There comes a time when you or a relative may need more help than before when it comes to every day tasks. Your bathroom can be one of the most hazardous places if you are facing mobility issues – which is why you might want to consider making a bathroom more accessible. We’ve compiled a list of things that you may need to think about if you are contemplating designing an accessible bathroom.
Making the Bathroom Well Lit
Ensuring that the bathroom is well lit is essential for safety when it is being used by anyone with a disability. You should make sure that you have the room evenly-lit and allow a dimmer switch where the light can be easily adjusted depending on the time of day. There are other things that can be implemented such as large toggles instead of switches to make things easier.
Are you Opting for a Bath or Shower?
There are accessible options for both baths and showers, and advantages and disadvantages to both. When creating your bathroom, you need to think about what fits your needs most. Wheelchair users for instance, may want to opt for a shower as it will be more accessible – or a walk-in bath may be more appropriate depending on the mobility issue. If you need more advice on this subject, the experts at Premier Bathrooms have written up a list of tips that can make bathing easier.
Making the Toilet Accessible
For many people with mobility issues, getting on and off the toilet can become a hurdle. According to toilet guidelines they should be from 17-19 inches high. This is generally regarded as the most comfortable height. However, there are other options that can make life a little easier. You can get toilets that have raised pans, and you can also get wall hung toilets. These toilets can be customised to whatever height you need and will allow much easier access.
Do you Need Safety Equipment?
Depending on the level of mobility issues, you may also need to take into consideration other safety equipment. It could be anything from bath lifts or transfer benches to make it a little easier for you. Fixtures and fittings can also play a large part in safety. When it comes to choosing doors for example, you may need to think about possibly getting the door widened for wheelchair access. Or, you also may want to consider getting door handles instead of door knobs to make grabbing it a little easier. Things like handing your door so it opens outwards as opposed to inwards is something that you may not initially think of but will give you much more space.
Making the Sink Accessible
Some modern sink designs can make it difficult for you to access. Again, if you are a wheelchair user – this takes further consideration. The sinks should be wall-mounted and there shouldn’t be anything underneath like a vanity or a cabinet. That way you would be able to get a wheelchair, zimmer frame and other mobility aids in. For best access, you should also think about a sink where it is concave at the front to get closer.
It can be a little daunting completely changing your bathroom to make it more accessible, and as it can be a large investment – you want to make sure you get it right first time. Hopefully our list of things to think about will be a good starting point for you.