A bathroom for a senior must first of all be practical - functional, ergonomic, and finished with durable and easy-to-clean materials. Unless there is an immediate need, it does not need to include features that facilitate the accessibility of the PRM, such as a handrail. However, it is worth removing architectural barriers from it in advance and allocating space for additional facilities.

Contents:

  1. Bathroom for a senior - general arrangement rules
  2. Bathroom for seniors - safe floor
  3. Senior bathroom - suitable furniture
  4. Bathroom for seniors - choosing a wash basin
  5. Bathroom for seniors - handy fittings
  6. Bathroom for seniors - comfortable toilet seat
  7. Bathroom for seniors - better bath?
  8. Bathroom for a senior - or maybe a shower?

How to arrange a bathroom for a senior?There is no one ready-made recipe for it, as we can call a senior a perfectly fit person at the age of 75, an independent 90-year-old or 60 -year-old who, due to certain diseases, moves on crutches or in a wheelchair. However, there are a handful of guidelines that should be taken into account when arranging or renovating an apartment.

The task does not have to be very difficult anyway. They are facilitated by manufacturers of finishing materials and bathroom equipment and accessories, who today are eager to present solutions designed for people with special needs. And it is not only about the handrails or handles mounted on the toilet, above the bathtub or in the shower, which may be associated with a bathroom for people with reduced mobility; first of all, about the safety and comfort of use.

Increased functional values ​​are more and more often accompanied by the beauty of the object - an eye-catching form or a fashionable color. Contrary to a dozen or so years ago, even a bathroom for a disabled person does not have to breathe a hospital gait. This is important, since a beautiful environment with a warm, homely character is conducive to achieving or maintaining general psychophysical well-being - and not only in the elderly.

Bathroom for a senior - general arrangement rules

The key issue when arranging a bathroom for a senior is multi-faceted security. Most accidents happen at home, and among home rooms -just in the bathroom.

Fortunately, it is less and less common to find gas-fired flow-through stoves, the cause of many soots. However, it takes little to an accident. All you need is a wet floor made of inadequate tiles, an uncomfortable bathtub or a paddling pool with a slippery surface.

That is why in a bathroom for a senior citizen, functionality understood in many aspects is so important - from the convenience of use, through ease of maintenance, to mitigating the risk of unfortunate events.

Great little bathroom

Bathrooms can be really tight not only in seniors' apartments. It is therefore worth reminding that smaller people do not wash in small bathrooms. Therefore, the small size should be de alt with rather by compacting the equipment (of course, rationally) than by miniaturization. Access zones to the wash basin, toilet, shower or washing machine may overlap. It is important, however, that the equipment does not cover each other, and that in the center of the room there is space for operating crutches, a balcony or a (even smaller, sports) stroller - approx. 80-centimeter passage.

A separate topic in the area of ​​safety in a senior bathroom is created by the prevention of the growth of bacteria, viruses and fungi. All finishing materials, equipment, and preferably decorations, used there, should be durable.

What does this mean? Resistant to both scratches and bruises, as well as to water, bathroom chemicals (for example colored cosmetics that could create irritating stains when scattered or spilled), high temperature and high humidity. It is best when the listed elements of equipment can be scrubbed (e.g. on the walls - ceramic paints instead of less resistant latex or especially acrylic ones) or washed at high temperature.

Both wall, floor and furniture finishes should be chosen with care to reduce the number and length of joints. Instead of small tiles, it is worth choosing large-format tiles, or replacing them with several-meter-long sheets of elastic flooring (on the floor) or quartz sinters, acrylic laminates or polymer glass (on the wall or on furniture).

The fewer joints or all types of bends, the better the tightness of a given plane, the smaller the tendency to accumulate dirt and the easier cleaning.

Auxiliary handrails

Additional handrails or handles, such as those we know from bathrooms for people with disabilities, are not needed in every senior bathroom. It is worth introducing them when there are symptoms of difficulties with maintaining balance or standing alone, or problems with sitting down and standing up. Tohowever, the installation of such amenities went smoothly, you should reserve a place for them.

The most important types of this type of accessories are handrails by the bathtub or shower, next to the toilet seat and by the washbasin. Their task is to make it easier to move around the room, and not to make it difficult to pass, so before buying, you should consider whether a fixed or tilted model will work better in a given place. When shopping, it is worth taking an interest in their durability and strength, the quality of processing (are there any sharp edges there?), As well as the method of assembly.

Additionally, for the person moving on crutches, it is worth installing a special handle that will allow you to conveniently put them away and prevent them from tipping over.

