Ideas for practical layout of a bathroom for seniors

With age, the bathroom is less accessible and it is a room in the house where the risk of falls is highest due to humidity and slippery floors. In addition to favoring tiling, or any other non-slip covering, there are many ideas for practical layouts so that the bathroom remains a place of well-being and autonomy for seniors.

Fittings for the bathtub

Many solutions exist so that the bathtub remains accessible as you age:

• the grab bar :this accessory allows seniors to get in and out of the bathtub more easily. The grab bar looks like a kind of large handle attached to the rim of the bathtub on which the elderly person finds a stable and secure support. It can also be installed vertically on a wall at the entrance to the bathtub. The grab bar reduces the risk of falling.
• the bath board :placed between the two opposite edges of the bath, the bath board allows people who have difficulty bending down to step over and get up from the bottom of the bath using this accessory as a support. The bath board allows the senior to wash in the bathtub independently and safely.
• the bath seat or stool :it makes getting in and out of the bath easier by offering a raised seat. The bath seat is installed in the bottom of the bathtub thanks to suction cups which ensure perfect adhesion. For seniors whose autonomy is low, the bath seat can also be swivelled. It allows him to get in and out of the tub effortlessly. The bath seat also exists in a lifting seat version which lowers and raises the elderly person in a seated or lying position using a remote control.
• the non-slip bath mat :installed inside and outside the bathtub, it helps prevent falls.

It is also possible to replace a classic bathtub with a bathtub with a gate that eliminates the fact of having to step over the edge to be able to take a bath.

Shower facilities

For the elderly, access to a shower is not always easy, especially if it has a tray with edges. Ideally, an Italian shower is the most suitable for seniors. However, solutions also exist to allow seniors to shower independently.

The shower bench, for example, is aimed at elderly people who find it difficult to stand for long by offering them the possibility of taking a shower without effort. There are folding shower bench models that ultimately do not take up space in the shower itself. Grab bars are also very useful in a shower to prevent falls.

Sink fittings

It is important to properly install the bathroom sink so that it is as accessible as possible to the elderly. It must first be installed at a comfortable height for them. Then, for the most dependent seniors, in wheelchairs in particular, you have to think about leaving an empty space under the sink. The taps, which are often difficult to operate, can be replaced by mixer taps with a more accessible elongated handle.

Furnishing his bathroom is essential for a senior who naturally loses flexibility and autonomy with age. Modifying this room of the house to make it as secure as possible can be expensive. But financial aid is possible to better adapt the bathroom to the life of seniors.