Find out more about accessible and adapted bathrooms – from available options to funding. With helpful insights from our Business Manager, Sam Mohabir.
An adapted and accessible bathroom is more than just a convenience. It is a vital aspect of independent living for individuals with disabilities or reduced mobility.
Thoughtfully designed bathrooms can greatly enhance safety, dignity, and quality of life, making daily routines easier and more manageable.
Simple Bathroom and Wet Room Adaptations
For individuals with mild to moderate mobility challenges, features such as level-access showers, grab rails, and slip-resistant flooring can provide much-needed support and reassurance. These adaptations help prevent accidents, reduce strain, and enable users to maintain their independence for longer.
We recently had a comment from a DFG Assessor, ‘Where on earth did you find a roll under basin with built in grab rails?! I’ve never seen one before but it’s amazing!’ This is a standard thing that we try to fit, where suitable. Being able to pull yourself a little closer to the sink, so you don’t accidentally spill toothpaste down yourself, is something we think everyone should be able to do.
Using the built-in grab rails to steady yourself while brushing your teeth if you have limited mobility or are unsteady on your feet, allows you to manage this day-to-day task independently and safely. We ensure, when we install these, that the wall behind is reinforced and that the basin has a specific fixing kit to make sure it’s strong enough to be used.
Advanced Accessibility and Disability Adaptations
For more advanced mobility challenges and wheelchair users there is a wide range of more sophisticated adaptations available. Wash and dry bidet toilets, height-adjustable sinks, hoists, and spacious wet rooms create a dignified and practical environment for both users and their caregivers. For those with disabilities who require assistance with personal care, specialised solutions are essential. These facilities promote better hygiene, improve comfort, and ensure efficient care delivery.
Wash dry toilets or ‘bidet toilets’ are becoming a more frequently requested adaptation. They are a great way to provide comfort, dignity and independence to someone that may otherwise struggle. Particularly if they don’t have someone that is able to assist them in their toileting needs.
If a person has a wash dry toilet, they don’t have to wait for someone to help them. This enables them to maintain their dignity, which is a basic human right that often gets overlooked. Giving someone that back is life changing! We find that the remote control and touch sensitive options are both great for those with limited dexterity.
Bathroom and Wet Room Remodelling
Where possible, existing bathrooms can be adapted to meet a wide array of needs. It is also possible to convert under used or spare rooms into fully accessible wet rooms and bathrooms. Adjoining garages and outbuildings can also be cost-effectively converted into fully-accessible bathrooms.
Smart Home Accessible Bathroom Technology
Modern smart home technologies have further revolutionised accessible bathroom design. Automated controls, remote-operated fixtures, and voice-activated systems provide enhanced convenience and personalisation, offering users greater control over their environment.
We are finding that Smart Home Automation is an increasingly popular way to manage a home and increase independence. Especially as there are multiple ways it can be controlled. It can be voice activated, connected to a tablet and operated by eye tracking or hand gestures.
Home Automation can also be used to support a wide spectrum of everyday needs. Examples include automated operation of home safety systems, doors, windows, blinds and lighting, through to showers, profiling beds, TVs and CCTV. There’s so much that assistive technology can do to increase someone’s independence. Imagine not having to wait to turn the lights off or the heating on!
Future-Proofing Your Accessible Bathroom by Design
Investing in an accessible bathroom is not only about meeting immediate needs—it’s about future-proofing the home, ensuring long-term comfort, and enhancing overall well-being for individuals and their families. If you have an OT, healthcare specialist or DFG Assessor, it is essential to have them onboard for the assessment and design of bathroom adaptations.
Government Funding for Accessible Bathrooms and Wet Rooms
The UK Government offers a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) that can help pay for accessible bathroom and wet room adaptations. The grant is means-tested and available to homeowners, tenants, and landlords in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The grant amount varies by location and depends on your income, savings, and accessibility needs. In England, the grant can be up to £30,000, and can be used to wholly or partially fund your bathroom project.
You should contact your Local Authority to check eligibility and to apply for a DFG grant. They will then determine the level of financial assistance available to you. DFG grants may be received in instalments or in full and they provide help in commissioning the necessary work.
For more details about DFG grants and how to apply, visit the UK Government’s Disabled Facilities Grants page.
Do You Need Help With an Accessible Bathroom Project?
As a specialist building company, we understand the importance of safe, functional, and stylish bathrooms for individuals with reduced mobility and disabilities.
Whether self-funded or supported by a Disability Funding Grant, we have extensive experience delivering bespoke solutions tailored to individual needs. Our team works closely with DFG Trusted Assessors, ensuring that every project is carefully designed and delivered to the highest standards.
From grab rails and level-access showers to bathroom remodelling and fully accessible room conversions, we’re here to offer a bathroom solution that works for you or your loved ones.
We embrace the latest smart home technologies, offering innovative features such as remote-controlled wash and dry bidet toilets, automated lighting, and touchless controls. So you can choose from a wide array of options designed to make daily routines easier and more comfortable.
The Freedom team is always happy to discuss your proposed project with you, your family, or your healthcare specialist. So please feel free to get in touch and find out how we can help you achieve a bathroom that meets your needs—both now and in the future.