Bathroom

Common dementia related issues with using the bathroom and toilet include perception, continence, hygiene and grooming difficulties, falls, floods, burns, behaviour such as placement of inappropriate items in the toilet, and fear of toilet, shower or water spray.

Consider these features in a bathroom which may support independence and safety:

• Contrasting colours for the door, toilet seat and grab rails to highlight way to bathroom, and to assist with perception problems
• Correct toilet height for person and toilet paper easily seen and reached
• Adequate natural or artificial light in the bathroom area for age, vision and perception needs
• Adjustable height shower chair
• Wide entry doorway with outward swinging or sliding door or hinges to allow removal of door / easy emergency access to bathroom
• Paint on or self-adhesive non-slip strips in shower and bath and non slip/ slip resistant flooring
• Hand held shower hose to direct water spray away from face
• No screen
• Hobless shower with level floor surface
• Grab rails (not towel rails) beside the toilet and in the shower recess
• Hygiene support products
• Water usage sensor (home automation system)
• Sensor and / or night lighting for night-time visits to the toilet, glow in the dark adhesive strips
• Emergency call assistance button
• Thermostatic mixing valve / shut off device or local energy supplier adjust temperature to safe level
• Flood detector / toilet overflow alarm
• Pressure sensitive sink plug (magi plug)

Some of the ideas are simple and inexpensive, whilst others require professional installation and are more costly. For professional advise regarding your circumstances and needs, please contact the Independent Living Centre on 1300 885 886.