5 Tips on How to Make Your Bathroom Accessible to Elderly Family Members

If you are living with family members with mobility issues due to sickness, illness, or age, it is necessary to ensure that they can access the bathroom easily and comfortably. Making some adjustments in your bathroom will help. However, you should plan the adjustments carefully, as your top priority is ensuring everyone remains safe while using the bathroom. Another thing to ensure is bathroom cleanliness and maintenance.

Setting up your bathroom for elderly family members

Many people believe they are losing their independence as they grow older. Some health issues, like arthritis, can affect their mobility. Thus, doing the things they used to do with ease becomes increasingly difficult. If the family bathroom is not properly designed for the elderly, they lose their sense of independence.

Changing the bathroom can be simple or complex, depending on the circumstances. When planning your bathroom renovation, it is necessary to consider these factors—bathroom size, budget, and the needs of family members, specifically the mobility-challenged elderly.

1. Consider whether a shower or a tub is better

Various bathroom products are available, such as elderly walk in bathtub and walk-in showers. The elderly may encounter difficulty when using a traditional shower and bath. It is difficult to get in and out of bathtubs, and using a shower presents the risk of trips, slips, and falls. A walk-in tub is easily accessible, with its door and lower entry threshold. It has a built-in seat that helps people who find it difficult to lower and lift themselves. It comes with grab bars and a non-slip floor to ensure safety.

2. Install grab rails

Grab rails make it easier for the elderly and other family members with mobility issues to walk securely around the bathroom. Grab rails help them to remain steady as they stand or walk. These cheap fixtures come in different textures and colours to match your bathroom décor.

3. Add fold-down seats

If you cannot replace your old standard bathtub with a shower with modern furniture, such as disabled walk in baths, you can still make the shower safer and more comfortable by installing a fold-down seat. A fold-down seat makes showering easier for people who cannot stay on their feet for a long time. The folding mechanism keeps the seat against the wall when not in use.

4. Low-level shower tray

If you are installing a freestanding walk-in shower, ensure that elderly family members can take a shower safely by choosing a model with a low-level shower tray. It will make it easier for the elderly to step over the entryway, preventing trips and falls. Some models allow the addition of grab bars for extra safety.

5. Install a bath lift

If you do not have a budget to purchase a walk-in bath, you can install a bath lift instead. A bath lift is power operated using a remote control. Its function is to lift and lower a person into and out of a bathtub.

The accessibility changes you implement in your bathroom for elderly family members can mean a great deal to them. It means you are thinking of their comfort and safety. It also tells them that you allow them to be independent and that you’re giving them some privacy while bathing.