Mobility Issues? Consider These 3 Options for Making Your Bath and Shower Safer

The simple act of taking a bath or a shower can become problematic when you have mobility issues. Instead of just hoping for the best, it's more beneficial to take proactive steps in order to make your bath and shower safer. Some methods for improving safety can be rather basic, such as making sure that you always have a bath mat with a rubberised undercoating for maximum traction. Of course, to decrease the chances of slipping in your bath or shower, it can be prudent to install some additional safety features.

Hold On

Grab rails are about the easiest and most inexpensive way to increase your bathroom's safety factor. These can be quickly installed and simply provide a stable handhold if needed. You might be able to install these yourself if you have the necessary tools and are confident in your abilities. Exercise caution when installing grab rails in your shower as you don't want to puncture any pipes in the wall where you intend to place the rail.

Sit Down

You can decrease your chances of slipping in the shower if you're not actually standing. How big is your shower? Smaller showers can benefit from a shower stool, which can be obtained from any medical supplies shop. The grab rails will add safety when easing yourself in and out of a sitting position when the space is wet. If your shower is big enough, you might want to consider having a permanent shower bench installed. This is an added expense but can be a convenient addition to your shower. You might also wish to upgrade your shower head at the same time. A plumber can easily install a shower head directly above the bench if your existing shower head will not be able to direct a sufficient amount of water to the corner where the bench has been installed.

Walk In

If you've made the decision to completely remodel your bathroom to reflect your mobility issues, you might want to consider installing a walk-in bath. This is simply a bathtub that has a hinged door in the side, which becomes watertight when closed. Though it's not the cheapest option, it completely removes the need to step over the rim of the bath when entering and exiting it. It can be wise to utilise the services of a professional plumber when installing a walk-in bath. Remember that such a bath will need to drain before you can open the door and exit, and as many of these baths have higher edges than standard baths, meaning that additional time will be needed before you can in fact get out of the bath. A plumber can ensure that the bathtub has a wide-mouth drain (to speed up the time needed for drainage), as well as making sure that the existing pipes in your bathroom can handle this volume of water.

Some safety features for your bath and shower can be more complicated than others, but it can be worthwhile to ensure that the space remains one you can use safely. For more information on making these adjustments, contact a plumber.