A building and its environment can have a significant effect on a person with dementia, and can either support them or accelerate their deterioration. As one of the most consistently used and also potentially hazardous areas of any home or facility, the design of the bathroom is crucial to a successful dementia-friendly project.

The aim of dementia-friendly bathroom design is to make the bathroom and toilet as useful and safe as possible for a person with dementia, their family and carers. Any modifications to the bathroom should be done in the interest of patient being able to maintain their independence and continence for as long as possible.

3 key feature of dementia-friendly bathroom design:

Grab rails – Grab rails and support arms should be provided throughout the bathroom, including near toilets and showers, to help with safety and stability within the space. Grab rails on track systems that can be adjusted horizontally and vertically allows flexibility for situations where there are various users of the facilities, as well as to accommodate future needs
Coloured toilet seats – Colour contrast is important for people with dementia. Using colour contrasts to emphasise important features such as toilet seats makes them easy to distinguish and help minimise falls and accidents
Basins – Small basins with taps and a central spout close together should be avoided. Basins should have an overflow mechanism to reduce the chances of flooding and floor damage. Contrasting colours between the basin and bench make the basin more visible and easier to recognise

When incorporating these features into design, considerations must be made to accommodate not only the patients’ current requirements, but also changing requirements as the patients’ condition deteriorates. Good design around these issues can help people with dementia and make looking after patients easier and more satisfying for carers.

Enware Australia

Enware has over 14 years’ experience creating specialist bathroom solutions for the dementia sector. With a wide range of dedicated bathroom products, and the knowledge in design, Enware can assist architects in creating dementia-friendly bathrooms now and into the future.

This free white paper from Enware Australia examines the key considerations of dementia-friendly bathroom design, and flexible solutions that provide quality of life now, while also being able to adjust and adapt as peoples conditions and requirements change.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Architecture & Design Team

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