19 bathroom adaptations for people with disabilities | mobility more (2023)

If you've been advised to make changes to your bathroom, or just want to ease your routine a little, you've come to the right place. This site is your creative catalogue.

In this guide, we take a look at 19 bathroom adaptations for people with disabilities, from small mobility aids to fancy showers, to create a safe and comfortable environment.Assisted living bathroomThe atmosphere. For each one, we detail how they work and how they can benefit your shower routine. We've also included customization ideas specifically for wheelchair users and the visually impaired.

When you're done reading, you'll have all the inspiration you need to create a bathroom that's perfect for you.Areneeds. Here's a quick overview of the categories before we go into detail:

• General mobility aids and adjustments
• specialized baths
• Aids and adjustments for wheelchair users
• Help for visually impaired people
• Easily accessible showers and tubs

General mobility aids and adjustments

Mobility aids make toilets safer and more accessible. For many people, they are indispensable parts of the bathroom. In this section we have included a wide range of mobility aids that provide assistance in different areas of the room.

1. Stützgitter

Handrails are one of the most popular mobility aids simply because they are simple, flexible and effective: you can attach handrails in any position that suits your specific needs.

Common positions are over the tub, making it easier to get in and out of the tub, and in the shower enclosure. In addition, they are available in different shapes, materials and colors, allowing you to customize your bathroom without compromising the decoration.

For added subtlety, you can purchase grab bars that also double as bathroom accessories, such as B. Towel holder, toilet paper holder or soap dishes.

Main Benefits

• Provides support in any bathroom area.
• It can meet most of the decoration themes.
• subtle designs available

2. Assist-Sticks

While handrails are freestanding elements attached to the wall, support posts provide floor-to-ceiling support. They are usually placed next to the toilet or bathtub and make it easier to get in and out.

For people with limited mobility or who are afraid of slippery floors, installing a support bar can be the right choice.

Main Benefits

• It allows easy entry and exit.
• Various grips are available
• More independence for daily tasks

3. Elevator in the bathroom

A bath lift is an electrically operated seating device that attaches to your bath tub and lowers you into and lifts you out of the bath tub. Although they can be used independently, bath lifts are commonly used to help caregivers safely access the bath tub for someone with limited mobility.

Main Benefits

• Easy for users and caregivers
• comfortable design
• Guaranteed a safe bath.

4. Bath Pillow

A bath pillow is a remote controlled, inflatable pillow that helps lower and raise your upper back and helps you get in and out of the bathtub. They are similar to bathroom lifts.

Even better, when you travel everywhere you can take your bath mat with you, making it one of the most flexible bathroom adaptations for the disabled and elderly. They generally don't offer as much general support as electric bath lifts, but they are a cheaper option.

Main Benefits

• More accessible than a bathroom lift
• Easy to use
• can be taken anywhere

5. Non-slip mats

Baths are inherently slippery. However, one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and those around you is to use non-slip mats.

As the name suggests, these sticky mats provide friction and grip on slippery surfaces such as bathtubs, shower trays or bathroom floors. Basically, they allow you to move more freely and safely in the bathroom.

Main Benefits

• It can be used anywhere in the bathroom.
• affordable and effective
• Beneficial for all mobility levels.

6. Toilet seats

Fixed or foldable shower seats allow you to sit comfortably in the shower and wash yourself. And by taking the weight off your feet, you're less likely to slip or experience joint discomfort. But what is the difference between the two seats?

It's all about flexibility: folding seats take up less space, but have to be folded up and down. The fixed seats are always ready for use, it is not necessary to open or close the chair.

Shower seats are particularly useful aids for wheelchair users, as they allow for easier entry and exit from the shower, either alone or with additional assistance.

Main Benefits

• More safety
• Fixed or portable options available
• improved independence

7. Emergency rope

Lanyards are strategically placed cords that provide an easy way to call for help. They're particularly useful helpers in the bathroom, because you probably won't be using a personal trigger in the shower or bath. Once pulled, the rope alerts the guards who can help.

Main Benefits

• Provides safety for users and caregivers
• It can be placed anywhere in the bathroom.
• Quick and easy way to ask for help

specialized baths

Here we have listed the best accommodations so that you or your loved ones can use the bathroom privately, comfortably and independently.

8. Automatic bidet flush and dry toilet.

The self-cleaning and dry toilets are ideal for users seeking independence and privacy. They work like normal toilets, except that the cleaning functions, i.e. hot air and water, are controlled remotely.

Most automatic toilets flush as soon as the user leaves. Overall, this is one of the highest quality bathroom adaptations for disabled and elderly users.

Main Benefits

• It offers independence and privacy.
• Full control over water and air temperature.
• Convenient and easy to use

9. High electric toilet

Elevated toilets automatically raise and lower the lower body, making them ideal solutions for users with limited lower body mobility. You can also buy tall dressers with armrests for even more support.

Main Benefits

• Offers more independence in the bathroom
• very easy to use
• Choice of adjustable or flip-up seats available

10. Hochbad

Raised toilet seats are one of the most subtle home adjustments for the disabled and elderly. In this manner? In most cases, the difference in height is hardly noticeable.

In general, these toilets are much easier to use for people with limited lower body mobility than regular lower-end models.

Main Benefits

• The height difference is very small.
• easy to install
• Various designs available

Aids and adjustments for wheelchair users

The bathroom can present special challenges for wheelchair users. Below we have selected the best adjustments to solve these problems.

