Wheelchair Accessible Shower Stalls
Showering is a daily ritual that is not only hygienically necessary, but also offers a few moments of peaceful, soothing refuge. Showering should never be a task, making the shower stall one of the most important modifications to consider when designing an accessible home. While there are a few products on the market to simplify the showering experience, a roll-in stall is most commonly recommended. A typical sized 3-foot X 4-foot 6-inch roll-in stall should accommodate most bathers in conventional wheelchairs.
Roll-in showers have a reputation of being a challenge to install. The primary obstacle is to maintain a smooth transition from the floor to the stall by ensuring a flush transition. Often, custom-made stalls are designed to be slightly sunken into the floor framing. The shower floor should be designed to slope slightly toward the drain. A popular material to use for the floor is prefabricated fibreglass and acrylic. This not only eliminates having to jackhammer to build the drain, but these panels are also available in a variety of sizes and work nicely if you are converting a tub into a shower. Install shelves that are reachable for someone who will be seated and operating controls should be mounted where they can be reached from outside the stall. With a roll-in stall, opt for a shower curtain or accordion-style door, as you will find most large doors will be very impractical. The floor should have a no-skid finish and a waterproofing treatment should be done on the entire bathroom floor, as roll-in showers are notorious for poorly containing water inside the stall.
If installing a roll-in shower seems like a big hassle, consider setting up a bench or stool in your existing bathtub and try having a seated shower. While sometimes easier and safer, showering seated doesn't always allow for an individual to properly clean certain areas of the body. The beauty with a roll-in shower is that there's no transferring involved and you can immerse yourself immediately and completely in the comfort of a waterproof, lightweight, rust-resistant shower chair.
