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Your location: Home > Design and development > Home Access > Publications > Over 100 ways to improve access at home > Ways to improve access at home > Bathroom/toilet

Ways to improve access at home

Bathroom/toilet

This section offers solutions to the following access barriers:

1. The door limits the amount of circulation space in the bathroom
2. There is a step into the shower
3. A fixed shower screen limits access
4. The water flow is hard to direct because the shower rose is fixed
5. Seating is needed in the shower
6. The bath edge is high and the base of the bath is low
7. The toilet seat is low
8. There is no structural support around the toilet
9. The bathroom floor is slippery especially when wet

1. The door limits the amount of circulation space in the bathroom

• Rehang the door so that it swings outwards.

Contact your local Home Assist Secure for assistance.

2. There is a step into the shower

• Install a false draining floor in the shower recess or shower floor. Ensure the sides of the false draining floor are flush against the sides of the shower recess or walls.
• Install grab rails to give better stability while getting in and out of the shower.
  
  Advice from an occupational therapist is recommended prior to installing hand or grab rails.

Contact your local Home Assist Secure for assistance or LifeTec Queensland Inc. for information and assistance.

3. A fixed shower screen limits access

• Replace the fixed shower screen with a shower curtain hung from a continuous curtain rail. Consider using a weighted shower curtain for safety.

Contact your local Home Assist Secure or a tradesperson for assistance.

4. The water flow is hard to direct because the shower rose is fixed

• Replace the fixed shower rose with a hand-held shower set on mounting brackets or a vertical grab rail. he shower rose can be used in a sitting or standing position.
• Check with the supplier to ensure the supplied vertical rail is appropriate for use as a grab rail. For safety reasons it is recommended that a vertical grab rail be used and that you seek advice from an occupational therapist prior to installation.
• Before fitting the hand-held shower with a flexible shower hose, seek advice from an electriican and/or plumber to ensure that the finished installation complies with the requirements of the Plumbing Codes and Wiring Rules.
  
• Consider a shower with a three-star or higher water conservation rating. However, if an instantaneous hot water system or continuous flow is installed then a one-star rated shower product is recommended to maintain a comfortable water pressure.

Contact your local Home Assist Secure or a tradesperson for assistance.

• For baths, use a hand-held shower with adaptors that push onto single and double bath taps.

These items are available at hardware and discount department stores. Contact your local Home Assist Secure or a tradesperson for assistance.

5. Seating is needed in the shower

• Place a plastic shower chair/stool with metal legs and non-slip feet in the shower. Plastic garden chairs are not recommended as hot water makes them brittle and crack over time.
• Use a mobile over-toilet chair if the shower allows wheel-in access.
• Install drop down shower seat.

Contact LifeTec Queensland Inc. for information.

• Install grab rails for support.
  
  Advice from an occupational therapist is recommended prior to installing hand or grab rails.

Contact your local Home Assist Secure for assistance.

6. The bath edge is high and the base of the bath is low

• Place an adjustable bath board on top of the bath.
• Use a bath board and bath seat (inserted low in the bath) if the bath is made of steel (as the weight of the person on the bath seat may cause damage to baths made of weaker materials).
• Use an overbath swivel chair.
• Use a tub transfer bench if the bath edge does not support a bath board.

Contact LifeTec Queensland Inc. for information.

• Grab rails and hand held showers can also be used with the above items.
  
  Advice from an occupational therapist is recommended prior to installing hand or grab rails.

Contact your local Home Assist Secure for assistance.

7. The toilet seat is low

• Use a reaised toilet seat (with or without handles).
• Use a height adjustable over-toilet frame that has a built in seat and armrests to raise seat height and to provide armrest support.
• Use a toilet surround frame to provide armrest support.
• Use a mobile over-toilet shower chair if the area can be accessed by a wheelchair.

Contact LifeTec Queensland Inc. for information.

8. There is no structural support around the toilet

• Install grab rails on the wall.
  
  Advice from an occupational therapist is recommended prior to installing hand or grab rails.

Contact your local Home Assist Secure for assistance.

• Install grab rails that clamp onto the toilet to provide armrest support.
• Use a toilet surround frame to provide armrest support.
• Use a height adjustable over-toilet frame to raise seat height and provide armrest support.
• Use a mobile over-toilet shower chair if the area can be accessed by a wheelchair.

Contact LifeTec Queensland Inc. for information.

9. The bathroom floor is slippery especially when wet

• Treat the bathroom/shower floor with a 'slip resistive when wet' solution to give the surface a better grip.

Contact LifeTec Queensland Inc. or your local Home Assist Secure for assistance, or look in the Yellow Pages under 'Floor Treatment products'.

• Remove existing flooring and replace with 'slip resistant when wet' flooring.

Contact LifeTec Queensland Inc. or your local Home Assist Secure for assistance, or look in the Yellow Pages under 'Floor Coverings'.

• Place self-adhesive, non-slip rubber strips or shapes on the floor (including the shower and bath surfaces).

Available from discount department stores. Contact your local Home Assist Secure for assistance.

• Clean the shower/bathroom floor regularly and ventilate the room.

Last updated 25 July 2007