11. Floating or height-adjustable bowls

In some bathrooms, it can be difficult to conveniently reach a sink and wash properly. In between is the installed pipeline or housing. An effective solution? Replace the cumbersome sink with a floating or height-adjustable model.

Floating sinks have free space below to the floor. A wheelchair can easily be stowed underneath. Alternatively, height-adjustable sinks allow you to set the sink to the desired height every time, making them useful bathroom helpers for people with restricted growth as well.

Main Benefits

• Attractive additions to any bathroom
• easy to install
• better hand hygiene

12. Sliding doors

When it comes to handicap accessible bathroom customizations, especially for wheelchair users, doors are often neglected.

For example, swing doors for wheelchair users can sometimes be challenging or time consuming. Sliding doors, on the other hand, require less effort to open, close and latch properly and take up less floor space.

Main Benefits

• Offers more floor space
• Access without displacement
• Easy to use

13. Widening of the doors

Some doors may not be wide enough to allow easy access for wheelchair users. To fix this, you can widen the bathroom door.

But how far should one go? Depending on the size of the wheelchair, the new door should be at least 40 to 48 inches wide.

Main Benefits

• greater independence
• Safety for caregivers and wheelchair users
• It makes your bathroom routine so much faster and easier.

14. Strategically placed light switches

Like swing doors, light switches are one of the most overlooked adjustments made to housing for people with disabilities. By strategically placing light switches, you can make it easier to get in and out of the bathroom. So what is the most appropriate height?

In general, for frontal wheelchair access, the light switch should be no more than 48 inches. For lateral access, it should not be more than 54 inches. If the light switch is above the bathroom counter, it should be no more than 40 inches from the floor.

Main Benefits

• Increased security through easy access to the light
• greater independence
• Benefits for people of all mobility levels

Help for visually impaired people

Not UK, nearbytwo million peoplecurrently have some vision loss. Fortunately, bathroom accessories and adjustments for the visually impaired are becoming more widely available.

15. Contrasting faucets and tiles

If you are visually impaired, you can move around the bathroom more easily by contrasting the color and material of your faucets and tiles.

For example, you can use a black faucet on a white sink to make positioning the sink easier. Or you can use different paneling materials to represent different areas of the bathroom. For example, wood tiles can characterize the bathroom area while stone slab tiles can be used in the shower area.

Main Benefits

• greater independence
• Can create a more elegant bathroom.
• Makes daily tasks much easier

16. Voice Controlled Shower

This is one of the highest quality bathroom customizations for the disabled and visually impaired. Voice controlled showers, also known as smart shower systems, allow you to control your shower, including pressure and temperature, without touching a button.

Those who occasionally prefer manual control can install high-contrast LEDs that make it easier to find the shower buttons.

Main Benefits

• very easy to use
• Added value for your property
• It can be controlled from anywhere in your home.

Easily accessible showers and tubs

Instead of adding a few mobility aids here and there, you can opt for a new shower or tub. Below we take a look at the most popular types of affordable tubs and showers.

17. Wet room

Wet cells are one of the cheapest bathroom amenities. First, they do not pose any tripping hazards. For this reason, they are widely considered to be the most convenient option for people with disabilities or the elderly.

Open plan wet rooms are typically tiled bathroom areas and have floor drains. Instead of opening the shower door and walking in, just walk in, wash and walk out.

Main Benefits

• Convenient for users and caregivers
• Save space in the bathroom
• economic adjustment

18. Geist

In contrast to wet roomswalk in showersThey usually have a raised shower tray, albeit very low. They also come with one or two dividers. In general, they are still easily accessible for people with disabilities and the elderly, with no doors or high steps to worry about.

Main Benefits

• Convenient for caregivers and users.
• Elegant addition to any bathroom.
• greater independence

19. Immersion bath

Getting in and out of the bathroom can be difficult for people with limited mobility.bathroommake the process a lot easier. Instead of getting in and out of the tub, simply open the side door and step inside. Various designs are available to suit different tastes, budgets and bathroom sizes.

Main Benefits

• greater independence
• Makes bathing faster and easier.
• Wide range of designs available

Financial support opportunities

Unfortunately it costs life£583 plus per monthon average if you are disabled. If you're worried about the cost of your utilities and housing, you know they existthey areways to save money.

To begin, you can invite Social Services to evaluate your home or the home of a friend or relative and make recommendations as to what housing may be needed.Then your board will have to pay for any adjustment that costs less than £1,000, which usually covers handrails and ramps.

For more expensive customizations, like wider showers or doors, you may qualify for aConcession of facilities for the disabled. If you are disabled you can getup to £30,000 in England,up to £36,000 in Wales,miup to £26,000 in Northern Ireland. This scholarship is not currently available in Scotland.

You may also be an optionVAT exemptions, save you20%when customizing your bathroom.

rounding

From grab bars to toilets, handicap accessible bathroom adaptations are worthwhile investments. And these days, there are plenty of subtle and elegant options that offer extra security and affordability.

Ultimately, the right tools and accommodations for your bathroom depend on your needs. For example, wheelchair users want to widen the door or install floating sinks. The visually impaired may prefer voice-activated showers, while the elderly are likely to find better use of a bathmat.

If there's anything that can improve your safety, comfort and accessibility in your bathroom, we think it's installation.