For individuals living with reduced mobility, home adaptations are the difference between feeling trapped in their own homes and going about their days independently.

All areas of a house can be changed to support the particular needs of a patient or customer, including the bathroom, and the more changes, the merrier. Adapting multiple spaces in the home has a far more substantial impact on an individual’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. 

Here’s how an entire bathroom refit can transform a living environment. 

It’s Not Just About The Toilet

When you think about adapting a bathroom, toileting likely comes to mind, and for good reason. Feeling clean and comfortable and living independently shouldn’t be at odds with one another.

But other bathroom components can be changed to further support those living at home. As well as the toilet, showers, sink units and the infrastructure of the bathroom itself can all be made more user-friendly.

Showers

Both conventional enclosed shower units and showers placed above bathtubs present an array of barriers for people living at home with limited mobility. To combat this, two main adaptations can be made.

Level Access Showers And Wet Rooms

Both level-access showers and wet rooms offer a practical solution to make washing easier for individuals with reduced mobility.

Level access showers don’t have a base tray or any steps; they are completely level with the bathroom floor. Instead, the area around the shower is ever so slightly angled so water can run down to the drain, and there’s no risk of the water pooling. This makes them the perfect option for wheelchair users, anyone with a limited range of movement, and anyone who needs help with personal hygiene tasks.

Wet rooms take this concept a step further, expanding it to the whole room. In a wet room, the shower is completely open or behind a wall, providing ample space for the user. The whole floor is constructed out of non-slip, waterproof materials and tilted slightly towards a drain outlet.

Accessible Shower Screens

Sometimes it’s not the step up to a shower that’s the problem but the shower screen itself. 

Specialist shower screens are available on the market that boast half-height doors, and extra hinged panels, meaning the showering space is adaptable and easily accessible for an extra pair of helping hands. 

Need to be able to move a shower screen around? No problem. There is a range of two and four-panelled portable shower screens available. Lightweight and easily manoeuvrable, these can be used in areas where a permanent structure is unnecessary or impossible to install.

Toilets

Toileting shouldn’t be stressful or compromise dignity. There are various ways in which a toilet can be made more accessible to improve the comfort of the user.

Adapted Toilets

The height of conventional toilet seats aren’t always suitable for those who struggle with mobility because they sit too low. The lower a toilet is, the lower your body needs to reach to sit down and the more strain it puts on joints and muscles, making for a painful experience. 

There are two brilliant ways of getting around this issue. Comfort height toilets, which are simply taller-than-average traditional porcelain toilets, raise the height of the entire facility making toileting far more comfortable for the user. These aren’t to be confused with raised height seats, which fit to the body of a standard height toilet, eliminating the need for a complete refit.

Raised WCs come in various styles to suit all bathroom designs and retain the look of a conventional loo. You can read more about the benefits in our recent blog.

Washer-Dryer Toilets

Fiddly toilet paper can be difficult to use efficiently for individuals with reduced mobility, and the movements associated with wiping may be impossible to execute. Washer-dryer toilets are designed ergonomically to eradicate the need for awkward bending and reaching, making the whole experience less stressful.

Accessible washer-dryer toilets come with many beneficial features to make them user-friendly;

• Elbow pads situated on the back support panel are used to operate the various cycles and flush mechanism
• Gentle wash and dry sequences ensure utmost cleanliness and minimal discomfort, without the need for toilet paper
• The toilet is wall-hung, meaning it can be situated at the perfect height for easy transitioning.

At the John Ford Group, we currently rate two brilliant accessible toilets above all others; the Gerberit Acquaclean Mera Care and the Closomat Lima Vita. Click on the links to find out more about them.

Sinks

Wheelchair-accessible sinks might not come front of mind when considering what makes for an adapted bathroom, but patients and customers with reduced mobility will tell you how brilliant they are.

Quite simply, a wheelchair-accessible sink sits at the right height for a seated person, allowing their knees to fit right underneath, avoiding the need to stretch and the risk of water splashing.

The range of accessible sinks out there is vast, and you don’t need to worry about compromising on style. Some include extra features, such as built-in grab rails and easy-to-reach storage areas. Others are minimalist and wall-mountable, allowing the user ample space to be close enough to use the facility efficiently and comfortably.

Lighting, Decor And Flooring

Last on the list, but not unimportant. In fact, they could be some of the most important elements to consider when adapting a bathroom for a patient or customer with limited mobility.

Colour Scheme And Lighting

Colour scheme has been proven to affect us physically, emotionally and mentally. You can read more about it in our recent blog here but one of the main points mentioned is that of tonal contrast. For example, fitting white grab rails onto white walls would be difficult for many users to see because the difference in brightness between the two areas isn’t stark enough.

Tonal contrast and adequate lighting might not be the most obvious of adaptations but are crucial in making a space usable. 

Flooring 

Flooring options for an adapted bathroom tend to fall into the anti-slip vinyl category for obvious reasons. Individuals with limited mobility need to feel as safe as possible, and grippy vinyl provides the perfect surface for keeping patients and customers steady on their feet.

There’s More To Adapting Bathrooms Than Meets The Eye

And by adapting the entire space rather than just one or two facilities, you can really transform a bathroom, facilitating the dignity and independence everyone deserves. 

Want To Know More? 

If you’re thinking about adapting an entire bathroom, or any of its facilities, get in touch today.

One of our friendly team will be more than happy to discuss your needs and offer expert advice in return.