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| Services | Bathrooms for the Elderly and Disabled |
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When one considers the difficulties that one faces when your mobility is reduced, you realise that the bathroom is a very difficult place within which to function. Combine that difficulty with wet and often slippery surfaces and it is easy to see that the bathroom is not a comfortable place for an elderly or disabled person. Our main concern in bathroom design is to provide sufficient accessible space and to ensure that all fixtures and fittings are within reach. Our prime considerations are manoeuvrability, safety and comfort. The bathroom must be a pleasant place even though it is very functional. Beginning with the floor plan, we allow enough space for at least two people plus the assisted-person. Wheelchair and walker access is also considered and special wider doors are fitted. Handles and latches are positioned lower than normal and are always lever handles and not round knobs. The toilet and bidet areas must allow a proper turning circle for a wheelchair and the shower must be large enough for a wheelchair to turn inside the cubicle. Similarly, the distance between the open door and the nearest sanitary ware should be large enough to allow the door to close behind the wheelchair or walker. Reducing sharp points and obstacles is an important part of planning. Grab rails are an engineered solution. Towel rails are not sufficient if grabbed in a hurry and will simply not carry the weight of a person. We manufacture each set of grab rails uniquely to fit the application perfectly. Baths and showers are fitted with seats that fold and swivel as required to make getting into and out of the bath or shower much safer. Handheld showers are recommended as these are often more pleasant to use. Taps are situated ergonomically and are normally single lever to allow for arthritis sufferers. Toilets and bidets are wall-hung rather than mounted on pedestals giving more space and further reducing obstacles. In some instances, toilets are positioned slightly higher or seat extenders are used so that lowering oneself onto the seat is made easier. Similarly, raising oneself off the seat then requires less effort. Open space under wall-hung basins should not have a vanity cabinet. This allows space for wheel chairs to move in close to the basin and for single-lever taps to be easily reached. Drains and gulleys are flush and out of the way and thresholds between showers and normal floor are kept to a minimum and beveled. Lighting in special bathrooms is positioned so that there are no confusing shadows cast which could contribute to a misplaced foot or hand hold.
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