Bathrooms for the disabled.

Living with the pressure of a disability can make everyday endevours that most people take for granted seem so much more challenging. Whether you've found yourself learning to live with a disability or whether it's something that you've been living with all of your life, there are so many simple changes that can be made in your home, which can make day to day tasks not only easier but safer too. The bathroom has the potential to be a hazardous room but just a few simple changes can give you back your independence.

If your bathroom is tiled, it might be easier to keep clean but water on a hard surface can become a trip hazard. If you notice one of your taps has started to drip or one of the pipes have started to leak you need to get it fixed as soon as possible. Keep a towel rail next to your basin and show/bath so you're not dripping water across the floor.

Water isn't the only thing that can cause you to fall in the bathroom; mats can be serious tripping hazards too. If you do have a tiled floor, rubber matting is cheap and sits just under the mat to stop it slipping and some tape especially for mats can be applied to help prevent tripping if they curl up. These are both very cheap and easy solutions that can have a dramatic impact on you safety.

Grab rails, although a little more expensive than rubber matting, are still cheap. They can install next to the toilet, bath, shower, basin or anywhere where you feel you might need a little extra support. Strong plastic ones are often easier to install as they don't need to be earth bound, if you need a grab rail installed in a stud wall and you're worried it won't be strong enough, a floor to ceiling pole would perform the same job.

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If turning the taps has become too hard, consider fitting taps with leavers, which don't need as much pressure as regular taps. If these are also too difficult, taps with sensors can be fitted, although they are a bit more expensive, they can make your life much simpler.

Although you may be reluctant to relinquish any more freedom and privacy than you're already had too, you may want to consider removing the lock from the bathroom door. If the worst were to happen, and you did fall or hurt yourself, quick access would be needed. A simple policy of always leaving the bathroom door open if it's empty (and therefore only closed when it's in use) could quickly be established.

These are fairly simple changes, which can be easily implemented to make your bathroom safer and they can have a huge difference and make your life a lot easier, however you may need to make more dramatic changes to your bathroom for it to be truly safe.

Walk in baths and wet rooms may be more expensive but they are something that should be considered if you're struggling with your bathroom. A walk in bath would mean you wouldn't have to try and step over the side of the bath anymore, a small door, which can be easily opened and closed is fitted into the side of the bath, it's completely water tight and can also be fitted with a seat so you don't have to lower yourself in and out the bath making bathing a lot easier for anyone with motability problems.

A wet room would transform your entire bathroom. A wet room would mean your floor would be fitted with a drain allowing the water to drain away and tiling would make your whole bathroom water proof. A wet room is normally all on the same level making it wheel chair accessible. Wet rooms are often easier to clean and maintain than a regular bathroom and can give anyone with motability problems more safety and freedom when it comes to bathing.

More ideas can be found at www.bathroomcity.co.uk