How to Make Your Kitchen and Bathroom Handicap Accessible
With a growing number of the baby boomer generation reaching retirement age and beyond, creating handicap accessible bathrooms and kitchens in residential homes is a growing concern. In many cases, full conversion to ADA compliant kitchens and baths isn’t necessary.
As the availability of home healthcare and other aid increases, many seniors are opting out of the assisted living centers and choosing instead to live out the remainder of their mobile years in their own homes. Working with your contractor to make a few changes can make independent living a reality for yourself, or your aging loved one, for years to come.
Here are some tips to get you started with making your kitchens and bathrooms handicap accessible.
Things to Consider Before the Remodel
Before you start your bathroom remodel take some time to have a conversation with the members of your family about how your bath and kitchen are used now, and what improvements might help those who are struggling with the current design. Here are some questions to ask, especially of the senior members of the household.
What bathroom activities will you or your family member need assistance with?
By starting with your current situation, you can defuse some of the tension around this conversation and get to the root of what’s really needed. It can help you determine if your current fixtures, such as toilets, showers, and tubs are working or need to be upgraded with modified fixtures.
Do you need additional storage for medical supplies or equipment?
You’ll need to provide ample space for required equipment and supplies, as well as considering easy accessibility for those who need them.
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Do you prefer a bathtub or a shower? Or both?
Since tubs and showers are often the largest fixture in a bathroom, determining this will go a long way in determining if changes to the current layout will be needed. Keep in mind, it’s best to plan ahead a bit while making changes, so consider upgrades before they’re needed.
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Will you or your family member’s condition(s) change over time?
For most seniors, the answer to this is yes. While many people do manage to live into their nineties capable of fully independent living, assuming that can mean costly adjustments in the future. While you’re remodeling is the best time to get the most value out of your remodeling dollars.
There are options that can be adapted as conditions change. Renovations in anyone’s home is a disruptive thing. This is especially true for seniors. You can minimize this interruption in your daily routine by doing it just once.
Light Switches
Most newer homes have light switches set at ADA heights, which are built into the building code, but bathrooms often have out of the way switches that are hard to get to. It doesn’t cost a lot to have switches moved to a more accessible height or location.
Moving away from standard flip switches to wider plate toggles, or modern decor switches can also help. A frustrating switch may mean those who need it most, will simply avoid turning on a light.
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Motion Detection
Depending on your situation, a motion detector installed in a kitchen or bath to automatically turn on critical lighting can be a great option. They can be installed in place of standard switches without making any other changes.
Spacing
It is best to install 36-inch doors on bathroom openings. You’ll also need to consider space in front of every plumbing fixture and storage space that will be used by anyone with reduced mobility. Leave at least 30 inches, but preferably 48 inches to ensure there is room for walkers, or wheelchairs, to be turned around.
How to Make Your Kitchen and Bathroom Handicap Accessible
It’s easy to think of kitchen and bath fixtures as being permanently located, but things can often be moved by as much as a foot, or more, without requiring extensive replumbing.
Another idea that many don’t think of is the installation of a sliding or pocket door, or changing an inswing door to an outswing.
You can also consider swapping plumbing fixtures, such as a toilet, or sink, depending on the drain installation and location. Even a small change may be all that’s required to make a bathroom or kitchen handicap accessible for aging users.
Aging in place is an expensive undertaking, and we’d love to have your business, but many times a layout you love can be made to work without huge upgrades.
Install a bidet, for those who might otherwise require assistance for hygiene purposes.
Replace your doorknobs with lever-style hardware to make it easy to get in and out. Knob type faucets can be replaced with similar lever-style fixtures for ease of use.
Remove trip hazards and make sure all flooring is secure.