Bathroom for seniors - safe floor

The floor in the bathroom for a senior citizen must not be slippery. On the floor, it is worth placing tiles with a clear texture, for example, resembling the irregularities of natural stone or with grooves or, even better, with insets, such as those often used in swimming pools or in saunas. Regardless of the form, we will recognize non-slip tiles by marking on the packaging - they will be marked with the symbol from R9 to R13.

As non-slip floor tiles present a large variety of shapes, colors and patterns, it will not be a problem to match the tiles to the design of a senior bathroom. What is worth adding, such tiles - although semi-matte or matte, even rough to the touch - do not make cleaning difficult. The seemingly contradictory features of the floor are reconciled with the appropriate glaze recipe.

If the floor covering cannot be replaced, use non-slip bathroom mats or rugs with a gummed bottom or with silicone pads. They will be useful primarily when leaving the bathtub or shower and in front of the toilet bowl, to ensure stability when getting out of the toilet. For hygiene reasons, it is important that they are durable, easy to clean or wash, and that they dry quickly.

Senior bathroom - suitable furniture

Safe furniture for a senior bathroom is the one with rounded edges and corners, with stable (fixed) shelves and drawers on guides. The latter solution gives an excellent insight into the resources, and at the same time protects the drawer from falling out.

Spacious drawers, which are an increasingly popular solution in the bathroom, it is good to equip with organizers or other types of internal divisions. If every item in the bathroom has its own compartment, shelf or drawer, it will not be a problem to keep order there, and at the same time the user will find it easily and quickly.all the accessories or cosmetics he needs.

All bathroom furniture should also be secured against tipping over - directly screwed to the wall or attached to it with special hooks. The need for this type of security is clearly illustrated by the case of chests of drawers, the center of gravity of which changes significantly when the drawers are pulled out.

A similar phenomenon, although less intense, also occurs in wardrobes and cabinets after opening the door made of heavy MDF board. Fixing furniture to the walls turns out to be beneficial also in the case of dizziness or imbalances in the bathroom, when ordinary elements of equipment must give him (completely literal) support.

For safety reasons, the presence of glass in a senior bathroom should also be reduced. How? Instead of glass bathroom accessories (soap dispensers, cups for brushing teeth, etc.), you can use, among others, those made of high-quality acrylic, deceptively reminiscent of colorless or colored glass.

Unbreakable mirrors are also made of the same material. The technology of producing plastics has gone so far that an acrylic mirror gives a reflection no worse than the traditional one. Acrylic laminate or the so-called Polymer glass will successfully replace opaque glazing in doors, furniture fronts or interior design elements.

In a bathroom for a senior citizen, you should pay special attention to lighting. Of course, it is necessary to have sufficiently bright general lighting (arranged so that individual elements of the equipment or wall bends do not cast deep shadows on important parts of the interior) and functional lighting - at the mirror (on both sides or in the form of a light frame around the pane to evenly illuminate the face).

As in every bathroom, also here it is necessary to ensure the appropriate level of water resistance of the luminaires (this is indicated by the appropriate note on the packaging). Light switches should be located outside the bathroom to minimize the risk of even accidentally touching them with a wet hand. It is also important that they are illuminated - thanks to this, also at night, the senior can easily reach them with his hand.

Bathroom for seniors - choosing a wash basin

The washbasin in the bathroom for the senior citizen should be located as close as possible to the toilet. As long as the available space allows it, it is best to choose a model with a width of 60 or even 70 cm and 50 or 60 cm deep. The bigger (and especially - the wider), the better it will protect against splashing of water, and consequently it will give a person with reduced fitness greater psychological comfort.

For this reason, it is better not to use it in a senior bathroomthe currently fashionable countertop washbasins in the form of a bowl placed on a cabinet. Models that are integrated in one way or another with the top of the cabinet are much more practical - they are placed on a piece of furniture (replacing the top), recessed into the opening of the table top or suspended from the bottom. Sinks without a rim are preferred here, which would make it difficult, for example, to collect splashed water.

It should also be remembered that in the event of dizziness or momentary loss of balance, the washbasin will be one of those devices that the senior will lean on. So it has to be solid and really permanently attached. It is worth examining these parameters when choosing a wall-hung washbasin or, more simply, choosing a model based on a cabinet. Even if it is a hanging cabinet, not standing on legs, inherently (e.g. due to the greater own weight and the reserve for the weight of utensils or cosmetics stored there) should be equipped with an advanced fixing system.

