Bathroom

As we age, bathrooms can become dangerous places due to our reduced balance and eyesight. Luckily, we can adapt these spaces in advance of our potential needs. Even if you don’t currently need grab bars (although they are really useful), adding support to the walls in advance is a good idea, should bars be required at a later date. A walk-in bath can be plastered over so no one can see it, ready to be exposed when needed. Many changes to a house may not be possible because of budget or space constraints, but we have tried to include as many options as possible here. Remember, as with everything we suggest, changes should be made well before we need them.

If you are having building work done it is advisable to have at least one full bathroom on the main level of your home, ideally with a bedroom, if possible. If there isn’t a bathroom on the main floor, you may want to consider adding an additional bathroom or installing a chair lift or elevator to ensure easy access to other levels. If you have multiple bathrooms, it is recommended to make similar changes to all of them to guarantee the safety of each.

Space is Key

Most of us won’t be able to change the size of the bathroom, but keep in mind that using the space we have in the best way possible becomes increasingly important as we age. If you can expand, then this is a place to prioritise. Planning for the use of canes, walkers, or other assistive devices is essential as you transition through the life course. Ideally, the bathroom should provide ample clear space to accommodate someone in a wheelchair around the toilet, bathtub, or shower, as well as areas around cabinets and closets. Making changes now will prevent extra hassle later.

Integrating a shower seat can alleviate the strain of standing for prolonged periods during showers. These seats provide a safe and secure way to shower and help to reduce the risk of falling. There are various types of shower aids available, such as shower stools, shower chairs, retractable or fold-up seats, and built-in seats.

To enhance bathing safety and usability, consider the following options:

• Position the tub and shower water controls closer to the entry point for easy access from outside the tub/shower area. Install lever handle faucets for convenient operation.
• Incorporate a shelf in the tub/shower area to hold soap, shampoo, and towels.
• Include a shower or tub seat, either installed or purchased separately.
• Control the water pressure, ensuring a comfortable and safe bathing experience. This is particularly important for sinks as well.
• Install anti-scald controls to prevent burns. Showers are considered a bathroom ‘Zone 1’ and therefore, if you choose to install a light inside the shower stall (if one is not already present) make sure it has a minimum IP rating of IP65 .

Digital Showers

Setting and controlling a shower digitally can be a real help in the bathroom. You can choose the precise water temperature that you’d like before even entering the shower, use the warm-up mode function so you can enter when the water is perfect. You can also use remote controls to turn the digital shower on and off.

You can often use your smartphone to control the digital shower if you wish. Combine this with the variety of shower heads available and you can have a really bespoke shower experience. Age Care Bathroom provide quality products and services:

Ensuring the toilet is at the proper height can significantly enhance comfort and safety in the bathroom. Two common options are replacing the toilet with a suitable height model or using a seat extender, which is a more economical choice and can be found at DIY stores and online. If you’re revamping the bathroom and opting to replace the existing toilet, it’s important to select the right one based on who is using it — it’s important to ensure the height is properly adjusted. Note that, depending on a person’s height and abilities, a disabled-accessible toilet might not always be the most suitable option.

Other considerations:

• Install a toilet paper holder that can be changed with one hand.
• Ensure the toilet paper holder can be reached from a sitting position.
• Consider a toilet/bidet combination for improved hygiene.

Toilet adaptations

Here is a light specifically for the toilet – Click here.

Add a non-electric bidet to an existing toilet – Click Here or – Click Here

Add an electric bidet to existing toilet Click Here

UTIs

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common among older people. These can be extremely debilitating, distressing, and, at the very least, inconvenient.  If left untreated UTIs can cause serious health problems, including kidney failure, or even sepsis. Staying hydrated is one of the fundamentals around avoiding UTIs. Visit the NHS advice and information on UTIs Click Here

Hydration can become a real issue as we get older. Generally, most people don’t drink enough water. Furthermore, it can be tough to gauge water intake if we’re looking out for the health of others. Dehydration poses significant risks for older adults due to the physiological changes associated with ageing. This risk can be further compounded by issues like reduced renal function, swallowing difficulties, dementia, diabetes, etc.  In fact, ageing itself can reduce the sensation of thirst.

