Bathroom

One of the most important aspects of this kind of environments is the treatment of bathing. Sensuous experiences are relatively rare for frail seniors who have reduced sensitivity to tastes, aromas, and touch. Bathing, is traditionally a relaxing, positive experience. Attention to detail is particularly important in the design of bathrooms for the frail seniors.

One of the most important spaces to design properly is the bathroom. This room clearly requires the most rigorous workout for residents, who must rotate, stand up, sit down, bend over, and move around. For these reasons, the bathroom is often the most dangerous space in the house. Falls in particular can be devastating, and residents using toilets and showers can easily lose their balance. The majority of seniors are not wheelchair bound, but many may be dependent on a walker, a four-pronged cane, or a wheelchair to get around.

Showers

Showers seem to be preferred over tubs by many seniors and their caregivers, but this may be due in part to a lack of satisfaction with bathing equipment.

The most common shower problems include,

•Slipping is a common hazard in shower areas.

•Negotiation of a shower threshold can be difficult.

•Avoid integrally molded seats and fold down seats. These are often too small, can be difficult to fold up and down, are far from controls, and make it difficult for the caregiver to assist in reaching all parts of the body.

Desirable features include,

•An adjustable handheld shower nozzle improves cleansing flexibility, avoids a harsh or noisy shower spray, and supports resident autonomy.

•Although a raised threshold does not always meet accessibility requirements, the threshold can help to maintain water within the shower area. Shower thresholds that collapse when stepped upon or rolled upon with a wheelchair are a newer means for providing accessibility and for containing water within the shower.

•A freestanding plastic shower chair is an inexpensive option that adds flexibility and can be safer than an integral seat.

•Standards designate clear inside dimensions of 90 cm x 90 cm for a transfer type shower stall and 75 cm x 1.50 m for a roll in type shower stall.

Features important to both tubs and showers include adequate space for toiletries, robes, and clothing adjacent to the fixtures. This helps to shorten the time the resident must wait to dry off or cover up just after bathing, as well as supporting resident independence and privacy during the process. Showers and baths are not the only means of attending to resident hygiene. Cleansing with a washcloth is sometimes the only option for residents who are unable or unwilling to sit in a tub.

The 0.9 m and 0.75 m showers are the two sizes recommended to meet accessibility / adaptability standards. 1 m or 1.2 m showers (that can also retrofit to 0.9 cm) are preferred sizes. The dam at the base of the shower should be removable or it should be a flexible rubber material.

Bath stools for showering are available with or without arm rails, back supports and wheels, and in number of sizes and heights. Some models fix on the wall of the cabinet and fold when not in use. It is possible also to have padded seats in order to prevent pressure sores. In the shower, fit handrails for easy sitting down and getting up. If someone cannot reach the mixer taps when seated in the shower, a shower handset is available with a turn on / turn off device on the spray head.

Victor works as marketing consultant for Elderluxe, which is the largest collection of luxury products for elite elder. The products and services available in Elderluxe are the “Age well" idea and started over 20 years ago with a simple premise.