In the bathroom, people with very limited mobility at the washbasin should have two tilting or fixed handrails perpendicular to the wall, with a length slightly greater than the depth of the cabinet with the washbasin.

Bathroom for seniors - handy fittings

It is best when the faucets in the senior bathroom have a single lever (the so-called mixer) instead of traditional taps, which is also more convenient to use with one hand or even with an elbow. Single-lever mixers come in a variety of forms and colors, and there are also stylized models among them - so even a retro bathroom can do without taps with knobs. It is worth remembering that the longer the lever, the easier it is to adjust the water stream and set the appropriate temperature.

A faucet for a senior citizen should have a clear color marking of the water temperature. It is also worth having additional safety functions, such as a thermoblock (also known as an anti-burn button), preventing accidental discharge of water at a temperature higher than 38 ° C.

A thermostat is also a great solution. Thermostatic faucets are equipped with heads that automatically select the ratio of hot and cold water to obtain a stream of constant temperature, conveniently regulated by a knob.

A good solution for people with very limited efficiency may be contactless batteries, operating on the basis of an optical motion sensor powered by a battery (they are replaced every few months). Unfortunately, they are not the cheapest. The contactless washbasin faucet costs from PLN 350, the same goes for the touchless toilet flush button; a touchless shower mixer costs about PLN 1,500. They also do not allow you to regulate the water temperature and the power of the streamuse as standard batteries - although of course the operating parameters can be adjusted to the general preferences of the user.

Due to the ease of cleaning and resistance to a number of chemical preparations and to popular mechanical damage, instead of fashionable satin or anodized batteries for the bathroom for seniors, it is worth choosing the classic - chrome.

Bathroom for seniors - comfortable toilet seat

The toilet bowl in a senior bathroom can be installed approx. 10 centimeters higher than in a standard bathroom - at a height of approx. 48 cm instead of the typical 36-38 cm. Thanks to this, it will be comfortably used by both a fit person and those with disabilities, also in a wheelchair.

There are standing and suspended toilet bowls with increased height available for sale. However, a similar effect can be achieved by installing a standard suspended bowl on a higher level. If you use a flush-mounted rack, however, make sure that the selected model allows you to adjust the height of the bowl.

The height of the existing bowl can also be increased by a dozen or so centimeters thanks to a special overlay or cap, which may look like an extremely high (thick) toilet seat. The pads of this type are sometimes equipped with side rails, which make it easier to sit down and stand up. Even better support is provided by handrails, handles or safety frames permanently mounted either to the wall, or to the wall and floor, or only to the floor (surrounding the toilet from the back). Practice shows that the toilet area should include at least one horizontal rail, approx. 70 cm long, also placed at a height of 75 cm.

A good solution - and not only for a senior's bathroom - is a rimless toilet bowl. The interiors of this type of toilet seat are devoid of bends, making it much easier to keep them clean.

A toilet bowl in a bathroom for a senior must be accompanied by an extremely durable toilet seat. It cannot break even if the senior falls after an unsuccessful attempt to sit down or stand up - it would result in injury. It should be a slowly descending board. Thanks to it, even accidental bumping of the flap will not cause unpleasant, irritating noise.

In order not to be irritated by bathroom users, you should also carefully consider (and before assembly - check "dry") the position of the toilet paper holder. It is extremely important that you can reach it comfortably, also without getting up from the toilet.

With people on a wheelchair in mind, models of toilets have been developed more forward, making it easier to drive up to them. Toilet bowls fordisabled people usually have exceptionally massive boards with a characteristic shape - the circumference of the oval is not closed in them. The "break" (which often corresponds to selecting the bowl at the rim) is to facilitate access to the intimate parts of the body for a person with reduced mobility for washing after the completion of physiological needs.

A bidet turns out to be a useful solution not only in the bathroom for seniors. As there is often no space for it, its tasks can be taken over by a bidet (a faucet with a hose and a miniature shower head mounted close to the toilet seat), a washing board (a toilet seat with a water jet and a control module) or a shower toilet (a device that integrates the functions of a toilet and a bidet).

A much less convenient solution is a bidet in the form of a properly profiled pelvis placed on the toilet seat. It is difficult to recommend it, because using it in practice requires the help of another person.

21st century potty

People with very limited fitness or with recurring diseases of the digestive system will appreciate the toilet chair. It is a derivative of the potty, but placed at a comfortable (and adjustable) height in a metal structure resembling the armature of an armchair. Stable, but light (usually around 3.4 kg with a load capacity of up to 150 kg), it does not have to stand only in the bedroom - it can accompany a senior during the day to help in an emergency.

