Bathrooms


Creating safe, accessible care home bathrooms


Chris Tranter, senior product manager at Bristan, discusses how to approach bathroom design within a care home, what to consider and how to choose the most suitable products


There are many considerations for care home providers when designing safe, accessible bathrooms for residents. Not only does the space need to protect from a whole host of risks and accommodate varying needs, but it still needs to feel like ‘home’ and allow residents to maintain a safe level of independence. Making a few careful design


adaptations and choosing the right products can help create a bathroom that is safe, comfortable and fit for purpose. Every care home bathroom will differ depending on the complex needs of the residents. Some elderly residents may live more


independently but have limited strength or dexterity, so need bathroom products that offer easy usability. Others may have more debilitating


conditions, such as visual impairments or age-related diseases like dementia, so require bathroom products tailored to their specific needs. By 2030, there will be potentially over


6.25m older people with a long-term limiting illness or disability, so we need to ensure that care home products are chosen with inclusivity in mind. It is not just the residents themselves that have varying needs. Care home


providers will have different budgets, tastes and timeframes, meaning what will work for some will not work for others. With over 40 years of expertise of


delivering the perfect solution in a variety of sectors, Bristan recommends that


Residents usually favour design to which they are accustomed, so choosing products that are more traditional can help them feel more comfortable and at home in their environment


February 2021 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


care home providers should always work closely with their supplier to find a product mix that works for their individual needs. While a one-size-fits-all approach


certainly does not exist, there are a few things that stand true for every care home and its bathroom design. First and foremost, safety must be


paramount when designing bathrooms spaces - scalding, slips and falls are all very real risks that should be minimised as much as possible. Products should always comply with


all the relevant safety standards, and should be high-quality and durable to be able to withstand frequent use.


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