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Bathroom Furniture Ideas for the Disabled and Elderly
Only the elderly and disabled can fully understand the need for bathroom fixtures designed to assist them in dealing with the most basic of human needs. If you or someone you love is disabled or elderly you will want to make sure that the bathroom for yourself or your loved one is set up in a manner that offers the greatest possible assistance. The good news is that there are many devices on the market that will accomplish just that. When renovating your bathroom you need to really consider the importance of allowing enough space in which to maneuver your wheel chair or walker. You will need to keep in mind the special needs being represented in every phase of your bathroom renovations. Your primary concern should be allowing the space needed in order to properly maneuver as well as the need to insure your safety from slips and falls. There are many different varieties of wall-mounted fixtures, which can be critical in maintaining some degree of independence regardless of age or disability. Only you can decide which fixtures and furnishings need to be installed in your bathroom. This should be done according to your individual needs and the needs of those who will be sharing your facilities. If you are looking for a few good ideas or suggestions, consider installing cabinets that are wall mounted rather than those that occupy precious floor space. You should also consider mirrors that tilt downwards in order to be used by those in wheel chairs. Another consideration would be faucets. You will want to make sure someone in a wheel chair can easily reach them. Storage is another important issue in bathrooms that are designed for the handicapped or infirmed. You will need to make sure that the clasps securing the cabinets can be opened with little effort. This is very important if you are the person who will be using this bathroom suffers from arthritis. You may also want to adjust the height of the wall switch in the bathroom or install some sort of motion sensitive lighting so that lighting doesn’t become problematic. Other things that are worth consideration are the following: fold down seating for showers, slip-free mats for the bath, railing mounted in the shower and next to the toilet, and some sort of emergency pull chain so that help can be called if someone does slip and fall and needs assistance. Related Bed and Bath Articles
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