When remodeling or building a new home, consider designing your bathroom with an accessible shower.  It is much easier to include an accessible shower when remodeling or building is already occurring instead of waiting until you need it; plus it can save you time, money, and stress down the road. 

Some people worry that accessible showers are “ugly”, but that does not have to be the case.  Below is an article that John Whipple wrote on Houzz about features to consider when designing an accessible shower.  As you can see, the accessible showers are stunning. 

So why wait until you need an accessible shower, when emotions and stress levels are high?  Have one installed now when you can enjoy your beautiful shower for years to come!

How to Design an Accessible Shower

When designing a shower for someone in his or her golden years, remember that this person may have poor vision, balance or mobility. A caregiver or spouse may need room to help with the bathing process, so a shower space should be generously sized and include room to enter with an extra person, a wheelchair or a walker.

That said, an accessible shower does not need to lack in style, as these examples show. Being proactive in your next shower renovation means you can include some or all of these features, even before you need them. It's better to be ready for accessibility than have to scramble to renovate when the need arrives.

Here are some things to consider when planning a shower for seniors.

This shower was designed and built by Harrell Remoldeling. This team's projects always sparkle, and this is a gem. Notice the placement of the grab bars in this bathroom — very well thought out.

If you live in a warmer climate, you may not need a shower door or shower curtain at all. Designing the space as a true wet room — with the entire bathroom floor as a shower pan — makes entry into the shower effortless and provides plenty of room for a caregiver.

Tip: When planning a wet room, consider a wall-hung toilet. This toilet makes building the wet room much easier, since it does not send waste through the floor's waterproofing system. You can also place a wall-hung toilet in a higher position, which makes getting on and off it much easier.

When it comes to a shower's footprint or size, bigger is always better for seniors. This wonderful shower features an oversize door that makes entering the shower space very easy.

Tip: Place the shower control valves near the entry so you don't need to get wet when starting the shower and letting it warm up.

Installing large-format tile can create a nice, level surface for a removable shower stool or shower bench. This shower also includes a handheld spray wand to make bathing easier.

Tip: Unless you're building in a shower bench from the very beginning, consider a one-way slope on your shower floor (like in this photo), so the shower's bench or stool does not rock when it's sat on. Often showers with a standard single-point drain have multiple slopes, and a four-legged stool will rock on these types of floors.

This bathroom was designed and built by By Design Builders, which specified an LED drain light so the client can keep his or her bearings when the shower steams up. If you suffer from a vision impairment, consider one of these LED light kits and linear shower drains.

Tip: Ensure that your bathroom is safely lit at night. Also consider installing nightlights to clearly illuminate the hallway between the bedroom and the bathroom.

Stepping into a regular soaker tub can be hard to do for anyone, but it's more manageable if the distance into the tub is reduced with a step and there are grab bars.

If your shower or bath is dark and you need a little extra light, one or two of these LED grab bars from Elio might be just what you need. They can switch on and off and glow with a nice white light.

Tip: It is not uncommon for someone to slip while getting on or off the toilet, or in or out of the tub. If a pull-chain safety monitor switch cannot be installed nearby, consider a wireless device that can be worn as a necklace.

If your home is connected to a monitored home alarm system, consider installing a panic button in the shower. Many can be switched out to a version with a pull chain.

Tip: When someone falls, sometimes they can't get up, so make the button or pull chain accessible from a prone position.

If a shower curb absolutely needs to be installed, make sure it's as low as possible. At 5 to 7 1/2 inches high, traditional shower curbs can be difficult to step over for those with poor mobility or vision. This shower curb is just under 2 inches, allowing easier access.

Tip: Consider custom grab bars for a shower's glass entry door. These grab bars have a hammered finish, making them easier to grip with soapy hands. I like installing a grab bar right at the entry of the shower and near the shower niche, so bathers can steady themselves when entering and exiting the shower, and when reaching for the shampoo bottle.

While your family in and around Minneapolis may not require any changes to your home right now, consider those visiting your home.Perhaps you have friends, parents, grandparents or other visitors with mobility devices. Including the following three accessibility features will make your home easier for them to visit. Anne- Marie Brunet, CKD, CBD's article on Houzz.com lists 3 home features you can do to boost accessibility.


1.    At least one zero-step entrance on a route that's accessible from either the driveway or sidewalk — a slight slope blended in with the landscape is always friendlier than a bulky ramp.
2.    Interior doors that have at least 32 inches of unobstructed width (for walkers and wheelchairs).
3.    A half bath on the main floor (accessible without stairs).

These features also will help any nonimpaired individuals remain in the home down the road should they develop a disability, either temporary or permanent. 
When we're vibrant and independent, we rarely give consideration to these concerns. However, consider for a moment the possibility that you or one of your family members may sustain a temporary injury requiring the use of a chair or walker for the recovery period. How would your home measure up?

The Entry
This is a wonderful example of how to incorporate a ramp on a traditional house. A gentle slope from the driveway leads to the courtyard entry and a side door. Materials such as stone, flagstone, bluestone and pavers offer solid footing and gripping contact for wheelchairs. Make sure there are no trip hazards for those with walkers or crutches.
Composite decking material, as shown on this ramp, is another popular choice. This material is best used on a covered area in climates with snow and ice, as it could get slippery. Take care when shoveling not to damage the surface.
Concrete or stamped concrete also offers good contact for wheelchairs and walkers. It can be less expensive than traditional flagstone and can be colored to complement your exterior colors. Stamped concrete also comes in a variety of shapes and patterns to mimic flagstone, slate, bluestone or pavers.
Even on hillsides, ramps and slopes can be artfully blended into the landscape. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifications require a slope ratio of 1:12, which means that for every 1 foot of ramp, the rise should not exceed 1 inch. Therefore, if your home has an entry point that's 16 inches above level ground, your ramp will need to be 16 feet long.
A covered or sheltered entryway offers homeowners and visitors alike shelter from the weather. This benefits those with mobility aids who need to put things aside to manipulate keys and doors. For even quicker access, keyless push-button entry systems eliminate the need to fuss with keys, and a door with a lever handle is easier to manipulate than a thumb latch or round knob. Keep this area well lit for safety reasons, too.
Consider having a bench or other landing space outside the entry door to put packages on.
A bench or table on the inside of the entry is a bonus too for those juggling keys, walkers and packages.

Doorways

Wider doorways and hallways contribute to the accessibility of any home. Aim for a minimum of 32 inches of clear opening. This measurement might need to be adjusted depending on the individual and mobility device. One easy option for retrofitting existing doors to provide the minimum clear opening is to replace existing door hinges with swing-away hinges. These are hinges that allow a door to completely swing away from the opening, creating a wider passage; they can be used on doors 30 inches or wider. A door smaller than 30 inches wide would not comply with the minimum clear opening of 32 inches.
Pocket doors can also minimize door swings, but they require more remodeling work than swing-away hinges do. The Modernus Roto door reduces swing space by 40 percent and has only a 30 percent force requirement for ADA accessibility.
Wider hallways and turn zones allow individuals with wheelchairs to easily turn and navigate. Aim for a minimum of 5 feet wide on average; however, some in motorized chairs will need a more generous 7 feet radius to turn their chairs.

A Main Floor Half Bath

A powder room on the main level embraces accessibility. Aim for ample floor space for easy navigation. While the door on this quaint powder room swings in, ample floor space means a wheelchair can still navigate it. The light switch is also lower for ease of use. A pocket door in this room would completely free up floor space for easy transfer to the toilet.
This vanity allows for a front approach as well as a side approach to access the wall-mounted faucets. It has ample room underneath for wheelchair users, too.