adding a bathroom

[jmoffat]

we are planning ahead for the time when i need to move downstairs so we are building a bathroom onto the study room on the ground floor which will also connect with the back garden --any help in terms of what to do or avoid in terms of bathroom design e.g. wheelchair access most welcome :))

[Heady]

Hi, I use to be in the bathroom business, not designing though. When our company converted our En-suite to a wet room. I insisted on loads of grab rails, all big chrome bars. Made it a feature, whilst fully functional for Steve. Had the obvious wheel chair access,but a screen across, to avoid the whole bathroom getting wet. His shower chair had to be reserved into the shower, but that was fine. Make sure the shower valve has easy access for the carers. The main thing I am trying to say is, it doesn't have to look like a hospital bathroom. Now Steve has gone, I am more than happy to use our bathroom, it looks very modern and not at all like a disabled room. Had an estate agent around, he was most impressed. I suggest you get a local company out to design it for you. I know it's expensive, but what cost is there, for making something look like a place you want to be in, rather than having your disability shoved in your face. PSP does that enough, without you joining in.

Lots of love

Anne

[Heady]

PS. Do this sooner rather than later. I should have had ours fitted a good year before we did, so Steve could have had that precious tiny bit more independance. As it was, before we had it done, he was still only needing a small bit of help, when it was finished, he was virtually wheelchair bound. We went away on holiday whilst they did the work, so it was just PSP moving the goalposts as per normal!

Lots of love

Anne

[Kevin_1]

Two things spring to mind.

Consider a wheelchair friendly sink where the wheelchair can get under it so that you are up against it whilst sitting.

Also making the room a wet room. Even a small step into a shower becomes too difficult in time.

Best to you

Kevin

[aliciamq in reply to Kevin_1]

I thought about skipping the shower and going for a great sink!!!! Maybe with a spray hose. I don't think we have enough space to build a shower large enough for my sons to fit into with their dad.

[Marie_14]

Heady's design sounds good to me! We also had the bathroom changed and used chrome grab rails and accessories so it is a nice room even now.

One place which I got wrong was the wet room. My husband refused to agree to it! He wanted a shower and that was it! I shoukdn't have agreed with him but he was so adamant I gave in! However I got a shower which had a really low step. But when he was unable to walk he ended up having a sponge wash as he was unable to get into the shower.

So definitely get a wet room. I like Heady's idea of the screen across to stop the whole room getting wet.

So I would definitely advise a wet room. There are some really nice ones around now.

Marie x

[JR61]

Not sure if it’s available in all areas of England but Our OT said that they could come to assess and advise on any alterations we were considering, even if they wouldn’t be carrying them out. They also said that they would do this if we were to find a bungalow, they would come and assess if it would fulfil dad’s requirements before we made expensive mistakes and buying one which turned out later not to be suitable. They also emphasised the need to think ahead and future proof anything we did. Hope this helps. Ruth x

[raincitygirl]

We did the level floor all-tile big shower (this is what many are calling wet room?) Lots of shiny chrome easy- to-use levers & grab bars (the bars have ripply backs for good finger hold) tiled bench inside the shower room with the wand easy to reach from the bench. The wand slides up & down a rail with a quick-release lever.

I wish I had done the wheelchair-accessible sink as Kevin suggests. Hubby isnt in wheelchair yet, but its surely coming.

[aliciamq]

I am also in the design process - great topic!!!!

[Hidden]

I have added some photos of our bathroom,you can search bathroom and they should come up.

Dee

[wallysyaya]

I agree with Heady. Hiring a specialist in handicapped design to help you may help you not make expensive mistakes. When we built our addition (en suite) ...before any sign of a disease, I thought we made good choices. NOT! Good luck.

[york]

Mam had their bath taken out and it was changed into a wet room there is a hinged door about 3ft high which folds in the middle and moves either way forwards or backwards so you can move the chair into place and once straight stops any water coming out we also could leave it open so we could get into wash mam. Good luck

[Willow_rob]

I have had a shower room remodelled to include a wide low profile shower tray (the wider the better because it enables the carer to move around with the patient. We have had a lot of handrails fitted but in white plastic so they do not look too utilitarian. We have a MIRA thermostatically controlled electric shower unit which prevents risk of scalding. The toilet seat is a "comfort" height but beware that as Mary's condition progressed she now has a portable comode which will only fit over a standard height pan. We also fitted a tall towel rail to cope with the extra towels, flannels etc. Finally a quality shower seat is essential and we installed a MIRA flip down seat. If you need to enter the shower with a wheelchair then you could consider a "Wet Room" configuration which does not have a lip like the shower tray. Our shower room has also been lined with wall boards rather than tiles and these are a lot easier to keep clean and do not attract mould like tile grout. Hope this helps.

[formercarer]

Hi,

"Doc M" gives you the standard. idealspec.co.uk/catalogue/b...

Make sure you reclaim the VAT!

We went to look at various disabled facilities in public buildings and decided based on them. We ended up with a wet room that had a shower with a long hose, paperless washer, warm air drying loo and lots of space. It made a massive difference.

Best wishes,

Janet

[yorkbaldy]

Assuming you are in the UK, I would strongly recommend that you get the local social services involved for the design specification. If you go alone and it doesn't meet the council's specification you could find that care agencies will not use it. It doesn't cost anything to discuss it with the social services. Best wishes, Yorkbaldy.