Ed Warner, founder of Motionspot, explains how using design principles to create beautiful, accessible bathrooms can positively impact on the health and wellbeing of care home residents, their families and carers
Over recent years, there has been a significant push to improve the look and feel of care environments as operators listen to feedback from residents and family members who say that care homes should feel more like homes than hospitals. While great strides have been made in this area, there is still a long way to go in changing perception of accessible design completely.
While bedrooms and communal spaces have seen significant design improvements, one of the hardest rooms to get right in a care home seems to be the bathroom. Bathrooms are often tight on space and can be over specified with unsightly products that ensure safety and security for every eventuality, which is often at the expense of addressing individual access requirements and personal taste.
Research shows that poor design is still one of the major challenges for anyone with an access need. Another of the top considerations is how to overcome potential risks, such as slips and falls, while addressing the issue of a lack of space and avoiding a clinical appearance. However, the ‘one style fits all’ approach and the expectation that accessibility equates to drab, grey and boring is gradually being replaced by a belief that functionality should never be at the expense of style
Log in or register FREE to read the rest
This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text.
If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
