When you have a family member who has physical disabilities and needs the specialized facilities to make their life a little easier, or even as a necessity, then it makes sense to work on putting together a domestic handicap bathroom to provide that facility. There are several important factors to consider when working out the planning and design stage and this is what this article will look more closely at to provide a good set of ideas that anyone considering this undertaking can make use of.
One of the first things that you need to get right from the start in handicapped bathrooms is the floor space and layout of the furniture. There needs to be plenty of open floor space for a wheelchair user to navigate around the room and to easily access each of the facilities without being obstructed by any thoughtlessly placed obstacles. As long as the wheelchair user can easily get into the bathroom, move around freely whilst inside and get out again without being hampered in any way, then the basic floor plan design can be considered a success.
Next is the actual placement of the bathroom furniture itself and again this needs to be planned for ease of access and use. There will be certain limitations on placement of, for instance the toilet because of the situation of the sewage waste pipe and it often being the most awkward fitting to move. So often it is a good idea to start with the toilet placement then work around it with the other units, such as a handicap shower and/or bathtub and the vanity unit.
Handrails placed in the correct positions for the user to be able to transfer form a wheelchair to the facility are important, as are the anchor points which must provide sufficient strength to provide safe support for even a very heavy person.
Lastly, heights of units need to be considered especially with a wheelchair user in mind so that they can access everything without having to reach up or stretch uncomfortably. Faucets should operate with the lightest touch and any electrical points for shavers etc, should be sited at a height that is comfortable while being safe to use. All in all, a handicap bathroom in a domestic home should be a joy to use rather than merely a functional room so the user can get the most from it.