How To Make A Bathroom Handicap Accessible?

As we age, we have issues with our mobility. Many seniors require a walker or wheelchair to get around with confidence. Mobility concerns carry through to the bathroom design within the home. It is essential to make necessary changes to create a bathroom that is handicap accessibly, addressing any mobility issues and concerns in the process.

Accessible bathrooms are safe for everyone from the elderly to those with disabilities and even children. They are safe due to the features that are included to assist those with limited mobility, helping them move throughout the bathroom with ease. Accessible bathrooms can improve the quality of life of your loved ones.

Creating a bathroom that is handicap accessible can be expensive, as it involves the additional and installation of safety features, some may require structural changes to your existing bathroom.

ADA Compliance

In order to create a bathroom that is handicap accessible, you will want to follow the requirements set out by The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for safety and accessibility. The ADA provides guidelines to help you keep your bathroom easily accessible for everyone. It is mostly directed at businesses, but it can be used to make your home more accessible and safer for anyone with disabilities.

Making your Bathroom Handicap Accessible

There are numerous options to make your bathroom handicap accessible. Understanding the persons accessibility needs, along with setting a budget can help you create a handicap accessible bathroom that is safe, aesthetically pleasing and easy for the whole family to use.

• Walk in Shower with Seat – You can install a shower that has no entry barriers. This enables family members to walk or roll their wheelchair into the shower with ease. The seat makes it easier to shower and reduce the risk of falls, thanks to the grab bars that are installed close to the seat.

• Grab Bars – When making a bathroom handicap accessible, you want to install grab bars into your existing bathroom design to assist those with handicaps to get in and out of the tub or shower, also helping them get up from the toilet seat. Grab bars are safety precautions, providing the person something to hold onto should they feel unsteady.

• Install a Sliding Door – You can remove your existing bathroom door and install a sliding door that is easier to operate for those with limited mobility. It also helps those in a wheelchair get the bathroom door open on their own without assistance.

• Elevated Wall Mounted Toilet – Installing a wall mounted and elevated toilet is a great way to assist those that have mobility and handicap issues. These toilets make it easier to sit down and stand up off the toilet seat without assistance.

• Safety Rails Next to the Toilet – Safety rails should be installed near the toilet to assist the person when sitting down or getting up.

• Lower Cabinets – Bathroom cabinets are often installed at quite a height, making it difficult for family members to reach the items that they need. Lowering the cabinets and removing the doors can make it easy for your loved one to retrieve the items they need.

• Remove Under sink Cabinets – If you have cabinets under the sinks, anyone in the home using a wheelchair will struggle. Removing these cabinets enables the person to wheel right up to the sink to wash their face or brush their teeth.

• Lower the Sink – If your loved one uses a wheelchair or needs to sit down when brushing their teeth, lowering the sink makes the bathroom more accessible, helping them reach the faucet with ease.

• Remove Slip Hazards – To create a bathroom that is handicap accessible you need to remove any bathroom mats or rugs that could me problematic when using a wheelchair. Rugs and bathroom mats also increase the risk of slips and trips, especially in those that have mobility issues and tend to shuffle, rather than lifting their feet.

• Slip Resistant Floors – To reduce the risk of a bathroom accident, you will want to install a floor that will not be slippery once it has water on it, helping to reduce the risk of slips and falls in your handicap accessible bathroom.

• Improve Lighting – Add light fixtures that are easily accessible and will provide ample light to the bathroom, ensuring that everyone that uses the space can see what they are doing.