A home is a place where people should feel safe and comfortable. As we age, mobility can decrease, leading to the need for more accessible features around our homes, like a shower bar in the bathroom. More than just a tool for convenience, an ADA-compliant shower is a crucial aspect of accessible home design that not only improves safety but can even save lives.
Read on to learn more about why shower bars are an essential part of accessible homes.
What Is An ADA-Compliant Shower?
The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, defines a “compliant shower” as one that incorporates safety and accessibility features. These can include grab bars, or shower bars, to low thresholds, anti-slip flooring, handheld shower heads, and more. These features help prevent slips and falls, which can cause significant injury or even death.
According to the National Institute of Health, an estimated one-third of adults over the age of 65 experience a fall in their home. Implementing safety features in a bathroom, which is known for being slippery, can prevent many of these accidents.
Who Can Benefit From Shower Bars?
Aging adults are perhaps the most common users of shower bars and other ADA-compliant features at home. However, they aren’t the only ones; a shower bar can also be beneficial for
- People with disabilities. There is a wide range of disabilities and medical issues that can be helped with the installation of a shower bar. Anyone with mobility issues from an injury or surgery may require additional assistance.
- Anyone with diverse needs. Young children learning independence can also benefit from something to hold on to as they learn to use their legs standing up. They can also be helpful for parents as they assist them in the bath.
Why Shower Bars Are A Bathroom Necessity
A simple feature like a shower bar can go a long way to making a hazardous environment like a bathroom that much safer for elderly or disabled people. Shower floors are slippery with water and soap, making slips and falls easy, even for those who don’t have any physical challenges. Therefore, a shower bar can be useful for everyone in the household.
Additional benefits of a shower bar include the following:
Promote Independence
One of the hardest parts of getting older is coping with the reality that you’ll need additional help in your daily life. This gradual loss of independence can hit hard for anyone who has lived alone for a significant amount of time. Having independence, whenever possible, is a simple way to maintain dignity, self-esteem, and a high quality of life.
Shower bars are just one feature that helps make the home safer and more comfortable, allowing people to stay in them longer, without the need for a residential facility.
Allow Ease Of Use For At-Home Caregivers
Many elderly people who live alone still require assistance from at-home caregivers. Shower bars are helpful for caregivers assisting with bathing as much as they are for the homeowner. Shower bars and other ADA-compliant features help reduce strain from having to hold or lift someone when sitting, entering, or exiting the shower.
Additional Features Of ADA-Compliant Showers
Shower Bars are just one of many safety features that can help reduce the dangers associated with home bathrooms. Additional ADA-compliant features include
Low Or No Threshold Entry Showers
Many bathrooms have tubs and showers with high sides, making it difficult for people with mobility issues to raise their legs up. This can increase the risk of an injury. A low or no threshold shower is lower to the ground, which is helpful for people in wheelchairs to enter and exit. It’s also easier for a caregiver to enter seamlessly to offer help as needed.
Built-In Shower Seats
Sore, aching joints can make standing difficult. A bench or foldable seat allows users to be more comfortable and relaxed, reducing the possibility of fatigue or falling. The shower experience becomes less of a daily task and more of a relaxing, pleasurable experience.
Adjustable Shower Heads
A shower head that can be easily removed from the wall makes it easy to adjust and customize water temperature and pressure. They also have long hoses that allow for flexibility and convenience when washing, without having to stand up. Some adjustable shower heads come with controls that are easy for anyone to use, including those with arthritis.
Why You Should Consider A Shower Bar For Your Home
Perhaps no one in your home currently has mobility issues that would require the use of a shower bar. However, it’s still a worthwhile investment: think of it as “future-proofing” your home. After all, aging is inevitable. An incident that temporarily leaves one disabled can happen at any time.
Rather than deal with accessibility tools at a time that is always confounded with stress, consider adding a shower bar now (and other ADA-compliant features) to keep your home safe and functional for many years to come. You may also increase your home’s market value in the process.
Additionally, anyone renting out their home, either with long-term leases or as a short-term Airbnb, should consider ADA-compliant features. You will not only comply with building codes, but also boost the property appeal and broaden your tenant base.
Enhancing Mobility & Accessibility In South Florida
The process of getting older and losing mobility can be challenging, even scary. Adding accessibility features to your home is one way to maintain quality of life for as long as possible. In addition to shower bars, Advanced Mobility Inc. offers:
Door Openers, and more.
Call 954-888-9292 to schedule a consultation that considers your unique needs and the features of your home. From start to finish, our team has the compassion and expertise to help you feel more at home in your home.