Accessible Solutions: Bathroom Fixtures

Before selecting a bath or shower fixture, homeowners should consider all the alternative methods that can be used for bathing. Showering in a wheelchair - For wheelchair users who cannot transfer, roll-in shower stalls are the best alternative. Although some manual wheelchairs have waterproof bearings, shower chairs are commonly used. Shower chairs have four small-diameter caster wheels rather than drive wheels and therefore must be pushed. Because all wheels caster independently, shower chairs require smaller maneuvering clearances than conventional wheelchairs. Some people who use wheelchairs are semi-ambulatory and can move to bath fixtures with assistive aids. Some wheelchair users have sufficient upper body strength and agility to transfer into bathtubs or onto a shower seat. People with high level spinal cord injuries often transfer with portable lifts. For these residents, bathing may be most convenient in special shower chairs. Many accessible fixtures are also used by other family members, so their bathing needs should also be considered. Seated Showering - Showering can also be performed while seated on either a stall bench or a stool positioned over a bathtub. For many people, a seat makes showering easier and safer, because they do not need to assume a reclined position nor do they need to maintain their balance as they shower. When seated, however, it is more difficult for bathers to clean certain body parts. Portable shower seats allow wheelchair users to enter tub fixtures. To rinse their body, seated bathers must use a hand-held spray. They are still vulnerable to sudden water temperature fluctuation, but they can redirect or discontinue the flow to avoid scalding. Bathing - Passive relaxation in a warm bath can be both pleasant and beneficial. For wheelchair users, transfer into and out of a bathtub is a very difficult maneuver. Once the bather is seated, positive buoyancy provided by water makes some activities easier. Unlike with showers, water temperature is pre-adjusted and can be safely maintained. Washing can be difficult because bathers must assume various positions to clean themselves. Based on the needs of the wheelchair user and other family members, homeowners should select appropriate fixtures. The bathroom plan should allow the selected fixture to be used in the desired manner. Provisions for future modifications should be considered. Bathing Fixture Options The type of bathing fixture that homeowners elect to install determines how they can bathe. Many wheelchair users prefer a roll-in shower because they do not need to transfer into a seat in the stall. Bathing Activity Typical Application Showering in a wheelchair • Roll-in shower Seated showering • Stall shower with portable or built-in seat • Portable shower seat over bathtub • Portable shower seat in roll-in shower Bathing • Bathtub or tub/shower Design and Installation of Bath Fixtures Bathrooms typically include (1) roll-in showers, (2) stall showers, or (3) bathtubs. Any of these fixtures can be designed to make bathing easier and safer. With any fixture, there are several alternative ways to bathe, but compromises are necessary for additional flexibility. A tub designed exclusively for bathing, for example, provides greater user comfort and safety than a unit that is also a shower receptor.

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