Healthy Choices for Your Bathroom Renovation

If you are building a home or undertaking a major bathroom renovation, now is a good time to think about adaptations you may need for health reasons, in the coming years. A young professional couple may not be thinking about children or their old age right now, but if you are going to spend money on a renovation it is wise to think ahead. Grab bars are probably the farthest thing from your mind now but eventually they will come in handy - during a pregnancy, when healing from a sports injury or surgery, when an older family member comes to visit, or when you are bathing and potty training small children. Similarly, a walk in bath tub or shower stall can be installed today for comfort or to save space, but can turn out to be a necessity in years to come.

If you are not undertaking a major bathroom renovation, you can still make choices that will promote good health and make your bathroom more accessible to people with special needs. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Encourage hand washing with the right faucet
A simple thing like choosing the right faucet for your bathroom sink can make the difference between a quick rinse in cold water, and family members taking the time to properly wash their hands. When you plan your renovation, make sure the bathroom fixtures you choose will help, and not hinder, good hand washing habits. Separate faucets for hot and cold water may look pretty, but they force you to wash directly in the basin or in cold water only - instead of in a stream of clean, warm water. You may have similar problems if the sink is not deep enough, or if the faucet placement forces you to touch the surfaces of the sink while washing. Be sure you can hold your hands freely under the faucet during hand washing.

Choose a single control handle like the ones frequently found on kitchen sinks, or separate lever (wrist blade) style handles to turn the water on and off. These controls are easy for small children to operate. It is less likely the child will accidentally turn on too much hot water with this type of hardware on your sink. It is also appreciated by people who have limited strength or mobility in their hands, or who suffer joint pain from conditions like arthritis. And of course, if your hardware is easily turned off with the elbow or wrist it is healthier for everyone in the family. Turning the water off this way reduces the possibility you will contaminate your clean hands after washing them. Remember to keep liquid hand soap in a disposable pump bottle close to the faucet! A pump bottle of hand lotion is appreciated too, especially during dry weather or in times when you are washing your hands frequently.

Pedestal sinks for increased accessibility
A pedestal sink can be very elegant in the bathroom, but it may also be an investment in your future. Choose a sink that can accommodate a wheelchair or other seat, and think about placing the mirror so it can be seen by a person who is sitting at the sink. You may never have to worry about a guest or family member who uses a wheelchair, but think about the kids who will need to use a stepping stool to use the sink. Or of the family member who has a broken leg, and needs to sit to take a sponge bath at the sink until the cast comes off. If you are only confronted with a mobility issue once, choosing a bathroom design that accommodates a wheelchair will be worth the investment.

When you design your new bathroom it's easy to think mostly about luxury and cost, but it pays to keep in mind the limitations you or your family members may one day have. Even just replacing the bathroom sink can become an opportunity to improve your family's health. Take time to think about it now, and you'll be prepared for the future.

Sources:
"Handwashing 101: How to wash your hands."University of Waterloo

Shelley Peterman Schwarz, "Arthritis: 300 tips for making life easier."

"Walk in tubs and showers." Seabridge bathing