Handicap Bathroom Layout
For a person with disabilities, one thing to give consideration to is the handicap bathroom layout. In the home, the bathroom is one of the most important rooms and so this requires a special layout to ensure that it is easy to use and presents no obstacles or awkwardness for the user. This post sets out some things that shoudl be considered when designing a new handicap bathroom, so you can start from the ground up and avoid many of the common mistakes that can be made.
The first consideration is space. This is a commodity that is often in short supply in most bathrooms, so when creating a handicap bathroom design from scratch, the use of the available space is crucial. There really has to be sufficient room for a wheelchair user to enter, move around and exit the bathroom without undue stress, which means a clear run in and out is called for. All bathroom furniture should therefore be installed in such a way as to maximize the available floor space to enable a wheelchair and its user to get in, access each service turn and get out again without banging into anything.
Then there comes the decision whether to install a handicap shower or a handicap bathtub, each of which has its merits, benefits and drawbacks for the user. If there is room for both to be fitted, then you are blessed with a good sized bathroom and therefore if you can afford it, you should take advantage of that space and fit both.
A handicap shower stall takes up a large area of floor space, but that is necessary for a wheelchair user to get in, transfer from wheelchair to handicap shower seat and have a shower in comfort, get dried, then transfer back to the wheelchair and exit.
Handicap bathtubs can also take up a fair amount of space, although some of the sit-only variety can have a relatively small footprint as the user does not lay out flat but bathes sitting on a fitted seat, while the high sides allow for full immersion.
Other bathroom furniture items also need careful consideration as to placement, such as the toilet. This is best sited in a corner where hand tails can be securely attached to two walls for maximum rigidity and strength, although if this is not an option, there are free standing hand rails that can be otherwise floor mounted. From the toilet easy access to the vanity unit or bathroom sink is helpful. With each of these, height is every bit as important at location.
A toilet must be at the correct height to make the transfer from wheelchair as easy as possible, while a vanity unit should allow a wheelchair user to wash their hands easily from the sitting position.
Cupboards and storage units also need to be at a height so that the user can reach them from the wheelchair to access items such as spare towels, soap, shampoo and other toiletries.
We well designed handicap bathroom layout is a pleasure to use and one that will mean using that room in the house is one that the user looks forward to.