Disabled people have specific bathing needs when it comes to bathroom and shower design, namely accessibility, privacy and safety on potentially slippery surfaces. This article looks at the best design for handicapped showers, from complete bathroom refits with disabled shower enclosures to more cost effective shower accessories to adapt an existing bathroom.
Showers for Disabled
Building showers for disabled people requires you to think like a physically handicapped person, most probably in a wheelchair. How will they get into the shower without help and sit down inside the cubicle? Will they be able to reach the shower and adjust the water temperature easily? What aids are required to stop them slipping?
The majority of cubicles specially designed for handicapped showers have non-slip shower trays, a sturdy waterproof seat, low height shower arms and grab rails to help with entry and exit from the shower enclosure. Doors can be half or full height to allow third party help if required and shower trays can be recessed into the floor on some designs, enabling wheelchair access straight into the shower rather than transferring to a shower seat.
Accessible Showers
Complete bathroom redesigns can be costly, however, especially if looking at a wet room option with non-slip surfaces and even stand-alone disabled shower enclosures can require extensive plumbing and rebuilding work to make showers accessible for wheelchair users; level entry shower trays, for example, mean pulling up floorboards to recess the tray.
One cost effective option is the walk-in style shower with moving seat from UK-based Independence Showers (see picture below). The sturdy chair with spring-loaded locking mechanism transports the user across the threshold of the shower and the fiberglass construction is fully waterproof and non-slip; no expensive building or tiling work required as the cubicle can be installed in just a day.
Disabled Bathrooms: Handicapped Shower Accessories
If disabled bathroom budgets won’t stretch to a separate shower enclosure, you can install some essential handicapped shower accessories to an existing bathroom, all available from online plumbing supplies retailers like Heat and Plumb.com. Consider the following:
- disabled electric shower with a temperature stabilization control to prevent scalding and adjustable shower head height
- a shower seat, freestanding or fold-down style for attachment to a wall. Look for non-slip and rust-proof models, available in a horseshoe design for dual toilet and bathing functionality.
- grab rails to place on shower walls and doors to prevent slippage
- folding shower screens. Portable screens can be placed around an open shower unit to prevent splashing.
- wheelchair ramps for easy access to existing showers with a raised shower tray
Safe Disabled Showers
There are some key elements to making handicapped showers safe, such as easy access, accessories like grab rails to prevent slippage and support while taking a shower. When reviewing your options, compare prices for individual disabled shower cubicles against the possibility of adding shower accessories to an existing bathroom, plus contact several companies for advice and quotes to ensure that disabled shower needs are tailored, wherever possible, to the individual.
Sources:
Independence Showers.co.uk
Heat and Plumb.com
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Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
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