Accessible bathrooms
Adapting a bathroom for an elderly parent
Adult children often arrange this work remotely. The practical questions are what the parent can still do unaided, and what will change in the next few years.
Specification points
- 1
Design for the likely next stage as well as today, reinforced walls and a level floor cost little now and avoid a second project.
- 2
Keep as much familiarity as possible; a completely unfamiliar room can reduce confidence rather than improve independence.
Questions we get asked
Should we remove the bath?
Only if bathing is no longer used or safe. Many households keep a bath and add a safe shower option.
Can the work be phased?
Yes, walls can be prepared now and rails or seats added when they are needed.
Related expert guides
Hoist-ready bathroomsAccessible bathroomsAdaptation funding routesAccessible bathroomsDoorway wideningAccessible bathroomsPlanning around a growing or changing householdSituations and planningSafety flooringMaterials and finishesSudden accessibility need after illness or injurySituations and planning
Where this fits with our work
Add adapting for elderly parents to a wider project?
Plenty of this work happens alongside other jobs in the house. Tell us the whole picture and the sequencing gets easier.