Bathroom for seniors - better bath?

Is a bathtub in the bathroom for a senior a good idea? The better solution - safer, more functional and also more economical - is generally a shower. Sometimes, however, the user's habit or the existing living conditions prevail. On the other hand, in some diseases, baths are part of rehabilitation, and then a bathtub turns out to be necessary. When buying a new bathtub, it is worth remembering that its parameters should be matched to the type of ailments of the elderly. In the case of problems with leg mobility, short models are better suited, while in the case of spine stiffness - long ones.

A convenient solution for people with reduced mobility is a bathtub with a door (often offered as a bathtub for the disabled). The disadvantage of the solution may be the considerable cost (about PLN 4,000). A slightly cheaper option (about PLN 3,000) is to make a tight door in the existing bathtub; specialized companies deal with it. A much more economical, and in many cases a completely sufficient solution is a movable or swivel seat placed on the bathtub, thanks to which passing the legs through the wall is more convenient and, above all, safer - more on this topic below.section.

Convenient approach to the built-in bathtub allows the so-called kopnik, i.e. an undercut in the lower part of the wall, which creates a place for feet (an alternative is again the popular bathtubs on legs, available in various styles - not only in the 19th century). In a bathroom designed with a disabled person in mind, it is best to leave free access to the bathtub along its entire length. The casing should be kept to a minimum, so that its dimensions (even the thickness of the walls) do not make it difficult to move or ride the trolley as close to the edge of the bathtub as possible.

Renovation of a bathtub in a senior's apartment

A worn bathtub can not only be replaced, but also renovated. Although the replacement is a simpler solution, sometimes also cheaper, it requires the development of a broad front of works. On the other hand, the renovation of the bathtub takes one day and does not require disturbing the wall cladding, plumbing or fittings. This is a big advantage, especially since a significant number of seniors do not want to carry out more extensive or long-term renovations in their homes.

Renovation of a bathtub can be done in two ways. The "bathtub in the bathtub" method is based on appropriately profiled acrylic inserts, which a specialized team fits into the existing bathtub - cast iron or steel. The quick and easy renovation process results in a clean, smooth, dirt-resistant and warm-to-the-touch bathtub. Another way is to cover the old bathtub with new traditional or acrylic enamel. Then, however, the original coating will be sanded, which is usually a disadvantage.

The greatest difficulty in using the bathtub is getting in and out. Accessories such as steps to the bathtub, bathtub handle (mounted vertically to the edge of the bathtub) or popular wall railings will help in this. Ideally, there are two handrails, vertical and horizontal (possibly one large L-shaped). Then they will allow you to pull up, make it easier to crouch or sit in the bathtub, and also protect against falling during washing. They are invaluable in the case of joint problems, but their advantages will also be appreciated by people who are completely fit.

If your bathtub does not have a non-slip bottom texture (or a special coating with the same function), you will need a rubber anti-slip mat with suction cups to hold it in place. It must not be forgotten, because the risk of a painful or even tragic slipping in the bathtub (e.g. due to its concave bottom) concerns everyone, but seniors - especially. The non-slip mat (not necessarily rubber - also in the form of a rug, but with rubber on the bottom) should also be placed in front of thebath - in the place where you put your feet when leaving the bath.

Other accessories for the bathtub for seniors can be successfully selected over time - depending on the specific needs. At some point, a bathtub seat may be necessary, thanks to which washing the whole body will not require sitting on the bottom of the bathtub. The spectrum of available solutions is wide, from simple recessed benches hung on the edges of the bathtub, through comfortable models with a backrest, armrests and even a headrest, to more complicated structures with a swivel armchair. These types of seats are sometimes mounted astride "- one base rests on the bottom of the bathtub, the other on the floor, and the seat slides along the rails that connect them, so that a person with severely limited mobility can safely enter or leave the bathtub by sliding as you put your legs through the wall.

Other bath accessories for seniors (and not only) include headrests, armrests, profiled backrests or a simple structure of the seat placed on the bottom of the bathtub, the so-called tub stools (10 or 15 cm high, many older people help in getting up). When buying a new bathtub, it is worth taking an interest in the offer of compatible functional accessories.

Bathroom for a senior - or maybe a shower?

A shower is both a safer and more convenient solution for a bathroom for a senior citizen than a bathtub. Even if it is a traditional shower with a shower tray, due to its dimensions (depth usually up to 15 cm), it reduces or even eliminates the risk associated with walking through a high wall. Modern flat shower trays, the so-called slim or flat, are mounted flush with the floor or protrude slightly from it.

