Bathroom Designs for the Elderly and Handicapped

Bathroom Safety is Good for Everyone

Modifying a bathroom for someone with mobility issues has a number of benefits:

It aids independent living. To be able to care for one’s personal needs without assistance instills a sense of pride and independence.

It maintains strength. Pushing up on support bars or lifting one’s body weight from the tub keeps muscles active.

It helps in-home caregivers. Adults helping those with disabilities rely on grab bars and transfer benches to keep both their charges and themselves secure and stable.

It creates a safe place for both adults and children. Toilet seat lights, grab bars, and no-slip safety strips help the entire family stay safe in the bathroom.

Other types of modifications for safety and accessibility include:

• Raised toilet seats
• Walk-in tub systems
• Water temperature testers
• No-slip safety strips
• Personal care aids

Guidelines for Bathroom Designs for the Elderly and Handicapped

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act developed building guidelines for public facilities and businesses to follow in order to accommodate individuals with disabilities. These standards provide helpful insight into what homeowners can do as well.

The University of Missouri’s Extension Office website also offers detailed diagrams and installation advice, as does the bathroom fixture manufacturer Wasauna.

General Considerations

Here are some basic guidelines for bathroom designs for the elderly and handicapped:

• Install grab bars parallel to the floor, not diagonally, alongside the toilet and in the tub/shower area. Adding a vertical grab bar inside the bathing area is also a good idea.
• Vanities should be open under the sink to accommodate wheelchairs and benches.
• Countertops should be 30-34 inches high for someone in a wheelchair, and 40 inches high for someone who has trouble bending.
• Toilets in an accessible bathroom should be approximately 18 inches high, although seat extenders can help achieve this.
• Mirrors should be hung lengthwise, along the back of the sink, not at standing eye level.
• Bathing benches should be two-to-four inches smaller than the tub width to avoid puncturing the side walls.
• Change out bath fixtures and door handles to accommodate reduced hand coordination and grip.
• Make sure there’s plenty of room around the toilet for wheelchair maneuverability.
• Door entrances should be 32 to 36 inches wide.
• While a non-slip surface is perfect for a bath or shower, investigate the option of complete non-slip flooring. Just make sure that the surface is easy to roll across in a wheelchair.
• Eliminate the clutter. Decorative knick-knacks on countertops, extension cords, and hampers may impede the progress of someone with a disability to conduct business efficiently.
• Adjust lighting based on the individual’s needs. Lighting may have to be lowered or brightened, or additional light sources may have to be added. Reposition all switches, too.

Planning a Budget

It’s hard for a homeowner to estimate the cost of converting a bathroom for better accessibility, but need dictates budget. Cost out approximately $200 $500 for general support structures and other bathroom safety accessories, such as bath and toilet bars. Modified vanities, extended fixtures, and bathroom walk-in tubs increase costs into the thousands.

Many remodeling experts suggest that an extensive bathroom overhaul will average somewhere in the $7,000 to $10,000 range.

Additional Resources

There are many companies that sell components necessary for bathroom designs for the elderly and handicapped. Many of these companies also have consultants who will provide on-site evaluations and provide estimates.

It’s also important to let the individual, if able, describe his or her typical routine to the contractor so all needs can be met.

Here are some resources to help you get started.

• Premier Bathrooms has walk-in bath designs.
• Perfect Bath Solutions specializes in open bath/shower plans as well as walk-in baths.
• First Street has a number of personal care bathroom items, including bath lifts, grab bars to use while traveling, benches, and more.
• Improve Life Health Care Products also many personal care products.

Also use the handy worksheet on Home Connections.com to look for a contractor who handles bathroom accessibility modifications.