What Are The Top Bathroom Adaptations If You Have Arthritis?

Arthritis is thought to affect around ten million people in the UK alone. There are various forms of the condition, but broadly speaking it causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This is when the cartilage in one of your joints becomes rough. In response, the body can try to repair itself, but this causes its own problems. They include excess fluid in the joint and extra bits of bone growing. 

Osteoarthritis is more common as you get older. Another condition to be aware of is rheumatoid arthritis. This is an auto-immune condition that causes inflammation and excess fluid in certain joints. 

Any type of arthritis can make everyday tasks more difficult, especially if your arthritis affects the joints in your hands and fingers. 

When your arthritis affects your knees or hips, it can reduce your mobility. This can make it harder to use a regular bathroom. 

 

What adaptations can you make to your bathroom if you have arthritis?

There are various adaptations that can make it easier and safer to use your bathroom if you have arthritis. 

Change your taps

One simple step to take is to replace any taps that require you to twist or grip them with lever handles or flat handles. 

This means you won’t have to rely on your hands and your grip strength to turn your tap on when you’re in the bathroom. 

Fit a walk-in shower bath

If your arthritis affects your legs, it is important to explore how you can make using your bathroom safer. This might involve installing a walk in shower bath so that you don’t have to climb over any high sides to wash yourself. 

Remove trip hazards

Another option is to look at how to lower the threshold from your main bathroom into your shower. That might mean converting your bathroom to a wetroom, for instance. This can help you easily move between the two spaces without needing to navigate any steps.

Give yourself support

You may also want to fit a shower seat in your shower. This will mean you don’t have to stand up while you wash yourself. 

In addition to easing the pain you experience in your joints, this can also be safer as you are not relying on your balance for the whole time you are having a shower. 

This can be particularly helpful for those who have rheumatoid arthritis, as this condition can cause tiredness. It is also a condition that has flare-ups, which means your symptoms get worse for a period of time before regulating. 

Similarly installing toilet seats that reduce the distance you have to crouch to be able to sit down can be helpful for those with any kind of arthritis. Often such seats also have arms, giving you additional support to help you stand. 

Install anti-slip flooring

It is also important to consider anti-slip flooring as part of your adaptations. This is advisable for all of us as we age. Installing anti-slip flooring will be especially important if you are converting your bathroom into a wet room.