Deprived of a clear edge (only with a slightly contoured basin that creates the required slopes), they do not constitute any spatial barrier for a walking person, even with clearly limited fitness. Models made of conglomerates are extremely durable - if they are properly installed, you can even drive on them with a wheelchair.

Currently, however, there are solutions without a shower tray - with a point or line drain in a specially insulated and appropriately shaped floor (less often in a wall), and therefore even more accessible and even easier to keep clean. It is worth remembering and in the event of a major renovation (due to the requirement to insulate the entire floor in the room and parts of the walls within the cabin), the bathroom for an able-bodied senior citizen should be arranged in such a way that, after a possible loss of full efficiency, it could be done without great effort.adapted to specific needs.

It is worth adding that this type of renovation is also a good opportunity to introduce underfloor heating to the bathroom, significantly increasing the comfort of washing.

As mentioned in the introduction, the floor in the bathroom for a senior should have a non-slip finish on the entire surface, but in the shower tray area - especially (here it is worth using the variant of tiles with additional texture).

At the entrance to the shower, you will need a rug or an easy-to-wash mat that will be used to quickly dry your feet before moving to the dry part of the bathroom.

The shower enclosure in the bathroom for senior citizens can be solved in various ways. There are mainly glass cabins with two walls (corner), less often with three walls (wall-mounted). Sometimes the shower is located in a recess - an existing corner of the wall or between the corner of the room and a specially made wall, with the entrance closed with a glass door or a curtain made of plastic or special fabric. Along with the floor-level showers, the so-called walk-in cabins, with free (closed and unobstructed) entrance.

Properly positioned showers reduce splash water. However, it cannot be completely avoided, which is why advanced floor insulation and appropriate profiling of the floor in the room is necessary so that the water can drain to the drain without any obstacles.

Glass shower cubicles and freestanding partitions (for walk-in cubicles) and doors are made of tempered glass. It is a material with increased impact resistance, which also breaks down into pieces with non-cutting edges if broken.

For a senior bathroom, however, it is worth choosing a glass cabin additionally coated with a special foil (or - with an integrated coating) that protects the cracked pane against spilling. Similar foils and coatings can also be found in safety glass bathroom mirrors.

Ideally, when the shower cubicle is quite large, approx. 120x120 to 160 cm - then it allows you to comfortably drive the trolley into the shower area and move from the trolley to the seat mounted in the shower. However, sizes in the order of 100x100 cm or more and more popular not only in bathrooms for seniors 100x120 cm are sufficient. It is best to place it in the corner of the room (or add a perpendicular wall). Then, if necessary, one wall can have a fixed horizontal handrail, and the adjacent one - a tilting one, accompanying e.g. a tilted seat.

A place to sit in the shower should be found, regardless of the senior's fitness level. It will allow not only more convenient, but also safer exercisea series of hygienic and cosmetic activities, for example to take care of the feet.

There are many possible solutions, from a spacious brick bench like in a Turkish bath, through the mentioned reclining seats made of plastic or exotic wood (with or without a backrest), to a stool made of waterproof plastic, which, depending on the needs, can be used either in a dry or wet zone of the bathroom.

Thinking about people in a wheelchair, the so-called transfer benches, resembling an armchair. They are light and easy to carry, and at the same time much more stable. At the same time, thanks to the deep seat, prominent backrest and armrests, they provide the sitting person with good support for the whole body.

A shower with a rain shower is a popular solution. Then, the wide upper nozzle allows you to use a classic shower, while the shower head can always remain within reach (with the handle located at a height of approx. 120 cm). It is a convenient system for elderly people who do not have to reach high to change the position of the water source.

A rain shower requires a very intuitive way of switching the water jet between the upper and lower nozzles, preferably placed so that the current setting can be easily read and before turning on the water. You will also need a thermostatic mixer, which will remove the risk of burns.

And because the hot water inlet side of the tap is warming up, it is worth trying to place it in such a way that you do not risk getting burned by accidental touching or even catching it when you temporarily lose your balance (it is enough to place it asymmetrically, e.g. in 1/4 of the cabin width) , with the "hot" side approaching one of the corners).

In the shower area in the bathroom for a senior citizen, there must be a shelf for cosmetics - putting them on the floor would be neither convenient nor safe. This role may include a small recess in the wall (it will not narrow the surface of the shower enclosure), an openwork shelf with a high rim (water will not retain in it) or a plastic basket with a hook, hung on the fittings.

Category:

Geriatrics