How To Create An Accessible Bathroom For Disabled People
Taking a bath is one of the easiest and perhaps one of the most enjoyable day to day tasks. Who doesn’t want to wash the grime off your skin? Probably, coming out of the bathroom clean and refreshed is the best feeling in the world. Having a gorgeous and squeaky clean bathroom and curved shower screen in Singapore add to this relaxing experience.
Unfortunately, some people may find bathing a tedious task. People with disabilities may have difficulties washing their bodies. Not only because of their physical condition but also the design of bathrooms at home.
One way to make bathing a less exhausting task is making your bath accessible and friendly for people with disabilities. Here are the ways to make your bathroom accessible.
How To Make Your Home Bathroom Accessible
We all know that the bathroom is one of the most hazardous areas in the house. Water and slippery floors could cause accidents even to healthy people. Creating an accessible bathroom reduces the risk of accidents for people with and without disabilities. A lower bathroom sink and an aluminium bath sliding door in Singapore also make the space easy to manoeuvre for people with disabilities.
Here are the factors you need to consider in creating an accessible bathroom:
Bathroom dimensions
Bathroom space dimension is vital, especially for people with mobility disabilities. Ample space in the bathroom helps wheelchair users to navigate freely and comfortably around bathroom facilities, from the sink to the shower screen in Singapore.
How would you know if the bathroom space is enough? Firstly, the wheelchair must be able to turn 360 degrees inside the bathroom with ease.
Secondly, there should be enough room for the wheelchair and assisting person.
Lastly, there should be ample space for people who use transfer seats in the shower.
It is harder for wheelchair users to navigate a cluttered or smaller bathroom.
Accessibility of bathroom facilities
Some bathrooms are custom-designed to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities. Usually, construction teams alter some of the designs of bathroom facilities to make them more accessible.
There are three primary facilities in the bathroom. These are the sink and vanity, shower or tub, and toilet.
● Sink and vanity
Accessible bathrooms install wall-mounted sinks and vanities that have no storage or cabinet underneath. The lack of storage provides clearance and space for the knees of wheelchair users.
Moreover, these sinks are much lower than the standard height of bathroom vanities.
On the other hand, opting for hands-free or sensor-operated faucets eliminates the need for twisting and grabbing the tap.
● Shower and tub
Accessible bathrooms may use showers or tubs. Custom shower seats are popular to accommodate wheelchair users, but people can also use an ordinary home stool. The most important thing is that the shower seat is at an appropriate height for the user. The user must be able to reach the toiletries and aluminium shower window in Singapore. It should be sturdy to prevent accidents.
Tubs are rarely the choice for an accessible bathroom, but manufacturers come up with walk-in tubs to accommodate people with physical disabilities. Instead of climbing over the tub, walk-in tubs have doors that allow users to step in. You can design your tub and roll-in shower screen in Singapore, depending on your needs.
● Toilet
Toilets must be mounted at an appropriate height where a wheelchair user could transfer with ease. Toilet essentials must also be within reach.
Non-slip mats and grab bars
Apart from having the bathroom facilities accessible, it is vital to enhance the overall safety of the bathroom.
Usually, bathrooms have tiled floors; however, they get slippery when wet. It could be a problem for people with mobility disabilities. The instability increases the risk of slips and accidents.
Besides opting for an aluminium sliding door in Singapore, accessible bathrooms use non-slip mats. Non-slip mats are essential in keeping the foot grip even when the floor is soapy wet. There are anti-slip flooring options in the market as well.
On the flip side, grab bars and handlebars installed on the walls in the shower and toilet areas help people with physical disabilities to sit, stand up, and bend their bodies safely. Handlebars can also be a guide for visually impaired people.
Storage
People should also consider storage when designing an accessible bathroom. Toiletries holders for shower gels, scrubs, and toilet papers must be within reach of people with disabilities. Putting labels in braille can also help visually impaired people to find the items they need.
Apart from the toiletries holders, people should also make medicine cabinets reachable and labelled.
Now that you know the factors you should consider when designing an accessible bathroom, it is time to learn how to maintain your accessible bath clean and organised.
How To Keep Your Accessible Bathroom Clean and Organised
Keep You Sink Clutter-Free
It is a common sight for bathroom sinks to have variations of lotion and cream bottles, powders, and other beauty and skincare essentials. People with mobility disabilities or those who are visually impaired could knock these clutters off the sink. Much worse, it could cause an accident. You can arrange your products in reachable caddies and organisers.
Throw Out Empty and Expired Items
Another way to keep your bathroom organised is by throwing out items that clutter the storage. Empty and expired beauty products and lotion bottles belong to the bin. People may accidentally use these expired products and medicine if you keep them in your bath. The same goes for the bathroom essentials from hotels to display on your aluminium window in Singapore.
Wall-mounted caddy
Instead of purchasing space-consuming storage furniture, take advantage of horizontal space by using a wall-mounted shower caddy and racks. This space-saver furniture helps free up the bathroom area for wheelchair users as well.
Clean your bathroom once a week
Mould and mildew build up in tile grouts make the floor slippery. Slippery floors are prone to accidents. Rearranging the bathroom items frequently makes it easier for people with disabilities to locate the things they need.
Taking a shower should not be a struggle for anyone, even for your loved one. Having an accessible bathroom encourages inclusivity in the house.
Eatons
Start designing your accessible bathroom with Eatons. Eatons provides superior quality and well-designed aluminium sliding doors and curved shower screens in Singapore. Visit Eatons today.