It is not uncommon for homeowners to make modifications to their home over time as they age in place. Whether you have a family member with limited mobility now or want to prepare for the future, accessible home remodels and renovations are a great way to ensure your home is safe and easy to navigate. Perhaps one of the most common and most important places to modify is the bathroom.
Bathrooms can present many challenges to someone with limited mobility, and, as a result, can become incredibly dangerous. Especially considering the importance of the bathroom and how much we use it, making a few changes and upgrades to this space can dramatically improve its accessibility so it benefits everyone in your home.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you start designing a more accessible bathroom:
- Is a tub or shower preferred? Or both?
- What usual bathroom activities will require assistance?
- Where should grab bars be placed? Vertical or horizontal?
- Will conditions deteriorate over time? If so, what else will be needed in the future?
- Where should necessary medical devices and supplies be placed?
Like any other remodel or renovation project, it is important to carefully plan your project. At The Lifestyle Group, we first like to ask potential clients “What level do you want to accomplish?” Some clients may want to update countertops and install grab bars, while other projects can be much more complex, and include widening doors, etc. Widening a door may seem simple, but it can turn into a much more complex – and expensive – project if the existing orientation or wall is vastly different from what is needed. We like to think through every possible scenario, and walk you through all options to find the best solution for your needs (and budget).
Check out this accessible bathroom we recently completed for a family in Fishers. Our team worked diligently to make this bathroom more accommodating for the homeowner, and it was no small feat. However, we are incredibly proud of the results and enjoyed improving the appearance and functionality of the space.
One major benefit of designing a more accessible bathroom is quite literally having more access. Walk-in showers, standing sinks and handrails make your bathroom easier to use and navigate, which allows everyone in your family to handle their routines on their own.
You can also incorporate features like detachable shower heads and easy-to-turn faucets and knobs to benefit any family members with limited motor functions. Even the smallest of features can speed up your day-to-day bathroom tasks — and they’re never bad to have in preparation for the future.
As one of the most accident-prone rooms in the home, bathrooms designed with accessibility in mind reduce the likelihood of common accidents. Slippery floors, wet electric devices and extremely hot water can cause serious injury to family members who struggle to move around on their own. However, accessibility features like handrails, non-slip flooring and advanced temperature control options for showers and sinks can dramatically improve safety.
Accessible bathrooms also make cleaning much easier. Standard bathrooms can come with hard-to-reach spots and tight corners, but accessible bathrooms are often more spacious. You can easily reach under sinks or toilets when they’re attached to the wall, and you have far less shower to clean when you don’t have a tub lip in the way.
No matter how you look at it, accessible bathrooms benefit everyone in the household. Since no two bathrooms are the same, it is important to rely on help from an experienced bathroom contractor in Indianapolis who is properly prepared. When you work with The Lifestyle Group on an accessible bathroom project, we will work closely with you to ensure your bathroom is easy to navigate and looks stunning for years to come.
If this blog generates any other questions for you, feel free to contact us! We are happy to help, especially if that means protecting you from a bad experience. If you’re ready to remodel your bathroom and work with a contractor who will help you every step of the way through your accessibility journey, consider The Lifestyle Group for your next project. We’d love to talk through your needs and build you a functional space that makes your home safer.