How to make your home more accommodating with a safe and accessible bathroom

The importance of accessible bathrooms cannot be overemphasised. It is more than just a convenience; it is an essential need that can change someone’s life and make them more independent. It can be a game-changer if you have an accessible bathroom in your home. You can invite loved ones with mobility issues to visit your home or stay over special occasions like Christmas.

If you’re looking for support with financing to transform your bathroom, there is help out there that you might be eligible for. For example, if you are an individual who has been disabled due to military service, the VA disability calculator is the perfect tool for you. This online calculator can provide a helpful estimate of the compensation amount you may be eligible for based on your service-connected disability rating, which could then be put towards the adaptations you need in your bathroom.

The following are some ways to make your bathrooms more accessible:

Install grab bars

Grab bars are a vital part of any accessible bathroom. They offer steady support for people who need assistance when getting in and out of the bath or shower. Grab bars are also helpful for people who need to use the toilet but cannot stand up from it. They support getting out of bed or transferring from your wheelchair onto the toilet seat. It also makes it easier for caregivers or other family members to assist with toileting needs.

Ladies hand holding onto grab bar in a bathroom with walking stick

If you cannot install them on your own, you should call in a professional who can help you install them correctly to ensure they don’t come off or hurt anyone when used.

You can also consider installing grab bar-mounted shelves as they are a great way to make your bathroom more accessible. A grab bar mounted shelf is a shelf mounted at the right height for people with disabilities to reach. These shelves can be used as a storage space or to set down items while washing hands.

The shelves can be installed on any wall in your bathroom, which means you can put them in places that work best for you. You can also adjust their height so that they are at a comfortable level for everyone in your family.

Walk in Baths for a safe and comfortable bathing experience

Walk-in baths offer a safe and comfortable bathing experience for people with mobility issues. They are highly recommended as they allow users to bathe in a standing position.

Some of the benefits of walk in baths are that they provide easier access for people with disabilities, older adults, and those who have recently undergone surgery or suffered from an injury.

A walk-in bathtub features a door that swings open on hinges and leads into the bath. The door can sometimes be made of clear glass, so you can see inside the tub before entering it. Most walk-in baths also have a seat with the option for it to be heated. They have anti-slip surfaces and temperature safety control.

walk in bath
Credit: Walk-in bath from Premier Care in Bathing

Bathroom floor to help prevent slips

The flooring in the bathroom should be designed to make it easy for people with disabilities to move around without any problems. You also need to consider the materials when designing an accessible bathroom. Many people believe that tile is a great option for the bathroom because it has many benefits like being waterproof and easy to clean, but this can become slippery when wet. A better option might be vinyl or rubber flooring that is slip resistant as well as easier to clean. Visit Flooring365 for a wide range of quality flooring.

Bathroom design ideas to make your shower easier to use

Designing an accessible shower can be a daunting task, but with the right considerations and research, it can be an easy process. Here are some top tips for designing an accessible shower that is both safe and aesthetically pleasing.

We’ve already mentioned grab bars. Inastall these on either side of the wall so that you have something to hold onto while getting in and out of the shower. The size and shape of the shower is also important to think about. A square-shaped shower is much easier to get into and out of as well as wider for standing up in, but a circle-shaped one is better for people with mobility issues who need to sit down in the shower. There should be enough space in the corner of a shower to put a seat if you need one.

Conclusion: Making your home more accommodating with an accessible bathroom is possible with these simple adjustments!

Disclaimer: 

I was recently commissioned by Premier Care in Bathing to give my thoughts on this following topic

Disabled toilet at home

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