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Discrete accessible bathroom for disabled parent

8 years ago

Bathroom conversion for disabled parent - looking for ways to have a highly accessible bathroom but without it looking or feeling like a nursing home.

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Comments (5)

PRO
Style Within Limited
8 years ago
Hi Chris

I'm not sure if these thoughts will help your specific case, but we had a similar requirement from a senior client with worsening arthritis. Essentially, we designed the space to be easily operable and maintainable. We found a set of taps from Matki with lever operation that looked very smart. The suite was wall-mounted so that the floors were easy to clean (we mounted the WC slightly higher than standard). The floors themselves were vinyl tile over an electric heating mat for additional comfort, and very easy to clean. The quadrant shower had a glass shower wall that just wipes dry (no grout lines and no scale as we also fitted a water-softener) - there are cheaper acrylic panels on the market. The Hansgrohe shower valve had a lever controls, so that also looked smart whilst being practical.

wall hung basin with illuminated mirror cabinet above · More Info

shower enclosure with blue glass shower wall and niche · More Info

The shower above has a low profile tray although you can now get flush trays for easier access. We have also designed a wet room (see below), elements of which would suit a person with special requirements. You can search for shower seats; some of the wooden models that fold against the wall look very stylish.
Wet Room Installation · More Info

wall mounted bath taps · More Info

I hope you can pick some ideas from these thoughts and best of luck with your project.

Nick
Chris Anderson thanked Style Within Limited
PRO
The Inclusive Home
8 years ago
Space is the key, i.e. space for a wheelchair or walking aid and/or space for a carer to assist!

As Nick says above, there are lots of nice fittings that are not necessarily marketed as accessible, but do the job and still look good (nice lever taps, nice sinks that can be wall hung so have wheelchair space underneath). If grab rails are needed, you can get some nice metal and even timber ones, or there are some on the market that have dual purpose as towel rail or loo roll holder, so your walls aren't littered with lots of rails etc. I also think it's nice to design the furniture/ fittings that can double as surfaces to steady yourself, like a stylish bench which can help with dressing and undressing.

I would go for a wet floor shower for accessibility, either with a stylish fixed bench or your parent may need a specialist shower chair (which would be removable so not a 'fixture' of the bathroom).

There are lots of specialist baths out there, which are pretty expensive and can be a bit institutional looking but some nicer than others so definitely worth doing a bit of research. A shallow standard bath designed with a flat section of boxing at the end of the bath which you can sit on to then swing your legs into the bath would be a minimum. Or there are also specialist sling/seats accessories which can help lower a person into the bath but can be removed so aren't a permanent fixture in the room.
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Samantha Riley
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Have you seen these Disabled Baths from Gainsborough? -

I think they look really sleek but more importantly they are a great space saver and they are really comfortable for anyone with a disability or the elderly.
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Sabbini & Co.
8 years ago
Hi Chris. You should speak to Banbridge Bathroom Centre.

We have worked with them in the past and they are great at designing bespoke elderly and disabled bathrooms which look incredible while also offering excellent usability and accessibility.
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6 years ago
This before and after was recently posted and has had a lot of positive comments

https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/4709486/elderly-ladys-bathroom-remodelled-to-become-a-much-safer-environment

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