There comes a time in everybody’s life where we need a little more assistance at home. Whether it’s due to illness, disability or age, everyday activities can become a real challenge if you aren’t properly equipped with assistive tools and products.
With this in mind, it’s crucial for carers and family members to know the basics when it comes to disability bathroom renovations. The bathroom is one of the most important and most used rooms in the house, so it’s essential to make the bathroom accessible and comfortable to use at all times.
At Active Mobility Systems, we stock an extensive range of daily living products including bath seats and shower chairs, bathroom rails, over-toilet aids and transfer benches among a huge range of others. We have all the equipment you need to make bathroom use at home simpler for people living with disabilities — so how do you plan out your new disabled bathroom design?
In this article, we share some disabled bathroom plans and products to make everyday life easier for your client or loved ones.
5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CREATING YOUR DISABLED BATHROOM PLAN
Before starting your disability bathroom renovation, it’s important to do some research and planning based on your client or family member’s specific needs. No two people’s needs are ever the same, so there are a few things you’ll need to consider.
- What bathroom activities will require assistance? Consider your client or family’s members ' capabilities and needs. Do they have trouble lowering themselves down onto the toilet? Do they have trouble standing in the shower for long periods of time? Will you need assistance transferring them in and out of the bathtub? Complete an in-depth analysis of the bathroom and your patient’s needs, then create a disabled bathroom plan.
- Are any medical supplies required? Where should they be placed? Take a look at your client/family member’s bathroom cabinets and what they tend to keep there like prescriptions, dental products, eye care and contact lenses, first aid supplies and so on. Be sure the cabinets are not too high — wall-mounted cabinets are not recommended as they can be hard to reach.
- Does your client/family member prefer a bath or a shower? Most people like to swap between bathing and showering, but ask your client or family member what they prefer on a long-term basis. You can then invest in grab rails for the shower and bath, non-slip bath mats, and bath or shower seats.
- What bathroom activities are done independently? Where do grab bars need to be placed? If your client or family member is still largely independent (or simply prefers to use the bathroom alone), you may need to install grab bars in the bathroom to make bathroom use easier. For example, you might need to install grab bars around the toilet, in the bath and in the shower.
- Will your client’s/family member’s condition deteriorate over time? What will be needed in future? Creating a disabled bathroom plan for the present is all well and good, but it’s unlikely your client or family member’s condition will stay the same forever. Consider what might be needed in future and be sure to leave space for these items, or install them now!
DISABLED BATHROOM DESIGNS & GRAB RAIL PLACEMENTS
Your disabled bathroom design should take your client or family member’s capabilities and needs into serious consideration, then meet those needs throughout the bathroom including the toilet, bath or shower, sink, storage and space for mobility equipment like wheelchairs and walkers.
Below, we have a basic floor plan and dimensions for your disabled bathroom design.
Here, you can see the extensive use of grab rails around the bathroom sink, the toilet and inside the shower, as well as a shower chair for your client or family member to sit on if they have trouble standing for long periods of time.
The rectangles on the floor inside and outside of the shower represent non-slip bath mats to reduce the risk of slips and falls in the bathroom. This is a common and serious risk for elderly patients.
Of course, everyone’s bathroom design is different, but it’s important to keep in mind that the bathroom’s dimensions may need to be expanded to accommodate grab rails, assistive equipment and wheelchair users (if required).
If you are unsure about the dimensions of the bathroom and the required equipment to install, be sure to talk to your client or family member’s occupational therapist for further advice.
ESSENTIAL PRODUCT FOR YOUR DISABILITY BATHROOM RENOVATION
Once your disabled bathroom design is finalised, it’s time to stock up on supports to make your client or family member’s bathroom a safer, more accessible place. At Active Mobility Systems, we stock a huge range of daily living products to complete your disabled bathroom set-up, including:
- Transfer benches. Transfer benches are made of tough and durable metal like aluminium and allow you to safely help your client or loved one out of the bath or shower. They are made with holes to drain water and make the bathing experience more enjoyable.
- Bath seats, shower stools and/or chairs. If your client or loved one has trouble standing for long periods of time, be sure to purchase a shower seat and stool, or a bath seat or stool. Again, these seats are made from durable yet lightweight materials.
- Grab rails. We stock grab rails in a wide range of shapes, sizes and materials to improve safety in the bathroom. Screwed securely to the wall, grab rails will reduce the risk of slips and falls.
- Toilet surrounds and raised toilet seats. Many elderly patients have trouble lowering themselves down onto the toilet. Toilet surrounds have handrails to grab onto and assist to sit down on the toilet, whereas raised toilet seats add some height to the seat for easier toileting.
- Non-slip bath and shower mats. Our bath and shower mats are made from a high-quality rubber compound and feature suction cups on the underside for more stability in the shower.
While these are the absolute essentials for your disabled bathroom design, we also have smaller bathroom accessories like long-handled sponges, toe washers, hand showers with single or dual hoses and bottom wipers for the toilet.
MAKE BATHING AND TOILETING SIMPLER FOR YOUR LOVED ONES OR PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE MOBILITY SYSTEMS
If you’re caring for an older person or someone living with disabilities, making their home a safer, more accessible place is absolutely essential. By setting up a disability-friendly bathroom, you can restore some independence and confidence for your client or family member, allowing them to feel safe and secure during their day to day activities.
We pride ourselves on our reliable and affordable daily living products for the elderly and disabled. Shop online for fast and affordable shipping throughout Australia, or drop into our showroom in Silverwater, Sydney, to discuss your disabled bathroom plans with our friendly sales team.
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