5 Tips to Make Your Bathroom More Accessible

The bathroom poses significant hazards for senior citizens and individuals with physical limitations. If you or a loved one has mobility issues or difficulties with physical functioning, it’s important to design your bathroom with accessibility in mind. According to the CDC, roughly 230,000 Americans are injured in the bathroom each year. These statistics underscore the importance of making your bathroom more accessible.

If you’re planning a bathroom renovation and looking for ways to make your bathroom more accessible, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Neighborhood Plumbing, we’ve compiled 5 ways to make your bathroom more accessible and increase safety.

Expand the Door Opening

Begin by expanding the door opening to accommodate mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers. A broader entrance enhances ease of access and maneuverability for individuals with physical limitations.

Consider Toilet Location and Height

Carefully consider the location and height of the toilet. Opt for a placement that allows for easy transfers from mobility aids, and ensure the toilet's height suits the individual's needs. Ensure there is enough open space around the toilet to accommodate wheelchair users or individuals with walkers. Aim for at least 60 inches of clear space in front of the toilet. In terms of height, a comfortable toilet height for an accessible bathroom ranges between 17 to 19 inches from the floor to the top of the seat.

Install Grab Bars in Strategic Locations

Integrate strategically positioned grab bars within the bathroom. These secure fixtures provide crucial support and stability, aiding safe movements in and out of the shower, bathtub, and toilet area. Grab bars create a safer and more accessible bathroom environment that caters to the needs of users while maintaining a functional and visually appealing space.

Make The Floor Non-Slip

Wet floors increase the risk of slips and falls, which can result in injuries, especially for young children and elderly individuals. To keep them safe, make the bathroom floor non-slip by selecting appropriate flooring materials. This reduces the risk of falls by providing better traction, particularly in areas that are often wet. There are plenty of non-slip flooring options to choose from, including textured tiles, vinyl flooring, rubber flooring, porcelain tiles with coating, and many more. Your bathroom remodeler can help you choose a non-slip flooring option that will work for your bathroom.

Install Lower Wall Cabinets For Easier Access

Opt for lower wall cabinets or open shelving units to facilitate easier access to toiletries and essentials. These designs minimize the need for excessive bending or stretching.

Trust Neighborhood Plumbing For All Of Your Bathroom Plumbing Needs

An accessible bathroom not only empowers individuals with limited mobility to perform daily activities independently, but it’s also a long-term investment. While some of the suggestions we’ve highlighted above are best handled by a bathroom remodeler, others should be left to a professional plumbing service like Neighborhood Plumbing. Tasks such as toilet installation are best handled by an experienced plumbing company. Here at Neighborhood Plumbing, we take pride in offering quality bathroom plumbing services, including toilet installation, clog removal, and many more. In addition to toilet installation, we offer reliable plumbing repair, bathtub repair, shower repair, drain cleaning, and more. We are the plumbing company you can trust for all of your bathroom plumbing needs.