Creating a Senior Friendly Bathroom

 

 It isn’t surprising that more accidents and injuries occur in the bathroom than in any other room in the house.  As people get older they often lose some of the strength, balance, and mobility necessary for independent living.  Navigating the hard slippery surfaces in a standard bathroom can become quite hazardous.

 

 A bathroom remodel may not seem very exciting to you now, but if you think about it, you know that bathroom ablutions require a great deal of physical exertion. If you can anticipate how hard it might be to get in and out of the tub or even to use a standard low toilet seat, you will have taken the first step toward recognizing how important bathroom safety is to your well being.

 

General guidelines recommend floors that are skid resistant, clutter free and roomy enough so that you can maneuver around if you are using a walker or wheelchair. Good lighting (both overhead and side lighting) is a must.  Open edges on counters should be round or mitered and glass should be safety rated. I have worked with seniors for enough years to tell you that bathroom falls can be pretty ugly.

 

Showers and tubs offer some of the greatest physical challenges.  An accessible bathroom has some rather specific guidelines:

·        The shower and tub area should be well lighted.

·        Showers should include seating.

·        Grab bars should be placed within easy reach of tub and/or shower.

·        Shower doors should open into the room and whenever possible a standard shower head should be replaced with an adjustable handheld one.

 

A senior friendly bathroom doesn’t have to look institutionalized.   With a sound design and universal design products, a bathroom can be safe and functional as well as attractive.  There are a variety of practical as well as stylish products on the market.

 

Wall mounted sinks and toilets make any bathroom roomier.  If you can wheel your chair or get your walker in close, you are less apt to tip and fall.  The extra room will make it easier to maneuver a wheel chair or walker in what is often a very confined space.  Wall mounted fixtures can make the difference between whether a bathroom is wheelchair accessible or not.

 

Senior friendly bathtubs and shower stalls are ideal for those who are unwilling to give up a good soak or a luxurious shower.  There are tubs available with doors so that you can step right in, and shower units with wide thresholds that are easily accessible by foot or wheelchair.  Raised toilet seats, a heated towel bar, and a water resistant phone for emergencies, and you can have the spa of your dreams.