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Monday, September 24, 2012

Disabled Accessibility Bathroom Remodeling...A Guide

Remodel to Stay In Your Home
Remodeling to stay in your home…I read an article recently about a new trend in remodeling, that being to make some basic changes in order to remain in ones home even after suffering an illness that could make certain areas of your home inaccessible due to an illness or disability.
No room in the home is less accessible, ADA or disability friendly… than our typical 5 x 7 bathroom.
Well…there are some things that can be done to turn this around without completely upending the entire house.
First, we start at the door…in most cases your typical door is only 30 inches wide, no where near enough for a wheel chair which needs a minimum of 36″.   With very little effort, the door can be made wider or in some cases removed.  Now….you are able to at least GET IN!
Next is the vanity…this gets in the way of making the door wider…so we look at wall hung lavs or ped lavs as an option.  Both will allow for the chair to pull up closer to the sink.  Then consider the faucet…a high arc with paddle handles is just the ticket; easy to reach & use even if your disability has left the use of your hands at a minimum.
The toilet…remove that old low to the ground unit and replace it with what we call an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) approved one.  Add to this grab bar assist(s) and in many cases accessibility has been restored.
The tub….what to do…a disability may make standing difficult, much less getting in and out of a bathtub.

We counsel the need to have a standard tub in your home for resale value, but IT IS YOUR HOME!  Resale value may not be high on your priority list.  We now have a good selection of shower bases that retro fit right over the existing plumbing.  Installing one with a low profile or even a ramped, fully handicap accessible base should fit most requirements allowing the user to roll right in to the shower area.
Finally, change out the fixed shower head with a hand held, add in a couple of grab bars, waterproof shower chair….AND…what was a task that once seemed out of reach….becomes manageable for many disabled individuals.
When the remodel is complete, the nightmare of using something as simple as a standard bathroom has been made at the very least usable once again.  Dignity and self reliance has been restored and hopefully; you’ll be able to enjoy your home and its familiar surrounding for years to come.  www.dalcohomeremodeling.com