Retain Your Independence With Accessible Bathroom Design
Ageing in place is something that most of us would like to enjoy as we get older and the years pass by, but staying in our own homes can be difficult if our physical or cognitive abilities change and we don’t make certain adaptations to accommodate this.
The older we get, the more frail and vulnerable we become and it can be harder for us to carry out our daily routines than it once was. Failing to make our homes more accessible can put our health and safety at risk, increasing the likelihood of slips, trips and falls.
One of the most dangerous parts of the house is the bathroom, so if you are considering making some accessible home improvements this would be a great place to start.
How to make bathrooms more accessible
If you’re unable to maintain your personal hygiene safely and independently with the facilities you currently have at home, it might be time for an upgrade to account for restricted mobility.
Think about what your functional ability and prognosis are, whether you are able to walk or will need to be wheeled into the space, whether you’ll need carer assistance, if you need the shower to be seated, standing or both, what height the controls need to be and so on.
Other considerations include the type of flooring, which is particularly important to help prevent slips in a part of the house where water could pose a health risk.
It may also be necessary to move the bathroom downstairs if mobility is going to be particularly problematic in the future
What bathroom accessibility aids are there?
You’ll find that there is a wealth of different accessibility aids and features that can be used in the bathroom, everything from walk-in power baths and walk-in showers to bath lifts, bidet toilet seats, shower seats and so on.
It may be that you don’t need to make significant changes at first and are able to make your bathrooms safe and risk-free with simple adaptations such as grab rails near the toilet to help you get up and down, or in the shower to ensure that you don’t slip.
As time goes on, however, you may well find that you need to make bigger changes and a complete bathroom remodel may be necessary so that you can continue living as you’d like within the familiar comfort of your own home.
If you’re not sure what you might need, it can be beneficial to have an assessment carried out by an occupational therapist, who will be able to talk through your requirements with you and give you the necessary advice.
Also bear in mind that you might need to have planning permission or building regulations approval in place if you are intending to construct a purpose-built accessible bathroom.