Bathroom for people with disabilities

When planning a bathroom for people with disabilities, consideration must be given to changing the furnishings within all the usable areas. Each of these areas must be functional and ergonomic. Above all, it is recommended to place a shower adapted to people with disabilities in the bathroom, instead of a bathtub, but those who prefer to stick to a traditional solution, and regardless, choose a bathtub need to remember that it is advisable to focus on a bathtub with special opening doors; in this way, a senior family member or a disabled person won’t be obliged to lift their legs.

Most investors, however, decide to install a shower enclosure because it suits both people who move around independently and those who use a wheelchair. Obviously, a shower tailored to a disabled person needs will look slightly different to a regular one. It will have a few extra features. So what should we pay special attention to? The entrance should be wide enough for a person in a wheelchair to use, and instead of a traditional shower enclosure you can opt for a walk-in shower, which has no door at all. The shower tray should be flat or it can be replaced by a mat which protects against moisture. Grab bars are also important, so that people with mobility impairment can support themselves without falling. What is more, we would need to place a shower seat for the disabled person to use.

Grab bars should also be placed by the sink and the toilet, and when choosing a wash basin we need to focus on a flat model with a properly shaped edge. It should be at the right height for a wheelchair person to approach it easily. When it comes to the toilet for disabled people, it is mounted higher than usual. Its seat has a special indentation and reinforced hinges to prevent movement. What’s more, grab bars should be attached to the wall to facilitate the transfer from a wheelchair.

Designing a bathroom for people with special needs is challenging, and depending on whether it is small or large, the design is approached differently. It also makes a big difference whether the bathroom is in a public facility or at home. In the first case, regulations dictate what the bathroom for disabled people should look like, and many regulations must be followed when designing such a space. This is regulated by international, Union and Polish law. Among the most important international provisions are: Resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993 on standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Among the Union regulations are: the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, and the Resolution ResAP(2001)1. In terms of Polish law, we need to familiarize ourselves with the Regulation of the Polish Minister of Infrastructure of 12 April 2002 on technical conditions to be met by buildings and their location, and the Construction Law of 7 July 1994. Eating places, cinemas, theatres and offices need to respect them.

Are there any requirements regarding bathrooms for disabled people at home? First of all, it is not necessary to anticipate and adapt the interior to all forms of disability, but directly to the particular person. The needs of a person using crutches will be different from those of a person in a wheelchair. We shouldn’t forget that comfort is the priority. In some cases just a shower seat or a grab bar will be enough, while in others everything will have to be adapted to a wheelchair person.

An investor planning a bathroom for people with disabilities in their home should remember that the amount of space needed for individual equipment will differ. A bathroom for people with special needs should have dimensions of at least 200 × 240cm, and the person using the bathroom should be able to move freely. The biggest space is required when the person uses a wheelchair - in this case 150 × 150cm of free space is necessary to ensure trouble-free use of the washing facilities. If the bathroom a wheelchair person is supposed to use is small, paying attention to any cabinets and storage units in the planning stage is crucial. Pull-out drawers or doored cabinets take up a lot of space when opened, so we need to make sure it’s possible to use them with a wheelchair in the bathroom. Open shelves are a way more practical suggestion.

Bathroom door should be at least 90-100cm wide and have a low threshold, or preferably none at all. Grab bars installed by the toilet and the shower come in different sizes and diameters, so they can be adjusted to the age and abilities of the particular person. The height of the grab rails is very important; usually they are roughly 80cm above the floor by the wash basin, and 70cm by the toilet bowl.