Your #1 Disability-friendly Bathroom Plan For Ease Of Use At Home

There comes a time in everybody’s life when we need a little more assistance at home. Whether 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, support workers and family members must know the basics of disability bathroom renovations and toilet facilities. The bathroom is one of the most important and most used rooms, so it’s essential to make it accessible and comfortable to use at all times.

So, how do you plan out your new disability-friendly bathroom design? How do you make enough space for easy maneuvering and comfort with wheelchairs and/or other mobility equipment?

Here are some innovative disabled bathroom plans and products to make everyday life easier for your clients or loved ones.

What to consider when creating an accessible bathroom plan

Before starting your disability bathroom renovation, it’s important to research and plan 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.

1. What bathroom activities will require assistance? Consider your client or family member’s capabilities and needs. Do they have trouble lowering themselves down onto the toilet? Do they have trouble standing in the shower for extended times? 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.
    
2. Are any medical supplies required? Where should they be placed? Look at your client/family member’s bathroom cabinets and what they keep there, like prescriptions, dental products, eye care, contact lenses, first aid supplies, etc. Be sure the cabinets are not too high — wall-mounted cabinets are not recommended as they can be hard to reach.
    
3. Does your client/family member prefer a bath or a shower? Most people like to swap between bathing and showering. You can invest in grab rails for the shower and bath, non-slip bath mats, and bath or shower seats. In fact, any wet room should have non-slip mats to prevent falls.
    
4. 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 to make bathroom use easier. For example, you could install grab bars around the toilet, bath, and shower.
    
5. Will your client’s/family member’s condition deteriorate over time? What will be needed in future? Your client or family member’s condition won’t stay the same forever. Consider what will be required in future and be sure to leave space for these items, or install them now!

Your disabled bathroom plan 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, shower, sink, storage, and space for mobility equipment like wheelchairs and walkers.

Below is 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 and a shower chair for your client or family member to sit on if they have trouble standing for long periods.

The rectangles on the floor inside and outside 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.

Everyone’s accessible bathroom design is different. It’s important to remember that the bathroom’s dimensions may need to be expanded to accommodate new features like 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 products 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, allowing 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 chairs. If your client or loved one has trouble standing for long periods, 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. Toilet surrounds have handrails to grab onto and assist in sitting 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 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 loved ones and clients with Active Mobility

If you’re caring for an older Australian or someone living with disabilities, making their home a safer, more accessible place is essential. By setting up a disability-friendly bathroom, you can restore 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, affordable shipping, or drop into our showrooms in Sydney or Newcastle, to discuss your disabled bathroom plans with our friendly sales team.

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