Essential Features for your Disabled Bathroom

Many people mistakenly believe that incorporating disabled features into your bathroom is expensive and difficult to do, however there is no need to re-do you whole bathroom, just look out for features that can help make life a little easier.

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A New Shower

For example, if putting in a new bath or shower is too costly try placing grab rails in easy to reach places that could make getting in and out much easier. They can be as cheap as just a couple of pounds, can be placed anywhere in your home and come in all sorts of colors and sizes designed to match your room shade and blend into the background when not in use.

There is also a wide range of finishes to choose from such as steel, chrome or paint and they can be ribbed for extra friction and to stop any slipping. You can choose either an angled, floor to ceiling system or straight line and these can be fitted yourself or by a professional who will advise on the angle which would offer you the most support if you’re not sure which would be best for you. Always check that you have the correct type of wall for your chosen grab rail to fit securely into as some modern homes don’t allow enough support when a certain amount of pulling or pressure is applied.

Showering Doors And Other Accessories

If showering is a bit of a struggle you may find investing in a disabled showering door or screen to allow you to get in and out with ease. These are ideal for wet rooms as it gives you more room to move around rather than being constricted to a shower cubicle yet keeps the water flow in one area. If you do have a wet room it may also be helpful to have a shower tray which will keep the water from flowing around the bathroom and making areas slippery whilst some are sloped to allow for wheelchair access.

You may also find a shower seat, either free standing or wall mounted, to be beneficial if standing up for long periods of time is difficult to do. These can be found in plenty of colors and finishes to fit the latest modern bathroom designs and can be folded into the wall or out of sight so as not to be obtrusive to any able bodied persons sharing the same bathroom.

If the height of your bathroom features is a concern try a toilet plinth to make the toilet seat higher or a lower basin for easier hand and face washing. A professional bathroom fitter will be able to measure these to the correct height for you so that they can be at the right angles for grab rails. Investing in a few extra features can sometimes be more cost effective than unnecessarily redesigning a whole bathroom, especially if the disability is only temporary such as a broken bone or you are looking to sell your home in the near future.

Bella Bowden is an expert in disabled bathroom fittings and shares her tips on behalf of www.heatandplumb.co

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