If you’re not ready for grab bars, but are making changes to your bathroom, your future self might recommend adding these now. Adding extra support in the walls ahead of time removes the need to do it later. A walk-in bath can be added, plastered over, and re-exposed when needed.

Installing grab bars can significantly enhance safety in the bathroom and can also be useful in bedrooms, hallways, or any other areas requiring standing or walking assistance. Grab bars assist with sitting and standing near the toilet, as well as entering and exiting the shower or tub. Nowadays, grab bars are available in various styles and colours to match your decor and personal taste.

Additional considerations:

• Install bracing in walls around the tub, shower, shower seat, and toilet, even if you don’t plan on installing grab bars immediately. This preparation will make it easier to add grab bars later without additional remodelling.
• Ensure grab bars can support a weight of 250-300 pounds.
• Opt for grab bars with a textured surface for improved grip.
• Not all grab bars look utilitarian, or even look like grab bars! Check out what Invisible Creations has to offer!

To make things easier, consider a wheelchair-accessible sink that is wall mounted, providing ample space for knees or a wheelchair underneath. Install a pipe-covering panel to protect the user’s legs. One simple yet effective step towards making the bathroom more accessible is to install lever handle faucets. Additionally, faucets are available with pedal controls. Both lever handles and pedal controls allow individuals with various abilities to turn the faucets on and off easily, providing particular assistance to those with arthritis or difficulty gripping or bending their hands.

For safety, ensure all water pressure is regulated and install anti-scald controls to prevent burns.

Most standard bathtubs in the UK are not accessible, which can raise safety concerns for people as they age. It is possible to modify the bathtub to create a safer entry method, which can be more cost-effective than replacing the entire tub. Alternatively, there are a variety of walk-in tubs available if you’re considering replacing your existing bathtub.

For showers, a walk-in or roll-in shower is the most accessible option. This type of shower stall features a curb-free entrance and a wide door. A roll-in shower allows wheelchair access and provides ample manoeuvring space.

Installing an adjustable shower head to provide a comfortable height and position for the user is an excellent way to increase bathroom accessibility. Combining it with a hand-held shower head creates an even more functional bathing experience. Using these features in conjunction with a shower seat enhances bathing convenience while prioritising safety.

Mobility – Click to Visit eMobility

Arthritis and general weakness in the hands can become an issue.

Here are a few of the top rated adapted products for older people, starting with these Swissklip Heavy Duty Toenail Clippers

Every area of the house can benefit from better lighting, and the bathroom is no exception. Replacing regular switches with Rocker Switches is advisable in all areas of the house. We also recommend reviewing the type, and brightness, of bulbs being used. Motion sensors placed in strategic areas can make sure the floor and countertops are well lit, which will help prevent trips and falls.

Illuminated sinks prevent shadows from obstructing visibility and use medicine-cabinet lighting.

To conserve energy and avoid accidents, install motion-sensor lights that turn on when someone enters the bathroom and off when they depart.

Make items stand out by employing colour contrast, such as black knobs on light cabinets, and vice versa. The NHS Dementia Guide provides additional information about colour contrast.

Invest in a voice-activated or smartphone app-controlled smart lighting system to make operating home lighting easier.

Consider installing task lighting over essential locations like the sink, toilet, and shower to offer focused illumination

FALL PREVENTION – Lighting can be key to reducing falls.

Here’s a list of apps that are often recommended for older adults:

1. My Home Helper – A simple-to-use tablet computer that doesn’t need any interaction from the user. All the features simply appear without having to touch or press anything.
2. Pill Reminder Pro – This handy app sends a daily text message reminder to take the right medication at the right time.
3. Imutt – iMutt is your chance to look after an impossibly cute virtual rescue dog for five days.

Note: AFAH is only providing information about these apps, and provides no specific recommendation or endorsement of any.