A Desirable Bathroom for the Disabled

For anyone who has ever suffered a physical injury or is physically disabled knows how difficult it can be to maneuver especially in a standard bathroom. It is unfathomable to even imagine what it is like for an individual in a wheelchair when one has never been in this very predicament.  Creating a space that is both stylish and functional with a layout that works for you and meets the needs of a family member or friend with a disability makes for a more desirable bathroom.

Standard or conventional taps can often be problematical to be operated by disabled and elderly people. Small handles can be hard to turn, therefore making it difficult to control the proper water temperature. Basin mixer taps come in several shapes and designs so it is easy to combine style with performance. Going with a single lever mixer unit makes it easy to regulate water temperature and flow. Laser basin mixer taps are can provide a simple solution for those with greater mobility since they are sensitive to the human.

The Right Tap Can Make a Difference

Adjusting taps so they can be easily operated with one hand, these types of mixer taps have one spout and one handle, controlling both hot and cold water. Centre type taps come with a spout and handle in one unit; they may have either single handle or double handle controls which are mainly designed for a three-hole basin. The spread fit tap comes with a separate spout and handle and the connection is concealed beneath the sink and is easily adaptable. Since these types of tapes can individualized, for example is you wish you can mount the tap and faucet on top of the floor mounted furniture or vanity, the tap can be placed on a corner and the handles off to another side.  Placing the handles closer to the front of the sink is ideal for anyone having difficulty extending from the waist area, also these types of mixer taps is great for tight installations where there is limited space around the sink area or at the back of the basin.

As previously mentioned, the single lever tap is best choice because they provide a visual indication of water temperature, and don't require fine hand dexterity to operate. By replacing or changing existing knob-type hardware simply by removing the handles and installing larger double lever or cross knobs that fit the tap will accommodate young children as well as anyone with a physical impairment. Always make certain that handles and levers are easy to operate, if the handles are hard to turn check to make sure that the washers are replaced, barrier free bathrooms should not have any obstacles.

Adjusting the Water Temperature

Finally, stressing the importance of water temperature is essential since taps in both residential bathroom and kitchen settings present the risk of injury of scalding, especially for young toddlers and frail elders. The number of scaling accidents increases in astounding numbers every year and 90 percent happen in the bathroom, something that can be completely avoided by simply achieving a certain temperature setting. When taps are turned on, you are without any facility for pre-selecting the desired temperature, the user must guess at the correct setting, wait for the temperature to rise, and then readjust to the correct temperature.

Often this trial and error process may result in water temperature that is significantly higher than that which may cause severe burns to the skin. A simple test is to turn on the hot water only, let it run so the highest level of heat in attained.  If you can not comfortably place your hand under the water without burning the skin, immediately lower the temperature. Wait at least 30 minutes before running the water test so that the water in the tank can readjust accordingly; keep repeating this process until the correct water temperature is obtained.