7 Must-Have Bathroom Modifications For Elderly
Among the variety of home accidents that occur every year, many slips, fall, sprains, trips, and other unwanted surprises can take place in the bathroom. The bathroom is one of the most dangerous areas in your house and can be more dangerous for people who are older, handicapped, or living with a chronic condition and have lost mobility and strength. That is why you need to make your bathroom accessible to promote safety, comfort, and independence. From the bathtub to the flooring, to lighting, we have put together accessible bathroom modifications to ensure easy navigation of the bathroom. You don’t have to break and there is no need for compromise on elegance and style. Most important, you don’t want you or your loved ones paying emergency room visits due to bathroom falls.
The flooring poses one of the greatest threats and while some are slick, shiny, and great to look at, they can cause slips and falls. You can simply place a non slip mat in the shower to prevent the elderly from falling while showering. Plus, a non slip rug, textured tiles, or other flooring materials that are slip-resistant for the non- shower areas.
Shower seats are an absolute necessity when it comes to bathroom modifications for the elderly and disabled. From benches to portable shower seats to stools to bath wheelchairs, there is a wide range of seat options that allow the use of bathrooms as independently and safely as possible. One of the most efficient options is a fold-down bench or a built-in bench that is attached to the shower wall for maximum support. Not only does it allow people to sit down, but it can also provide a luxurious feeling and spa-like experience while shaving legs or arranging hair. However, if you want something that you can easily remove, a shower stool can also help seniors who may have difficulty standing for an extended period of time.
Adequate storage is important to avoid tripping over items in the bathrooms and easy access to products. Items such as hair dryer, bathing products, soap, cleaning agents, makeup washcloths should have storage space and should not be put underneath the sink. Consider shelves or investing in a small basket for storage. A good rule of thumbs is to consider individual needs and ensure easy access to items.
Improved bathroom lighting is an important safety precaution as poor lighting can also increase the risk of falls. Therefore, good bathroom lighting should be on your priority list and one that should be carefully planned. As much as natural light is ideal, consider adding extra light for easy use of the bathroom especially for those with vision problems and especially for nighttime. The light should be evenly distributed in the bathroom to avoid glare or shadows. You can also invest in smart lighting options for those who might have difficulty accessing light switches.
The bathroom sink is one of the most ignored or forgotten inaccessible bathroom modifications, especially in public restrooms. It is either too low, high or the bathroom mirror is too far from where it can be useful for the users. Wheelchair accessible sinks should be wall-mounted with no object underneath to provide open knee space. A maximum of 34 inches height is essential but can be raised higher if a user has difficulty with bending. Moreover, consider a lever sink faucet that can be easily turned on or a touchless bathroom faucet to minimize the effort required to turn on the water sink. You can also consider bathroom sinks with integrated handrails. They provide additional support, unobtrusive and you can even hold your hand/face towels.
For an accessible bathroom shower or tub, a curbless shower or walk-in shower promises to be good options. Curbless showers as the name implies, have no ledge to step over which reduces the risk of trips or falls. They are safe and easily accessible for those with limited mobility or those in a wheelchair. Walk-in showers allow a user to use the tub without having to climb over the side of the tube. They provide easier access than traditional tubs and some even come with built-in seats. While at it, do not forget to install grab bars in bathing areas to ensure safety while walking into a shower or exiting. The towel hook should also be at the arms-length for towel drying before exiting the shower to prevent wet floors and slips.
Doorways of accessible bathrooms should be wider than normal (32 inches) so that wheelchair users can easily go through. In place of tight spaces, ensure the door swings outward instead of inward or go for pocket doors for optimal space in the bathroom. Moreover, ditch door knobs for lever handle to minimize the need to grasping and turning which can pose a challenge for people with dexterity issues.
Source: https://www.spnconstruct.com/blog/bathroom-modifications-elderly
