Barrier-free bathroom
Suitable for seniors, wheelchair users, and people with disabilities
How do I plan a barrier-free bathroom?
As always when planning a bathroom, the first thing to consider when designing a barrier-free bathroom is what requirements the room needs to meet for you. The first question at this point is whether a barrier-free bathroom is being planned in accordance with standardised requirements. This is necessary for many government subsidies, as well as for bathrooms in restaurants, hotels and public places that are to be declared barrier-free bathrooms.
If the bathroom is only being fitted out for individual needs, this is of course not necessary. For example, there are age-appropriate bathrooms that are not automatically disabled-friendly, but may be completely sufficient for your own requirements.
General recommendations for a barrier-free bathroom
Although individual needs and requirements call for different solutions, there is always a lot of overlap when designing a barrier-free bathroom. The following points provide general guidance and often make the bathroom more comfortable for people who do not need a barrier-free bathroom.
Ample space
Grab handles or support handles
Remove or reduce thresholds and steps
Non-slip floor covering
Bright lighting
Everything within easy reach
Matching doors & door areas
Senior-friendly, wheelchair-accessible, and handicapped-accessible bathroom
When we talk about a barrier-free bathroom, we can mean different things. It therefore often makes sense to divide bathrooms into those that are suitable for seniors or older people, those that are wheelchair-accessible, and those that are accessible for people with disabilities. Of course, there is some overlap, and the requirements are by no means mutually exclusive.
Senior-friendly bathroom
Many of the general tips are already the best way to achieve an age-appropriate bathroom. This is because the main priority here is to avoid the risk of falls and to provide assistance with standing up and sitting down. A walk-in shower with a floor-level entrance is also helpful. If a rollator is used, a vanity unit that can be wheeled underneath is useful.
Wheelchair-accessible bathroom
If the barrier-free bathroom is to be wheelchair-accessible, a wheelchair-accessible vanity is a must. Of course, there also needs to be sufficient space throughout the entire bathroom. There are also extra tub lifts available for the bathtub.
Handicapped-accessible bathroom
A bathroom designed for people with disabilities can, of course, have different requirements. For example, for a blind person, easy orientation and minimizing obstacles such as thresholds are crucial, while other people have different needs. In some cases, a call button may be particularly useful, which can also be useful for a bathroom designed for seniors or wheelchair users, depending on the circumstances.
Tip
Shower toilets are particularly recommended for barrier-free bathrooms. Their ease of use prevents any difficulties – for example, due to limited motor skills – when using the toilet, and the high standard of hygiene is an additional bonus. Everyone else who uses the barrier-free bathroom also benefits from the latter and the general comfort of a shower toilet.
Legal basis and financing for barrier-free bathrooms
Even though the term "barrier-free bathroom" is often used differently in everyday language, it is clearly defined in law. Accordingly, there are often certain requirements that must be met when it comes to financing options.
Legal
For a legally compliant barrier-free bathroom, the dimensions specified in DIN 18040-2 must be observed. This standard is available in a standard version and with the addition of R, which contains additional provisions for wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. If you are designing a bathroom in the hospitality industry (for example, for a restaurant or vacation rental), the bathroom must comply with this standard in order to be declared barrier-free.
Financial
In most cases, state support requires a barrier-free bathroom in accordance with DIN 18040-2. However, there are also various options for subsidies, e.g. from health insurance companies, if you convert your bathroom to make it accessible for disabled people. Health insurance companies may also provide (partial) funding for individual steps, such as converting a shower to a level-access shower suitable for older people, or for purchases such as shower chairs. In most cases, however, a doctor's prescription is required for this.