8 Ways to Make Your Bathroom More Accessible

An aging population makes accessibility more relevant than ever before. After all, slips and falls are not a laughing matter in real life. They can have permanent consequences for their victims. This is particularly true for older people, who tend to have more existing health problems that can be exacerbated. Luckily, there are many ways to make your bathroom more accessible if you're concerned about your and your loved ones' wellbeing.

Grab bars offer excellent value while being easy to install. They're helpful for people starting to experience mobility issues by providing them something to hold onto while moving about. On top of that, they can continue serving in this role over time. Even if you have personal insight, look up recommended places to install grab bars. Plan for the future by considering more than just your current needs.

Spending less time on slippery surfaces reduces the chances of slips and falls. Consider installing flooring that's textured and moisture-resistant for your bathroom. Examples include but aren't limited to vinyl, natural stone, and textured tiles. Similarly, consider using larger-than-normal tiles to reduce the time needed to clean your grout lines. Ease of maintenance is even more beneficial for people concerned about mobility issues.

Your bathroom door should be wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. Be warned that there isn't a universal size for wheelchairs. Adult-sized examples often range from 16 to 20 inches in width. You should be safe following the ADA requirement of 32 inches when the door is fully open.

On a related note, you want wide interior spaces so it's easier to move around in your bathroom. Implementing this recommendation can take many forms. For example, you want a door that opens outwards rather than inwards. Similarly, you want a sink with nothing underneath to prevent people from being blocked by a cabinet. Wide interior spaces are also necessary for wheelchair users to turn and make other maneuvers in your bathroom.

Curbless showers and walk-in tubs serve the same purpose. Essentially, they save people the need to step too high, thus reducing the chances of complications. Be warned that making showering and bathing safe doesn't end with just installing one of these fixtures. Other considerations range from convenient controls for features and accessible storage for care products to an easy-to-reach towel hook so users can dry off before exiting to prevent wet floors.

A toilet seat tends to stand 14.5 to 16 inches from the ground. You want to raise that to about 17 to 19 inches if you're concerned about comfort for people with mobility issues. Installing a new toilet isn't always necessary. Sometimes, the solution is as simple as a thicker toilet seat. Besides this, consider a bidet for ease of cleaning. Likewise, ensure sufficient storage space for anything you need during use.

Adequate lighting can prevent complications by helping people see what's happening. This is why curbless showers often have glass walls and overhead lights. However, precautions don't end there. You want evenly distributed lighting with neither glare nor shadows. On top of that, you want to ensure convenient access to lights. That can mean installing lower light switches. Alternatively, that can mean installing motion sensors for automatic lighting.

Your bathroom should have a cord or a button so the occupant can call for emergency assistance if something goes wrong. The alarm should be set up so people can't turn it off unless they enter your bathroom, thus ensuring they'll check out the situation.

Chip Builders Inc. has the expertise and experience to help you make your home better suited for your needs.  Contact us  with your questions so you can make an informed decision on accessibility and other critical concerns.