Accessible Showering

Conventional shower trays and cubicles are generally not suited to the needs of care home residents. They often feature a raised edge around the shower tray to contain shower water. However, individuals with limited mobility and those requiring wheelchair access may find this raised edge to be an obstacle and a trip hazard.

At EA Mobility, we are highly experienced designers and installers of safe, accessible showers and wet rooms for domestic and healthcare applications. Additionally, we can create solutions that are future-proof, low maintenance, and practical, while still maintaining an aesthetically pleasing environment.

Walk-in showers

A walk-in shower allows unimpeded access between the changing and showering areas of the bathroom. Furthermore, its design contains all showering water without the inconvenience of hinged or sliding doors.

If a shower has a level access tray, it is set flush with the rest of the bathroom floor and requires a threshold of 10mm or less. Wheelchair users can therefore access the shower area without assistance. Ambulant users are less at risk of trips and falls.

This can often reduce the need for caregiver intervention. It brings benefits in terms of maintaining the dignity of users and freeing up carers for other tasks.

If a resident has reasonable mobility, a low-level access shower may be more suitable. This shower features a small step of 60mm or less. Therefore, it would not be suited to wheelchair access, but installation is simpler, particularly if the shower is replacing an existing shower or bath.

Wet Rooms

A wet room is the ultimate solution for residential care home bathing facilities, for several reasons.

It is more accessible: In a wet room, the showering area floor is contiguous with the rest of the room, eliminating the need for a threshold. Therefore, residents with reduced mobility can access showering facilities without assistance.
It is safer: Wet room flooring is designed to be warm underfoot and anti-slip, even when wet.
It is easier to clean: Since the entire floor and wall areas are sealed and resistant to cleaning chemicals, you can easily clean and sanitize a wet room with water spray or steam. The outlet drain is flush with the bathroom floor, so all water will easily drain away. Hence, this reduces not only janitorial costs but also the risk of bacterial contamination, which can put residents and carers at risk.
It requires lower maintenance: A wet room eliminates the risk of water spillages or overspray escaping and penetrating the fabric of the building, where it can cause expensive damage to drywall and timber, and pose a shock or fire hazard with electrical supply. So, this design feature ensures that the bathroom remains safe and free from potential structural and electrical damage.

At EA Mobility, we pride ourselves on being experienced in designing and installing safe, accessible wet rooms for a range of applications including domestic and healthcare.

Moreover, our adaptations require low maintenance and are practical while remaining aesthetically pleasing throughout.