5 Ways to Create an Arthritis-Friendly Bathroom without Being Intrusive
When you have limitations due to arthritis, the bathroom is a common area of the home that can become more difficult to use safely and without increasing pain. However, you may want to balance your accessibility needs with the comfort of others in your home. A combination of assistive devices and modifications can work for the entire household.
Use a Bathtub Lift
Bathtub lifts are a way to avoid the expense of installing a walk-in tub and to allow other household members to continue using the bathtub as usual. Many people with arthritis affecting their knees do not have adequate range of motion to sit down in the tub. Furthermore, being limited to only showering can be frustrating. Some models of bathtub lifts are lightweight and easy to remove from the bathtub.
Since many bathtub lifts only use suction cups to securely attach the lift to the bathtub, they do not require any modifications to the tub or bathroom. A rechargeable lithium ion battery is typically the power source to raise and lower you in the bathtub. If stepping into or out of the bathtub is also a concern, a transfer seat can be used and detached from the side of the bathtub as needed.
Install the Right Shower Door
If your shower requires a sliding door, consider replacing your current door with a hinged door. Sliding doors can be painful to maneuver when arthritis affects your shoulders, elbows, wrists, and/or hands. Make sure the handle has a larger circumference and consider adding cushioned grips. The larger circumference can make grabbing the handle easier and requires less grip strength. A hinged shower door can have additional benefits over a sliding door, too. With a sliding door, debris and mineral deposits can form in the door tracks and make the door increasingly difficult to move. This is especially problematic if you have hard water in your home. A hinged door does not have the same issue.
When selecting a shower door, you should also consider the weight of the door itself. A heavier door will be more difficult and painful to open. Contact a company like Glasshopper Schor Glass for more options.
Cushion Your Feet
Ideally, a bathroom floor with a texturized surface will help with traction, especially when you are barefoot. However, installing a new floor is not always practical. As an alternative, use bath runners. Like a traditional bath mat, they can prevent slipping when getting out of the tub or shower, but runners have a larger surface area and can be used as a cushioned walkway between the bathroom door and other parts of the bathroom. Some bath runners are made from memory foam to add extra cushion and minimize the impact of a cold bathroom floor on your feet.
Change Handles
Door and faucet handles can be a frequent challenge due to hand arthritis. Changing the handles throughout the bathroom can be a quick and comfortable fix. In general, lever-style handles require little to no grip strength and are less likely to be overtightened by other members of your home. Choose larger handles with a textured surface to increase comfort to make them easier to grip. If you have the option, faucet handles requiring an up and down motion are often easier on the hands and wrists than ones requiring side-to-side motions.
Improve Balance
If you need help with balance or just want to feel secure knowing help is there, suction grips are the ideal solution. Unlike traditional shower grips or railings, suction grips are not permanently attached to the wall. As long as there is a smooth surface to attach the grip, it can be repositioned throughout your bathroom depending on your needs at the moment. Another benefit is the device is portable and can be used in another bathroom outside of your home.
When you need accommodations to make living with arthritis easier, you may be concerned about the impact on other members of your household. There are ways to make common difficulties in the bathroom easier to handle without making significant changes to your bathroom.