A sudden injury, illness or long-term impairment can make a disabled bath renovation a necessity. Unfortunately, most bathrooms were designed and built without considering accessibility issues for persons with limited mobility. But before you panic and think you need to build a new accessible bathroom from scratch, don’t worry. In fact, here are practical and affordable disabled bathroom modifications that greatly improve the safety and functionality.
Affordable Disabled Bath Renovation Solutions
#1. Safety Rails Installed in Strategic Locations
Safety rails or grip bars are relatively inexpensive to purchase and greatly improve bathroom safety for the disabled or anyone with limited mobility.
And, to make the bathroom wheelchair accessible, safety grips need installed both in the shower or bath area and adjacent to the toilet. To make the toilet wheelchair accessible, two safety rails should be mounted to the wall approximately 1m apart and extending outward from the wall.
The shower, or tub area, also requires hand or safety rails to help injured or disabled persons safely enter and exit. For tub access, install safety rails at sitting and standing height at the point of exit and entry to the bath. And for enclosed showers, a disabled bath renovation should also include safety rails on all 3 walls of the shower enclosure itself.
And, depending on the disability and specific needs, safety rails may also be added in other strategic locations to improve overall bathroom accessibility. We strongly recommend professional installation to ensure proper placement and mounting of safety rails for maximum safety and bathroom accessibility.
#2. Non-Slip Mats and Shower Flooring
Reducing the risk of falling is one of the main objectives of any disabled bathroom renovation project. Placing non-slip mats both at the point of entry/exit and in the tub itself dramatically reduces the risk of falling, or injury. To improve disabled shower safety, also consider installing special non-slip flooring. Although more expensive than the mats, non-slip flooring provides added traction for users throughout the shower area and greatly enhances shower accessibility for the disabled or anyone with balance issues.
#3. Taller Toilers or Wall-Mounted Toilets
For seniors, the injured, and anyone with a disability, getting on and off the toilet can be challenging and dangerous. Therefore, a disabled bath renovation includes the installation of a taller toiler toilet to reduce strain on muscles and joints. However, to make the bathroom wheelchair accessible you may need to mount the toilet directly to the wall. In addition, wheelchair accessible toilets also require safety rails on both sides of the toilet about 1m apart. Thus, we recommend having both the taller or wall-mounted toilet and safety rails professionally installed to avoid injury or leaking.
Additional Disabled Bathroom Safety Features
Safety rails, non-slip flooring, and taller toilets all improve accessibility in a disabled bathroom. But for a fully accessible bathroom for the disabled and elderly, also consider adding the following safety features:
- Safety Covers for Shower or Floor Drain
- Additional Lighting in Shower Area
- Shower Safety Gate
- Shower Bencher
- Bath or Transfer Bench (for tubs and helps avoid stepping over tub wall)
- Special Vanities with Wheelchair Access
- Extended Hand Shower Sprayer (for use with shower bench)
- Widened Doorways for Wheelchair Access
An effective disabled bath renovation need not destroy your existing room. With some strategic modifications and the installation of safety features, most existing bathrooms can be made fully accessible.
Accessable Bathrooms is Perth’s exclusive disabled bath renovation experts. All projects begin with a Free Safety Audit and 3D design.