Universal Bathroom Design

Originally born from a need to help those with disabilities live more independently and with dignity, universal design has moved into the mainstream.  As baby boomers begin to reach their 60s, many are looking to improve the accessibility, safety and comfort of their homes.   They want a home that will support them as they age and features that will allow them to live at home longer.  Architects and designers have transformed the features and fittings initially seen in public restroom installations, and they’re incorporating the sleeker, more stylish versions into residential bathroom designs.  While universal design does help meet the needs of our aging population, it’s not just for the elderly.  Incorporating universal design features improves the accessibility and ease-of-use for people of all ages and abilities.  And since the bathroom is the location where most accidents occur in the home, the loo is a great place to begin integrating universal design features.  Here are some suggestions and considerations for making your bathroom a safer, more accessible space.

Incorporating Universal Design Features in Your Bathroom

At the Toilet

Broaching a very personal subject, we all appreciate our privacy when we need to use the toilet.  But someday, if we don’t plan ahead, the time may come when we can’t take care of business without assistance.   How can universal design mitigate this problem?

• Elevate the toilet. Many toilets are a standard 14″ high.  Consider replacing your existing toilet with a model that sits 17″ off the floor.  The few extra inches will make it easier to get up and down and put less strain on your legs and joints.  If you don’t want to replace your toilet, ask a plumber to install a small platform under your existing toilet to give you those few extra inches of height.  Your back and knees will thank you.
• Add wall-mounted grab bars. Grab bars will provide extra support as you sit down and get up from the toilet.
• Allow extra space in front and at the side of the toilet. If you’re undergoing a bathroom renovation or adding on a new bath, leave a minimum of 18 inches of space in front of the toilet and 42 inches of space to the side of the toilet. Expanding the space around the toilet will allow someone in a wheelchair to maneuver to and from the toilet without assistance.
• Purchase a special bidet toilet seat.  Bidet seats fit under the existing toilet seat.  With a push of a button, the seat delivers a warm water wash to clean users off after they finish using the toilet.  Imagine having limited movement. This feature could go a long way toward preserving someone’s dignity and pride.

At the Sink

The challenge with universal design at the sink is making it accessible for personal grooming while still providing enough storage and counter space for all our self-care products.  Designers have stepped up to provide attractive, accessible and practical options for the bathroom sink/vanity area.

• Install one of the new sink designs. One new model with a sink and countertop mounts directly to the wall and can be installed at any height.  Someone in a wheelchair can roll right up to it.  A higher sink installation means less stooping and bending for everyone else while brushing teeth or shaving.  Another model is constructed like a desk with a sink in the middle, space underneath and storage drawers on either side.
• Swap out vanity knobs with handles.  Pull handles are easier to grasp and pull than smaller knobs.
• Select a universal faucet.  What does a universal faucet look like?  It has one lever to control the flow and temperature of the water.  Pulling the lever up and down turns it on and off.  Moving it right to left makes it cold or hot.  This allows you to control the faucet using one hand.
• Or install a faucet with a motion sensor.  Motion-sensing faucets are often used in public restrooms.  Why not install one at home?  The sensor detects when your hands are under the faucet and automatically turns the water on or off.  No grasping or reaching required!
• Install a tilting mirror.  The mirror can be adjusted to give users of all heights the optimum view for grooming - even if they’re sitting in a wheelchair. 

In the Bathtub

Climbing in and out of the bathroom can be tricky for anyone. Not to mention that the inside of the tub can be an extremely slippery surface.  Falling in the tub can lead to serious injury or worse.  So how can you make the tub a safer place to bathe?

• Add grab bars and hand rails.
• Use a non-slip mat inside the tub.
• If installing a new tub is an option, look for one with a built-in ledge or transfer bench.  Visit a bath showroom and ask to see a model; you’ll be surprised at how high-end it looks.  Just sit down on the ledge, swing your legs around, and you’re in the tub. 
• Select a tub with a non-slip interior.
• Place the water controls on the outside tub wall so they can be easily accessed from outside the tub before you get in or inside the tub from a sitting position. 

In the Shower

Taking a shower in a stand-alone unit can be much safer than navigating the bath tub.  Shower units can also be designed without a threshold so someone who is wheelchair-bound can wheel in and out.  If you can’t afford to install a new shower, here’s how to increase the safety factor in your existing shower:

• Install grab bars.
• Replace the showerhead with a hand-held model.  You’ll gain much more control over the water stream to rinse your hair or your shower walls when you’re done.  It can also be used like a regular shower head, hands free.  Some models come with a bar mount that allows the user to slide the showerhead up or down.  This universal feature puts the shower head at the right level for everyone, regardless of their height.  You can even shower from a seated position.
• Purchase a wall-mount, shower seat.  Have it attached securely to the wall studs.  Sit down and use your hand-held showerhead to bathe.  Or just use the bench to shave your legs or wash your feet.

Other Safety Considerations in the Bath

• Anti-scald devices can be installed to prevent burns at the sink and in the tub and shower.
• A wall-mounted telephone in the bath can bring help if someone does happen to slip and fall or need emergency assistance.  Buy a touch-tone phone with over-sized buttons.  Mount it low enough so it can be reached from the floor, but don’t mount it so close to the tub that it could be pulled in!  Program emergency numbers into the phone’s memory.
• Keep floors rug-free to eliminate the risk of tripping or slipping.
• Replace door knobs with lever door handles.  They’re much easier to open, especially for someone with arthritis or reduced hand strength.
• Replace conventional light switches with rocker light switches.

If you’re serious about making your bathroom a safer, more accessible space, visit the AARP website and access its comprehensive Bathroom Safety Checklist.  Any “no” answers on the checklist will flag areas that may need improvements or modifications for safety or accessibility.  Integrating universal design features in your bath is a smart move that will help keep you (or your parents) well, vital and independent long into the future. 

For more information on bathroom renovation, see the articles on Planning Your Bathroom Remodel, Remodeling the Powder Room, Remodeling the Guest Bath, Remodeling the Family Bath and Master Bath Retreat.

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