Installing an Accessible Shower

When installing an accessible shower for an individual with special needs, there are a few basic factors that a caregiver must consider. The primary factor focuses on the needs of the person using the facility, specifically whether or not that individual has any ambulatory ability. If the person does have some mobility, then many options exist for the conversion of existing facilities. But there are also options for individuals who have little or no ambulatory ability.

Ramesh Gulatee, an architect specializing in ADA-compliant designs, indicates that regardless of a person’s ambulatory ability there are several important items to consider when providing a safe shower for a loved one. Perhaps the most essential aspect is the installation of non-slip flooring, especially because every bathroom area is subject to wet conditions. Ideally, non-slip flooring should be installed throughout the entire bathroom in addition to the shower itself. Second, grab bars and railings, affixed to a solid wall backing at 33 inches to 36 inches above the floor, should be readily available (including inside the shower stall itself).

If it is necessary to use a wheelchair to bring the person into the bathroom, then your doorway must be at least 32-inches wide and there cannot be any threshold at the floor. Once inside the bathroom, you will need to have a clear floor space equivalent to a 60-inch diameter circle for the chair to optimally function.

"The bathroom doors may swing into the 60-inch space, but there must be adequate, maneuverable room directly in front of the shower area for the wheelchair," says Gulatee, whose firm, LifeCare Design Studio, LLC, is affiliated with Protected Tomorrows.

If your loved one has some degree of ambulatory ability, there are several options available when creating an accessible shower. If you have an existing traditional tub enclosure one option is to remove your existing tub and replace it with a new shower enclosure. Such a shower stall could even have a minor lip if the person has some ambulatory ability (the step would be minimal).

When bringing in such a shower, you will want a unit that is ideally three feet by three feet. Of course, you may want to go with a larger unit in order to fill the space that was previously occupied by the tub.

It is essential to install handrails - installing them on all three sides is best - and it would be ideal to have an installed seat. "The seat should be 18 inches above the floor and run the full width of the shower," Gulatee says.

When it comes to installing an accessible shower for your loved one with little or no ambulatory ability, ideally the process would be to install a walk-in unit that has no curb. To do so you would want to make the base of the shower part of the floor. A professional installer will be able to detail the process for you, including offering advice on how to prevent moisture from becoming an issue with the floor.

Regarding wheelchair access, the shower stall will need to be at least 36 inches by 36 inches. Wider openings create excellent options, as the need for a turning circle that is 60 inches in diameter can be incorporated into the opening if the shower stall is large enough. Finally, Gulatee recommends a 60-inch hose with a spray nozzle as being an ideal shower accessory for an individual who is confined to his or her wheelchair.

It is often not part of the thought process, but special needs showers will of course work for everyone. Likewise, even someone with basic ambulatory ability today could have a need for wheelchair access in the future. Planning for the broadest spectrum of needs will ensure a facility that is useful.

Budget constraints will always be an issue for people when modifying any bathroom, but Gulatee notes that plumbing changes are what cause the greatest expenses. "Oftentimes, by judiciously modifying or relocating a fixture, various options open up," he says.