How to Retro-Fit a Residential Bathroom for the Handicapped
Many people find that they need to either renovate or redo an existing bathroom in the house, when someone they love becomes disabled through illness, accident or because of aging issues.
The bathroom area can be quite expensive to totally renovate and that option is often unrealistic for many homeowners, who also bear the additional costs of trying to provide for the disabled person in other important areas of life.
Many times, it is possible to simply retro-fit a bathroom, without having to totally renovate it for ease use.
Of course, some disabilities will require a major renovation, but in many cases, redoing a bath area can be quite practical without the additional expense or professional remodeling.
If you need to redo your bathroom, here are a few tips that can make it much easier, practical and save lots of money in the process.
First, make sure you target the exact needs of the disabled person.
If you aren't exactly sure of what the needs are, be sure to communication with the handicapped person, talk to their doctor or physical therapist and consult other knowledgeable sources.
The ADA government guidelines for public restrooms can be a good resource from which to gather some important information, although you will not need to adhere to them completely, since residential bathrooms need not conform to public standards.
After determining the most important aspects of change that you need to apply to your residential bathroom, you can begin to locate the portable and easy to install handicapped products and bathroom accessories that are appropriate.
In common cases, you will need to address the tub or shower area, commode and sink or vanity area.
You will also need to deal with the most common safety issues such as providing a non-slip floor surface and surround railing for support.
Handicapped products such as portable lifts for the tub area can make it possible for the handicapped person to move in and out of the tub with little or no assistance.
Again, this depends on the type of disability.
If there is a shower area, you may only need to provide a special seat that can be attached to the wall area or that is portable.
The commode area may be adjusted by adding one of several types of portable toilets with rails or seating, such as raised or extended seats.
Rails are important in every bathroom that is retro-fitted for the handicapped and you should always install them in the shower or tub area, around the toilet area, vanity area and on certain wall spaces.
For the flooring, you can add a coat of rubberized material that provides a safe, non-slip surface for anyone on crutches or who is somewhat mobile.
Retro-fitting a home bathroom can be do-able by just about anyone who does the proper research and uses the right products that accommodate the respective disability.
The bathroom area can be quite expensive to totally renovate and that option is often unrealistic for many homeowners, who also bear the additional costs of trying to provide for the disabled person in other important areas of life.
Many times, it is possible to simply retro-fit a bathroom, without having to totally renovate it for ease use.
Of course, some disabilities will require a major renovation, but in many cases, redoing a bath area can be quite practical without the additional expense or professional remodeling.
If you need to redo your bathroom, here are a few tips that can make it much easier, practical and save lots of money in the process.
First, make sure you target the exact needs of the disabled person.
If you aren't exactly sure of what the needs are, be sure to communication with the handicapped person, talk to their doctor or physical therapist and consult other knowledgeable sources.
The ADA government guidelines for public restrooms can be a good resource from which to gather some important information, although you will not need to adhere to them completely, since residential bathrooms need not conform to public standards.
After determining the most important aspects of change that you need to apply to your residential bathroom, you can begin to locate the portable and easy to install handicapped products and bathroom accessories that are appropriate.
In common cases, you will need to address the tub or shower area, commode and sink or vanity area.
You will also need to deal with the most common safety issues such as providing a non-slip floor surface and surround railing for support.
Handicapped products such as portable lifts for the tub area can make it possible for the handicapped person to move in and out of the tub with little or no assistance.
Again, this depends on the type of disability.
If there is a shower area, you may only need to provide a special seat that can be attached to the wall area or that is portable.
The commode area may be adjusted by adding one of several types of portable toilets with rails or seating, such as raised or extended seats.
Rails are important in every bathroom that is retro-fitted for the handicapped and you should always install them in the shower or tub area, around the toilet area, vanity area and on certain wall spaces.
For the flooring, you can add a coat of rubberized material that provides a safe, non-slip surface for anyone on crutches or who is somewhat mobile.
Retro-fitting a home bathroom can be do-able by just about anyone who does the proper research and uses the right products that accommodate the respective disability.
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