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Bathroom for seniors

December 2021
Bathroom for seniorsWhenever designing a bathroom, we need to consider the needs of the users. It is especially important when it comes to the bathroom for an elderly person. Every piece of equipment in the bathroom should guarantee functionality and comfort for the elderly. So, what should we think of?

A bathroom for the elderly will slightly differ from these we find in homes where young people or people with children live. With age, our mobility and the mobility of joints decrease, thus not every realisation will be convenient for a senior. Fortunately, there are many interesting pieces of equipment on the market which will guarantee the interior safety, functionality as well as aesthetic looks.

Bathroom equipment for elderly users - things to keep in mind

The population of Europe has been ageing for many years now. An increasing challenge for health care is not the only consequence. The ever-increasing number of elderly people is prompting manufacturers of finishing materials and sanitary equipment to design products that meet the needs of senior citizens. As a result, arranging an ergonomic bathroom for an elderly person should no longer be a challenge.

From all the rooms we have in our house, the bathroom is the most common place where accidents happen. They are often caused by tiles that got slippery after contact with water. For this reason, non-slip floor tiles are an absolute must. They should be placed in every bathroom that an elderly person uses. However, this is not the only thing we should take care of. We have to consider the height of the toilet seat, and whether it is better to buy a bathtub or a shower. We should also think of various accessories, such as seats or safety rails for stability. Not having high thresholds will also ensure greater safety.

Shower or bathtub in a bathroom for seniors?

The most important area in the bathroom is the bathing area, and it should be looked at first. The choice is between bathtubs and showers, and it is the latter that we should focus on. Getting into the bathtub can be difficult for elderly users as they would have to lift their legs, which often causes trouble. Also, accidents do happen. On the other hand, there are elderly people who are so used to bathing that they do not want to give it up. In this case, it is worth equipping the bathtub with practical grab bars to make it easier for them to get in and out.
Bathroom for seniors
Shower enclosures are much more senior friendly. There is no need to put excessive effort to use it and, in the case of enclosures with a flat shower tray, there isn’t much elevation from the floor. A walk-in shower would be just perfect. To make the shower for an elderly person as functional as possible, it is worth investing in additional accessories that can be installed inside. So, what are they?

Practical elements used in a bathroom for an elderly person: grab bars, seats and covers

Basic bathroom equipment is just one side of the coin. Accessories for a senior also count, as they make the bathroom even better suited to the needs of the elderly person. We can choose from ergonomic seats that can be installed in the shower. They will make it easier for the seniors to take a shower, and once standing under the stream of water becomes tiring, they can sit down. Also, let's not forget about the grab bars that were mentioned earlier. These will be useful inside the shower enclosure, by the bathtub and by the toilet seat. The elderly person will be able use them if the muscles refuse to obey. They are versatile enough to be installed even in a small bathroom.

Toilet seat and washbasin – what to considerObviously, a toilet seat is another necessity in the bathroom, next to the shower enclosure. As a rule, it is installed slightly higher than the one in an average bathroom. The height should be adjusted according to the senior's height. We should remember not to fix the toilet seat too low, as sitting down and getting up might result difficult. When it is installed fairly high and there are grab bars next to it available, it will certainly be more comfortable to use it.

What can we say about the washbasin? It shouldn’t be installed very high, so that the elderly person doesn’t have to lift their hands too high. It is also recommended that it is wide enough to reduce the risk of splashing water on the floor. We should also take a look at the faucet. It is best not to use models with stop cocks. Some people may find it troublesome to twist them. Instead, a single lever mixer faucet with a thermostat will be better.

What kind of bathroom flooring for an elderly person? It was already mentioned in the introduction that the bathroom floor gets slippery very easily, therefore, functionality should be the priority when choosing finishing materials. Non-slip ceramic tiles are a great choice. Their surface is slightly rough, so even if they get splashed with water, they won’t get slippery. It is important to have a threshold-free entrance to the bathroom and, possibly, to the shower in example using walk-in enclosure. We can either do without a shower tray altogether or opt for an ultra-slim shower tray. If the elderly person has more mobility problems or is disabled, the bathroom should also have other facilities. To find out more, check out this post "Bathroom for people with disabilities – what you need to keep in mind".
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