| Ideally, handicapped bath room fixtures should be | | | | have a 1 ½ inch space in between and installed |
| present not only in residential homes, but also in | | | | 34 to 38 inches from the ground. |
| business establishments. We often overlooked this | | | | The design of a handicap bathroom includes certain |
| safety detail because we don't recognize its benefits | | | | distance measurements to guarantee its functionality. |
| not until the actual need arises. Fortunately, it's never | | | | Upon entering the bathroom, the door should be wide |
| too late to create a safe and convenient environment | | | | enough (32 to 36 inches) to accommodate a person in |
| by installing handicapped bath room fixtures as early | | | | a wheelchair. Make sure that there is approximately 60 |
| as now. | | | | inches of empty space to allow full rotations. For |
| The term "handicap" in handicap bathroom fixtures is | | | | someone who has trouble bending down, the height of |
| not only referring to people with permanent lower | | | | the countertops should be 40 inches and 30 to 34 |
| extremity disabilities or the senior citizen population. The | | | | inches for someone in a wheelchair. |
| use of these assistive bathroom fixtures is also useful | | | | One of the main reasons that we install these types of |
| to those with temporary injuries (e.g. leg fractures), | | | | fixtures is to prevent common forms of bathroom |
| balance coordination concerns, and other movement | | | | accidents like wet floor slipping. If you want a slip-proof |
| difficulties. | | | | bathroom floor, you could use anti-slip tiles that typically |
| It would typically costs thousands of dollars to equip | | | | cost at around $3-$4 per tile - the cost is dependent |
| your bathroom with all the fixtures needed to assist a | | | | on the design, material, manufacturer and size of the |
| disabled person or an elderly. But, if you're not ready | | | | anti-slip tile. |
| with that kind of investment, you could start with the | | | | Today, sophisticated bathroom toilets have built-in toilet |
| basic assistive fixtures like the hand rails and grab bars, | | | | seat lights (it's not a joke, really). These are normally |
| which have a starting price of approximately $16 and | | | | lid-activated and neatly placed inside the toilet seat |
| up for each piece. | | | | cover. In that way, the rate of nighttime accidents |
| Before purchasing grab bars or hand rails, make sure | | | | would be significantly reduced. |
| that it complies with the ADA (Americans with | | | | Bathroom safety should always be a top priority for |
| Disabilities Act) standard guidelines. The ideal grab bars | | | | every homeowner, especially with the presence of |
| should have smooth, easy-to-grasp, and rounded | | | | disabled or elderly family members. Handicapped bath |
| surface edges. The width measurement should range | | | | room fixtures might prove to be expensive at times, |
| from 1 ¼ inch to 1 ½ inches. When | | | | but that's only because we're paying for the absolute |
| mounted on the wall, grab bars or hand rails should | | | | safety and convenience of our loved ones. |