How to Make Your Bathroom More Accessible

Tuesday, July 28th, 2020, 8:37 pm , Posted by MED +

Whether you have mobility issues, live with a family member with a disability or are elderly yourself, accessibility becomes an important factor for your living situation. The ability to easily get around your home can have a big impact on your level of comfort.

Making your home as accessible as possible is a key step to staying in the home you love for the long term. One area of your home in particular that needs to be accessible is your bathroom.

An accessible bathroom can reduce functionality and safety issues and just simplify things for you and caregivers. Whether mobility, safety or other concerns are your main motivation to make your bathroom more accessible, the following options are well worth the investment to improve your qualify of life:

Expand The Entrance: Standard bathroom doorways can inhibit anyone that requires the use of a wheelchair. Expanding the entrance with an oversize doorway can make it much easier for anyone to maneuver in and out of the bathroom. In addition to a larger opening, the placement of door handles and knobs can make it easier to open and close the door.
Remove Any Barriers: No two bathrooms are the same. Your needs are also unique. Therefore, it’s important to assess your bathroom as a whole to remove any barriers for you. Barriers come in all shapes and sizes. It could be a door with transitions in the door ways, the height of light switches, placement of the toilet and vanity, or other considerations that prevent you from easy access to your bathroom.
Make Your Bathroom A Wet Room: The tub and shower are often the biggest barrier for people in the bathroom. They are difficult to get in and out and present a common trip and fall hazard. One way to overcome this issue is to remove it and turn your bathroom into a wet room. You install tile throughout the entire space so you can easily access the shower. It makes bathing much easier for people with all types of mobility issues.
Install A Walk In Bathtub: If a wet room is not in your budget or not an idea you want to pursue, consider a walk in tub. These tubs are much easier to get in and out and can reduce to odds of you having a falling accident. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and designs, ensuring you can find one to fit your bathroom space.
Make Height Adjustments: The height of common bathroom fixtures can become an issue for anyone requiring the use of a wheelchair. You can adjust the height of the sink and vanity so it’s easier to use. Similar to the sink, the toilet height may need to be adjusted. It may be too low and present challenges. You can choose a toilet that is an ideal height for you to easier get on and off.
Install Grab Bars: Strategically placed grab bars can provide you with the support you need, when you need it most. You can install them virtually anywhere that makes sense for how you use your bathroom. The most common places they are installed is the in the shower and next to the toilet. These are ideal additions that can provide additional support and reduce the odds of a fall.
Automatic Lighting: Light switches are be challenging to use. Rather than move the height of the lighting, you can take it one step further and install automatic lighting in the bathroom. Motion senor lights will turn on when you enter the room and turn off when you exit. There is no need to reach for switches and risk a fall.
Non Slip Flooring: Slip and falls are one of the most common at home accidents. You can reduce the odds of this happening by installing non slip flooring or strategically placed mats. You have lots of options to meet the needs and space of your specific bathroom.

A couple strategic changes to your bathroom can do a lot to make it safer and more accessible. If you want to make changes to your bathroom, contact us today. We’ll happily speak with you about your bathroom upgrade options.

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