Today a bathroom is not just an environment to which little attention is paid, but one that deserves care and precision in the furnishing choices and solutions. This concept is even more valid if you have people with mobility difficulties at home: in this case, it is necessary to design a bathroom for disabled, taking into consideration the problems related to the situation and thus arriving at customized solutions.
The ideal dimensions
A disabled bathroom must be designed to be large and able to offer ease of movement. Usually, a disabled bathroom requires at least 2 meters per side, but it is common to come across smaller rooms that should however be no smaller than 1.8 meters per side, considering a door opening of at least 80 cm (considering 70 cm minimum of a wheelchair with wheels). There is a law that dictates some rules, especially in the public sector (restaurants, shopping centres, businesses), but which can also serve as a reference for the design of disabled bathrooms (Italian regulation of the Ministry of Public Works, 14/6/1989 No. 236).
The door and the floor of the disabled bathroom
If you enter a bathroom with a wheelchair, having a swing door that opens inward or outward is not the best choice, both from a practical point of view and from the point of view of space. So, it is better to opt for a sliding door, which disappears in the wall, or a folding door, with a vertically-positioned handle to optimize space even more. For the door of a disabled bathroom, it is important to choose a resistant material, considering the blows it could receive from the wheelchair or the auxiliary walking devices. It is also advisable to pay attention to the flooring of the bathroom, in order to avoid tripping and slipping. Fast drying and anti-slip materials should be preferred, possibly without steps, large grout lines or uneven joints. The idea that must lie behind the design of a disabled bathroom is functionality, safety and risk prevention.
The ideal washbasin for disabled
When you have to design a disabled bathroom, you must assume that disabled people approach the sink with the wheelchair and therefore must have the space to assume the most correct, practical and comfortable position at the sink. It is necessary to leave the space under the sink free, so this must be installed directly on the wall and be wall-hung. In this way, the person can easily reach the edge of the sink, favouring everyday hygiene and the management of the taps. If the basin does not have enough space to rest one's arms, the suggestion is to provide nearby a cabinet with shelf useful for storing objects, such as soap and a towel, but also to provide an anchorage point for the disabled in case of need. One aspect to consider regarding the taps: it's better if they are telescopic or in any case, long, so that it is easier to reach the jet of water. Even a person with a disability may find a mirror useful and this should be broad and positioned in such a way that the person can have it at their height. For the face, also mirrors mounted on a pantograph are functional: typical of beauty salons, they are equipped with a system that allows one to bring them closer to the face. In general, counter top sinks are strongly discouraged because they are too high, while built-in sinks are good proposals. Anyway, a cabinet with a floor-standing support is to be expected but without drawers, since they would prevent the access with the wheelchair. Kerasan offers several different solutions for disabled people.
Easy access to the disabled shower
The shower is be a crucial point in the design of a disabled bathroom. It is fundamental to understand the disability with which you are dealing, in order to better determine the type of shower tray and cabin. The faucet must be installed in a lower position than usual if the disabled person cannot stand up, and a solution that provides a shower head slider bracket is preferable, more practical and functional. The shower stall must ensure a good opening to allow the entrance of the wheelchair, the walker or the person who helps the disabled person to wash him or herself and therefore a spacious environment is required. The shower tray can be tailor-made with non-slip material. Kerasan offers a series of shower trays in marble resin, flush with the floor and with anti-slip finish that can represent interesting solutions for disabled people.
Sanitary ware for disabled people
We all have in mind the facilities for disabled people in shopping centres and restaurants, but how should they be at home? The bathroom design for disabled people cannot ignore the choice of sanitary ware specially designed for people with disabilities. Usually, at home, sanitary ware suitable for a specific disability are used and the choice must be made with caution. The most common toilet seats have high heights that do not always facilitate the person, who often needs some accessory to simplify the physiological operations that would be facilitated with services at the right height from the ground. If there are no problems and impediments, the wall-hung sanitary ware represent an ideal solution because they allow more mobility and more space for wheelchairs and walkers. These should be placed next to the toilet, so as not to clutter excessively if the help of a third-party is necessary. Leaving a space of at least one square meter is the ideal solution that a good designer or architect must consider. For a disabled person it is essential, once seated, to put their feet on the ground not only to feel safer, but also to make less effort. Attention must also be paid to water taps and the alarm bell: both must be accessible without too much effort. If the sanitary fixtures usually include a bidet, in a disabled bathroom this may not be present due to lack of space. If the room is small, it is useless to fill it with a bidet that would not be very functional. Rather, it is better to provide a small shower head that allows intimate hygiene directly on the toilet rather than having to move the person onto a bidet. If there is space, it is possible to install the bidet, but also in this case a shower head is always recommended.