Coming home from hospital should be a positive step, but everyday tasks can suddenly feel very different when your mobility is reduced.

Whether you’re recovering from a hip or knee replacement, surgery, an accident or a period of illness, one room that’s particularly important to think about is the bathroom.

A bathroom that was perfectly manageable before going into hospital may present new challenges when you return home. Stepping into a bath, standing for a long shower or getting up from a low position can all become more difficult.

The good news is that you don’t necessarily need a complete new bathroom. A few carefully considered changes can make a big difference.

Think About the Bathroom Before Coming Home

Where possible, it’s worth assessing the bathroom before hospital discharge rather than waiting until somebody is back home and struggling.

Consider the everyday movements involved in using it. Is there a bath with a high side to step over? Is the shower difficult to enter? Is there somewhere to sit if standing becomes tiring? Are there suitable points of support?

Identifying these potential problems early gives you an opportunity to make the bathroom more practical before it’s needed.

Consider Removing the Bath

For someone with reduced mobility, getting in and out of a traditional bath can be one of the biggest challenges.

If the bath is rarely used anyway, replacing it with a shower could provide a much more practical long-term solution.

A bath-out, shower-in conversion uses the space previously occupied by the bath to create a new showering area. Depending on the bathroom, this could incorporate a low-level shower tray, walk-in screen and other accessibility features.

It can transform how easy the bathroom is to use without necessarily requiring a complete redesign.

Choose a Low-Level or Walk-In Shower

Reducing the height that somebody needs to step over can make showering considerably easier.

Low-level shower trays and walk-in shower designs can provide easier access while still creating a modern-looking bathroom.

The important thing is choosing a design that suits the individual. Available space, balance, mobility and whether assistance may sometimes be required should all be considered when planning the shower area.

Would a Shower Seat Help?

Standing for the duration of a shower can be tiring during recovery.

A shower seat can provide somewhere to sit comfortably while washing. Depending on the shower and the user’s requirements, this could be a freestanding seat or a securely installed fold-down option.

It’s worth considering this at the design stage so there’s sufficient room to use the seat comfortably while still being able to reach the shower controls.

Consider Grab Rails

Strategically positioned grab rails can provide additional support when entering, leaving or moving around the shower.

Positioning is important. A grab rail should be installed where it’s genuinely useful to the person using the bathroom rather than simply where it happens to fit.

Modern grab rails are also available in a variety of designs and finishes, so making a bathroom easier to use doesn’t have to make it look clinical.

Make Sure Everything Is Within Easy Reach

It’s not only about getting into the shower.

Think about where the controls are positioned, whether the shower head can be reached easily and where toiletries will be stored.

If bending, stretching or twisting is going to be difficult during recovery, relatively small changes to the layout can make the shower much more comfortable to use.

Don’t Forget About Slippery Surfaces

Wet bathrooms naturally create a slip risk, which can become more important when somebody is recovering from an operation or has reduced balance.

The shower tray, bathroom flooring and general layout should therefore all be considered.

Good lighting is important too, particularly for anyone who may need to use the bathroom during the night.

An Accessible Bathroom Doesn’t Have to Look Clinical

One concern people sometimes have is that making a bathroom easier to use will turn it into something that resembles a hospital bathroom.

That doesn’t have to be the case.

Modern shower screens, wall panels, shower systems, low-level trays and bathroom accessories mean it’s possible to create an attractive contemporary bathroom while also making accessibility an important part of the design.

The objective should be to create a bathroom that’s easier to use now but still looks and feels like part of your home.

You May Not Need to Replace Everything

If time is limited before somebody comes home from hospital, a complete bathroom renovation may not be necessary.

Sometimes the priority is simply dealing with the biggest obstacle.

If the toilet and basin are suitable but the bath is difficult to access, concentrating on converting the bathing area into a more accessible shower could provide the improvement that’s needed.

The right solution will depend on the existing bathroom and the individual’s circumstances.

Need to Make Your Bathroom Easier to Use?

If you or a family member is preparing to come home from hospital, The Shower Experts can help you look at practical ways to make showering easier.

From removing an existing bath and replacing it with a more accessible shower to considering seating, grab rails and easier access, relatively straightforward changes can make a significant difference.

And when circumstances change quickly, having a bathroom that’s ready can be one less thing to worry about when you get home.

Contact us  today for more information or advice, call now on 03300 434506

Alternatively you can visit our website: https://www.showerexperts.co.uk/