So you’ve bought and fitted your new bathroom in the home you hope to live and retire in. Do you want to make it more profitable when you come to sell it on? Would you like to make it easier for elderly relatives to use? Or are you just looking to prepare it for when you need the accessibility, rather than have the improvements when you are older and maybe less able to afford it?

So you’ve bought and fitted your new bathroom in the home you hope to live and retire in. Do you want to make it more profitable when you come to sell it on? Would you like to make it easier for elderly relatives to use? Or are you just looking to prepare it for when you need the accessibility, rather than have the improvements when you are older and maybe less able to afford it?

Without a whole refit, there are ways to make your bathroom more accessible and safe. Last year there were nearly 5,000 reported accidents that took place in bathrooms across the UK, many of which could be prevented with a few small adjustments.

For help getting in and out of the bath, to avoid slips and trips, an easily installed handle attached to the wall is ideal, as it is cheap and unimposing. For the less mobile however, a bath lift may be more beneficial as it requires less strength and movement.  Non-slip flooring is ideal for inside the bath or shower and will help grip on the wet surfaces. A non-slip mat on the bathroom floor can help the transition from bath to floor much easier and safer. Both of these are cost-effective and unobtrusive ways of making you bathroom safer.

In shower cubicles, special chairs are available with non-slip footing to avoid any accidents, although these should not be used in bathtubs as the curve of the bath will make it a potential slipping hazard.

For wheelchair users, doors need to be widened, and light switches moved. To add an extra 2 inches to a doorframe, offset door hinges allow for more access, although it may not be needed for crutches or walking frames.

A disabled toilet lift can help the less mobile to use toilet without risking falling off, or causing injury to joints or muscles. Easy to use, they slide around the existing cistern and can easily be moved and removed-ideal for houseguests, or taking on trips. Toilet lifts usually come with arm rests and a mechanical lifting function, as well as the ability to close the toilet seat, eliminating any need to bend over and risk any physical damage.

A few small adjustments to a bathroom can make it safer for elderly relatives wishing to retain their independence, less mobile people, or anyone looking to adapt their home before they may feel overwhelmed.

http://www.bathtimemobility.co.uk/ provides accessible features for bathrooms of disabled and less mobile homeowners and institutes around the UK.