I was recently commissioned by Bathing Solutions to discuss ways of making your bathroom grandparent friendly. Christmas is a time for family and many of us may have our elderly relatives coming to stay during the festive period. With this in mind, you will probably want to make their stay as comfortable as possible. So, let’s discuss some ways that you can make that happen so that visits aren’t only limited to special occasions, but can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Walk-in showers
The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous rooms in the house for the elderly, or for anyone for that matter. It has sharp corners and hard slippy surfaces that can make slipping an easy accident to have. Your bathroom is actually very adaptable, it’s just knowing how to do it. One of the easiest ways to do this would be to start with assessing your current shower.
‘Wet room’ style showers are very popular these days and aren’t just for the elderly. Walk-in showers are for everybody and can actually be a valuable addition to your home. They make showering easy for everybody and are extremely easy to clean.
The main advantage of a walk-in shower is that they have low-level access, which means that there is no need to step over anything to get in. They are a much safer option for everybody, and most importantly your elderly visitors.
Accessible sinks
The sink can be the one thing that we forget about but by installing a taller unit without storage underneath, it can actually make the area far more accessible for those that may need to use a wheelchair or need to sit down to bathe. If you are thinking of doing this then it is also worth installing easy-turn lever taps that are much easier for everybody to use.
You could also be really thoughtful and place a full-wall mirror over the sink so that it can be used both standing and sitting. This way, everyone is accommodated for.
Think about the aesthetics
It’s not just the physical practical things that you need to think about when making your bathroom ‘grandparent friendly’, you should think about the aesthetics too.
Those that suffer from dementia will find contrasting colours for the walls and floors very helpful. Bear this in mind when redecorating. When it comes to selecting the paint, opt for matte finish instead of gloss because it will help to reduce any glare and will be much easier on the eyes.
Textured flooring will be a much better choice than anything slick, thus resulting in fewer accidents for any age.
Finally, think about built-in, open shelves for your storage solutions. These are far more secure and will cause less of a trip or falling hazard than their free-standing counterparts.
Hopefully, these tips will go some way in helping you if you are thinking about making your bathroom grandparent friendly. We think you will agree that they are simple ideas that aren’t too intrusive in your home, meaning everybody can enjoy using the bathroom, no matter what their age.
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This is a commissioned post with Bathing Solutions