Rafe Thornton
Modifications To Make Your Bathroom Safer
Living with a disability can make tasks that most people take for granted seem so much more challenging; whether you’ve recently found yourself learning to live with a disability or whether it’s something that you’ve been living with for a while, there are so many simple amends that can be made throughout your home, which can make day to day tasks not only easier but safer too – giving you back control.
The bathroom can potentially be a very hazardous room, but just a few simple changes can give you back your independence and privacy. If your bathroom is tiled, it might be easier to keep clean, but water on a hard surface can become a trip hazard. If you notice one of your taps has started to drip or one of the pipes has started to leak, you need to get it fixed as soon as possible. Keep a towel rail next to your basin and show/bath so you’re not dripping water across the floor.
Water isn’t the only thing that can cause you to fall in the bathroom; mats can be serious tripping hazards, too. If you do have a tiled floor, rubber matting is cheap and sits just under the mat to stop it slipping. Some tape, especially for mats, can be applied to help prevent tripping if they curl up. These are both very cheap and easy solutions that can have a dramatic impact on your safety.
Although a little more expensive than rubber matting, Grab rails are still relatively cheap. They can be installed next to the toilet, bath, shower, basin, or anywhere else where you feel you might need a little extra support. Strong plastic ones are often easier to install as they don’t need to be earthbound. If you need a grab rail installed in a stud wall and you’re worried it won’t be strong enough, a floor-to-ceiling pole would perform the same job.
If turning the taps has become too complex, consider fitting taps with leavers, which don’t need as much pressure as regular taps. If these are also too difficult, taps with sensors can be fitted, although they are a bit more expensive, they can make your life much simpler.
Although you may be reluctant to relinquish any more freedom and privacy than you already have, you may want to consider removing the lock from the bathroom door. If the worst were to happen and you did fall or hurt yourself, quick access would be needed. A simple policy of always leaving the bathroom door open if it’s empty (and therefore only closed when it’s in use) could quickly be established.
Walk-in baths and wet rooms may be more expensive, but they are something that should be considered if you’re struggling with your bathroom. A walk-in bath would mean you wouldn’t have to try and step over the side of the tub anymore, a small door, which can be easily opened and closed is fitted into the side of the bath, it’s completely watertight and can also be fitted with a seat so you don’t have to lower yourself in and out the tub making bathing a lot easier for anyone with motability problems.
A wet room would transform your entire bathroom. It would mean your floor would be fitted with a drain, allowing the water to drain away, and tiling would make your whole bathroom waterproof. A wet room is normally all on the same level, making it wheelchair accessible. Wet rooms are often easier to clean and maintain than a regular bathroom and can give anyone with mobility problems more safety and freedom when it comes to bathing.
