Walk-in Showers for Disabled

Read article : Walk-in Showers for Disabled

Due to their increasing demand, bathroom showers are now becoming more and more user-friendly. Be it shower stalls, shower enclosures, or walk-in showers, you can get these in special designs even for the disabled. They can also be customized and personalized according to one's requirements.

Important Pointers

Barrier-free Entrance

There is a multitude of door options available for walk-in showers. However, when you are designing it for a person with physical limitations, it is always better to go for a doorless entrance into the shower. With a doorless entrance, one can get in and out of the shower area with comfort. If the person needs added privacy, blinds or thick roll up panels can be a good option. Apart from this, these shower enclosures have a flat, floor level, which makes entering in and coming out a lot easier. Furthermore, these shower designs also help to keep the water from flowing towards the entrance, as it moves towards the center drain.

Convenient Shower Fixtures

While designing walk-in showers for the physically challenged, adding the bathroom fixtures that are convenient to use, needs no mention. Placing the knobs of all the fixtures at lower height and at the center is important. Also, a hand-held shower is always easier to use. Instead of a wall-mount shower, you must go for a ceiling-mount shower with raining shower head, which ensures ample water spraying out and spanning the entire area. Apart from regular fixtures, grab bars must be fixed on the walls. The fixtures also include a seat for the user's safety and convenience.

Placing the shampoos, shower gels, and other such items might not be problem with shelving system, however, easy access to these, is of utmost importance. The soap dispensers, which can be used for storing shampoos and shower gels should be placed at the waist height, so that they are reachable even while sitting on the chair. You can also have extra glass shelves at a lower height to place other bathroom essentials.

There are entire shower sets specifically designed for the physically challenged people, available in various brands at several stores. Consider, whether the person using the shower area uses his/her wheelchair or another one needs to be placed in. In case of a wheelchair, it important to check whether it is water-resistant or not. There are a number of bathroom seats available in the market, which can be useful.

CURRENTS - A Shower For Elderly Or Disabled

Read article : CURRENTS - A Shower For Elderly Or Disabled

LASCO Bathware, which is based in Anaheim, Calif., has introduced a barrier-free, wheelchair-accessible shower for the elderly and disabled.

"As the aged population has increased, we have gotten more requests for this kind of shower," said Karen Nardiello, marketing services administrator for the company. The Vitality shower is part of Lasco's Freedom Line.

The shower has a folding stainless steel and plastic seat, grab bars and a shower head that can slide on a 24-inch rail.

The shower head, which has a 69-inch flexible metal hose, is detachable. There are two soap shelves in each rear corner and a wide shelf on the rear wall.

The unit, which is made of molded fiberglass-reinforced polyester, is 77 inches high, 45 5/8 inches wide and 50 1/8 inches deep. It comes in white but can be ordered to match other bathroom fixtures.

The stall is $2,400 and an optional ramp is $200. For information on local distributors, call (800) 877-2005. Delivery is six to eight weeks.

Modifications to ensure safety in the bathroom for elderly, disabled

Read article : Modifications to ensure safety in the bathroom for elderly, disabled

Dear Keith,

I noticed my elderly wheelchair-bound aunt grabs onto just about anything for support and uses fixtures in the bathroom to help her move around better. I know this very unsafe, how can I keep her home that she loves so much, safe?

-Emily, Northville

It is can be dangerous that your aunt uses fixtures to get around her bathroom. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.8 million people 65 and older were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls.

Today there are many modification services and products that can allow adults of all ages and abilities to age in place and be independent in the comfort of their own home. Modifications can be anything from small projects such as grab bars to major home remodeling. Whatever the modification, the goal is to keep the resident safe.

Modifications should give residents mobility, safety and comfort.

Robert Gurinowitsch the founder and president at Life Access, a full service company providing home modification solutions for independent living, has dedicated his life to helping elderly and disabled stay in their own home. “I wanted to change the way home care was done, by not selling things to help for a short period of time but to look into the future to make changes as people change,” says Gurinowitsch.

Figure 1 by Flickr user Nancy Hugo

The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous rooms with slick tiles and water on the floor that can possibly create hazards. “Modifications in a bathroom will allow homeowners to bathe safely, a lot of people have fears of bathing and they (modifications) allow them to feel safe,” explained Gurinowitsch. Modifying the bathroom will allow your aunt to feel comfortable and secure in her own home again.

Fixtures in a bathroom are not designed to support weight, let alone heaviness of an adult. To keep your aunt safe, especially in a room where there are slip hazards, it is important to install grab bars. Grab bars are installed into studs to allow support when using the bathtub, shower, or toilet. Grab bars not only help the homeowner but can be used by caretakers for extra support. There are five basic types of grab bars: wall mounted, seat mounted, floor or ceiling mounted, folding and portable.

RM3 Superior from Life Access Online

A more accessible bathtub can be installed to help your aunt with support, like the RM3 Superior with a side access, so you can walk in rather then stepping over the side of the bathtub.

It doesn’t matter the age of the home, it can be modified and updated according to the changing family lifestyle, with safety in the forefront. Most homes are designed for young adults and families. As adults age, modifications can be made in the home to accommodate different needs and safety requirements.

Paul is a State of Michigan Licensed Builder. Paul serves as President and founding member of Nationally franchised HandyPro Handyman Service, servicing Washtenaw, Wayne and Oakland Counties. Listen to Paul every Saturday at 11:00am on “It’s Your Home, Let’s Talk About It” WAAM Talk 1600AM. Email questions or comments to kpaul@handypro.com