natural wood tones throughout this lengthy bathroom. Dual vanity with marble backsplash over floating cabinetry places mirrors between lengths of window, while all glass shower takes up end of the room." alt="Sparkling mixture of bright marble and natural wood tones throughout this lengthy bathroom. Dual vanity with marble backsplash over floating cabinetry places mirrors between lengths of window, while all glass shower takes up end of the room." width="1024" height="681" src="src" />
Kohler's Precedence tub has a hinged door that allows a bather to enter without having to climb in.
Kohler's Precedence tub has a hinged door that allows a bather to enter without having to climb in.
Making a bathroom safer
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Designer Ana Powers learned about bathroom safety the hard way. She fell down three years ago while taking a shower. Ever since, she has been advising clients at her business, the Plumbing Studio in Palo Alto, to include grab bars -- and more -- whenever she is hired to help in a bathroom design.
Powers, who considers herself "a moderately fit person," is often amused by people who resist the idea of a safe bathroom by saying "we're not there yet." She was 36 when she had her accident. "I was lucky," she says, "only sore bones and bruises."
Statistics show that most people, especially the elderly, who fall in their bathrooms and end up as patients in emergency rooms have suffered a fracture, a concussion or worse. Considering that there is a growing population of at- risk seniors as well as aging baby boomers, it is no wonder that bathroom safety is taken seriously.
It is easier to plan the "perfect" safe and functional bath for elders when building a new home or undertaking a "to the studs" remodel. A construction plan might begin with preparations for such elements as grab bars, a curbless shower and the like by strengthening the walls and sloping the floor before applying the finishing materials.
Even if you don't want to install certain safety features today, the room would be ready for a later time. It would be best to start with making the doorway into the bathroom at least 32 inches wide. Plan for enough interior floor space for a wheelchair or walker.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) in Hackettstown, N.J., an organization of builders, designers and manufacturers, promotes 41 guidelines for bathroom planning. One of the NKBA's space-planning recommendations is to try to create an open circular space about 60 inches in diameter. If that's not possible -- by San Francisco standards that much space is a real luxury -- the NKBA gives dimensions for clearances in and around the fixtures that are typically more generous than most building codes.
Often, inches can be added to a new bathroom, or better yet -- feet -- by borrowing space from an adjacent bedroom, closet, hallway -- or, in the case of a more extensive remodel, by punching out an exterior wall.
Also in doing your space, you will have to decide if you have room for a separate shower and a tub -- or do you even want both. If there are two or more bathrooms in your house, it might make better sense to furnish one with a shower only. Make it generous in size, with a bench, a hand shower and either a steam unit or body sprays that direct jets of water to neck, shoulders, hips,
knees, perfect for soothing arthritic joints.
A dream shower, for sure, but it would be costly. For a more practical approach, at least include a hand shower. This device allows you to conveniently take a shower while seated or to direct warm water to certain parts of an aching body. Grohe and Hansgrohe make good ones that either can be detached from an adjustable shower bar or can be installed as an accessory to a fixed showerhead.
Another wise approach to shower design is to locate the control valve on the opposite wall of the shower head for better regulation of water flow and temperature. On that subject, hot water is another health hazard, particularly for seniors. For scald protection, install a thermostatic value that presets water temperature to a maximum level.
If there is a tub in your plan, consider a deck-mounted installation where the tub unit has a constructed platform. A well-thought-out design has enough room for the bather to rest comfortably before rotating the legs over and into the tub. Be sure the deck is wide enough and the tub does not have a high lip.
Optional tub features are headrests, integral grab bars and interior lighting If you should decide to include a Jacuzzi or some other therapy system. You can specify the exact location of the jets to ensure the fullest benefit.
Another popular hydrotherapy system is the Ultra Thermo-masseur. Developed by Canadian Roger Carrier, all Ultra styles come equipped with numerous air jets that create a gentle, bubbly motion in the water, claimed by the inventor,
to enhance circulation, relax joints and reduce stress.
Kohler, a giant in the bath industry, offers a tub equipped with a hinged door for easy access. The Precedence is 60 inches long, 32 inches wide and 24 inches high. It comes with a folding seat, a whirlpool and a guarantee not to leak. All this for around $6,000. A higher tub has been proved easier to use, so is a higher toilet.
Any toilet labeled ADA compliant is going to have a few more inches of seat height than a typical residential toilet. An elongated model may be sleeker looking and more comfortable, but if this style takes up needed floor space, opt for the smaller, rounded version. There are also now a number of toilets on the market with integral bidets -- an ideal solution if a daily bath in a tub or shower is difficult. Toto and Nais are two popular companies that sell such a toilet-bidet combination, some models with heated seats.
Lavatories too are being installed higher for ease of use. If you go with a pedestal type, you probably will be in a range of 33 to 34 inches high. However, a lav within a custom-built cabinet could be at any height -- that would be the same for a wall-hung lav, provided that blocking was built in to support the extra weight.
Often, people tend to use the bathroom countertop or lavatory for support. If a lavatory basin is higher, people of average height, particularly men, have an easier time brushing teeth and washing hands. If, however, you do your ablutions in a wheelchair, the lav would probably be installed lower.
Consider offsetting the faucet and handles to the side of the basin rather than centered behind the rim. Also check out the many choices in lever handles -- either widespread or single control. Aim for lever handles on everything including door hardware. These are the best because you don't need to firmly grasp in order to complete a task. Before selecting hardware for bathroom cabinetry, go to a showroom and fit your hand into the pull or try the knob. Most people find the wire pull style the easiest to use.
Since arthritis in the hands (and knees) is the common complaint among the 40-something set, making the bathroom user friendly may come down to such a small detail as the light switch. A rocker type helps a lot.
As for surface materials, you want to have flooring and walls that help, not hinder. A level threshold is important. Larger field tiles on the floor, 16 by 16 inches, make for fewer grout lines for stumble prevention. While small mosaic tiles, 2 by 2 inches, in the shower make for more grout lines for stumble prevention. Oftentimes, the same rule does not work.
Lighting plays a big part in designing for seniors, since aging eyes see colors differently and glare is more of a problem. Avoid dark, high-gloss colors on walls and countertops. Stay in the muted palette overall, with a minimum of mirrors and shiny countertops that tend to reflect and "bounce" light, sometimes, confusing an older person. The best lighting at the lav/sink area is either a recessed downlight in the ceiling or a fixture mounted on the wall above the mirror. In both applications there should also be side lighting on the left and right. According to code, the first switch in a bathroom must operate a fluorescent fixture. It's possible to meet this requirement with a sealed fluorescent approved for shower use.
It's a good idea to include a light in the shower. Many fluorescent fixtures now on the market have been upgraded in style and in color rendering, eliminating the "cool" blues--not pleasant or comfortable for anyone.
When considering color, you don't have to restrict yourself to basic beige. There is a trend among designers to outline the perimeter of bathrooms with a line of tile or stone in a contrasting color. This helps locate fixtures easily, especially at night. A bright or dark accent around a doorway or shower is another aid for anyone with declining vision.
The looks of a bathroom concerns Julie Grant who specializes in the design of health care facilities at Warner Design Associates in San Carlos. Over the years, she has taken it upon herself to keep on the watch for new products, both commercial and residential, that are aesthetically pleasing, affordable and adaptable for an aging population.
