: A study on anthropometric dimensions and recommendations

•The anthropometric measurements of the older people should also be taken into account in the design of bathroom equipment in order to increase the adaptation of the older people to the person-environment fit.•In general, the products and equipment in the toilet and bathroom suitable for the body characteristics of adults are primarily inadequate and do not meet the needs of older people.•Older-oriented designs with high performance and quality support and life-facilitating tools and equipment in toilet and bathroom equipment will positively affect participation in life and will allow successful and active aging.•Older people should be provided with living environments with specifically designed facilities appropriate for their physical and cognitive strengths, capabilities, and limitations, and to match their body dimensions. This study aimed to evaluate the ergonomic design of toilets and bathroom equipment for older adults using anthropometric measurements. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 2,721 people aged ≥ 65 years in Turkey. Fourteen anthropometric measurements were evaluated. Body dimension characteristics were described using minimum, maximum, and arithmetic means and standard deviations and the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles. The measurements showed that companies generally do not design bathroom toilet equipment that is suitable for older adults. This study provides advice to designers and manufacturers on how to adapt their products to the bathroom according to users' body characteristics in order to increase person-environment fit for older people.