Designing for My Dad’s Needs

A few years ago, my dad lost a leg to Vascular disease, and then two short years later, he lost the other one. My dad was actually still working right up until the pain in his feet started to get so severe that he could no longer function, and a few months later one leg was gone below the knee. [2]

My parents live in a bungalow (single-level) home, so there were not many modifications needed to their home for them to stay in it. There was one exception to this and that was the bathroom space. There were several things in their current bathroom that made it very difficult for my dad to use to shower and maneuver. I did not know how to make a bathroom handicap accessible at the time, but I did a bunch of research and came up with some solutions and a design to help my parents out! [2]

Accessible Bathroom Considerations

First of all, there are ADA guidelines that talk about the official rules when it comes to things like clearances, space in front of or beside things, doorway widths, and things of that nature. When we were renovating my parent’s bathrooms, we were not able to meet all of the guidelines for accessible bathroom design exactly because we had limited space to work with. However, I had the benefit of being able to ask my dad just what his specific needs were as far as space and easy access. [2]

For example, in the powder room, ADA requirements require a grab bar on the side of the toilet for bathroom safety and easy transfers from the wheelchair to the toilet. However, my dad had already been using the bathroom without one for quite some time and didn’t feel like he needed a bar there, he uses the side of the sink. If he does require it in the future, it’s an easy addition. Also, the powder room is a small bathroom and not large enough according to the guidelines to allow wheelchairs to turn around for it to be a totally compliant bathroom. However, my dad is not a big guy and his wheelchair is pretty small, so it works ok for him. [2]

Designing the Accessible Vanity

In order to make the sinks easy for my dad to use from a sitting position, they needed to be a little bit lower and have some open space below to allow him to get closer to them. The vanities that were in my parent’s house before were all extra tall (36″) and had cabinetry on the bottom so he really had to stretch to reach it. [2]

In the ensuite bathroom, we solved this problem by designing some custom cabinetry. I designed a double sink table-style vanity with legs that were a little lower to allow my dad to roll right up to it. I talked to my mom about the storage that she would be losing with this option, and we decided to add a center countertop tower for storage as well as some drawers between the sinks. [2]

In that bathroom, we really only needed one sink to be accessible. However, we felt that having only one would make it look like a handicap-accessible bathroom and we wanted it to look a little more designerly. So we opted for symmetry and my parents say they have plenty of storage in this design. [2]

Accessible Shower and Toilet

The shower was by far the trickiest part. We opted to install a curbless shower stall that had a very slight ramp-up from the bathroom floor. This allows it to be a roll-in shower design. In theory, this accessible shower all drains towards the drain and water shouldn’t end up going on the other side of the ‘slope” and running into the bathroom. In reality, however, a little bit that splashes here and there was ending up getting out of the shower. In order to deal with this post-construction, we added a plastic shower dam that is like a collapsible water retainer. If you roll your wheelchair over it, it collapses and then just pops back up. [2]

We also designed a niche for storing shampoo and such lower down within easy reach. When laying out the plumbing, we were sure to put the shower controls within reach of someone in a seated position. We also used an adjustable shower head so they can move it up for my mom or down for my Dad, and he can have the water right where he needs it. [2]

Another thing to consider is the height of the toilet. My parent’s house had standard lower toilets which made it difficult to transfer from the chair height of a wheelchair to the seat. In both bathrooms, we replaced the toilet with comfort height toilets that sit just a little higher and allow for easier access. [2]

Creating a Functional Yet Beautiful Space

Designing these bathrooms specifically for the needs of my Dad and his physical limitations is going to allow my parents to live in this house a lot longer, which is the ultimate goal. My mom also loves the new bathroom designs, the old ones were quite brown and a little dated and these updates really made a big difference in their home. [2]

My mom especially loves that these bathrooms are like… sneakily accessible, they have all the accessible features my dad needs but yet they don’t look like a hospital bathroom. Good design does not have to be sacrificed for accessibility! [2]

I am so happy that I was able to help out with my parent’s renovations. My Dad was always doing stuff around the house when I was growing up, renovating, building garages and fences, tiling, you name it. I learned most of what I know by helping him and let’s just say he rubbed off on me. Working alongside my dad is a memory that I will always cherish and I hope to pass along those kinds of memories to my own kids someday. [2]

Key Accessible Bathroom Design Elements

Here are some of the top steps to design a wheelchair accessible senior bathroom:

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]

Designing an accessible bathroom may require some extra considerations, but it doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style. With a little creativity and focus on your loved one’s specific needs, you can create a beautiful and functional space that allows them to maintain their independence and dignity. It’s a gift that keeps on giving for years to come.