Building a wheelchair accessible ground floor extension

[Evergreen]

Yep, one of the really crucial ones being a comfort toilet, unless the disabled person is unusually short.

Yes, I have one of those too! I actually didn't realise I was getting one. They just automatically assumed. The word "raised" featured in the toilet name but other aspects of the bathroom needed more of my attention so I never got around to asking about it.

There is one potential downside. In theory, a raised toilet can make constipation more likely because it takes you even further from the squat position that is supposedly best (though I would say the causality here has not been unequivocally demonstrated empirically).

I didn't need the raised toilet I got, because even though I'm tall and have severe ME/CFS, my legs still worked well enough to use a regular toilet. However, it is much easier to stand up from. I don't know whether it's a coincidence or not, but I did develop very problematic constipation after the raised toilet was installed.

So I would actually only recommend one if you already have difficulty sitting down on or getting up from the toilet, or know you will soon (e.g. elderly or have arthritis etc).

 

[Evergreen]

That's very true. We inherited a P-shaped walk-in bath, with a curved shower screen and a rainfall shower or whatever they call them. The controls are on the end wall (top of the "P", behind the shower), and can't be accessed by reaching round the screen: you have to get in, and then it's almost impossible to turn the taps on without getting wet yourself. Bad design.

That's a tricky one to inherit. We were advised by someone to get the controls by the entrance. But since I can shower myself, and and needed access to the controls from a seated position during a shower, and the only place the shower head could go was the end wall, we had to put the controls on the end wall.

Happily, it worked out anyway, by accident, because of choices I made for other reasons. The shower is open at one end, so there's no shower door to wrestle with, just a deflector panel that moves out of your way as soon as you tip it. You can put the shower on easily without getting wet or needing Inspector Gadget arms and only one foot on the shower tray. I had them put the shower head off-centre, so it's not directly over your hand as you turn it on.

But if a carer needs to shower you, then having the controls nearer the carer is definitely preferable.

 

[Cedar]

There is one potential downside. In theory, a raised toilet can make constipation more likely because it takes you even further from the squat position that is supposedly best (though I would say the causality here has not been unequivocally demonstrated empirically).

I didn't need the raised toilet I got, because even though I'm tall and have severe ME/CFS, my legs still worked well enough to use a regular toilet. However, it is much easier to stand up from. I don't know whether it's a coincidence or not, but I did develop very problematic constipation after the raised toilet was installed.

I was going to say the same. I actually had trouble finding a standard height toilet because everything seemed to be the taller ones and constipation is a serious issue here. We have a squatty potty stool down there, but needed to have that combined with a standard 15 inch tall toilet. If standing from it ever becomes a problem, we can put a new seat on it. We do have bars around to help with standing and balance but it does mean that a few times a day he uses his legs very briefly just enough to get from sit to stand and as long as that’s not making him worse, that seems good to keep that up.

We were advised by someone to get the controls by the entrance. But since I can shower myself, and and needed access to the controls from a seated position during a shower

This is the one aspect of design I feel like I messed up on. I put the controls on the entry wall so that ds could turn the shower on without having to go all the way in to the other side and get wet, but it means it’s a problem for him during the shower itself because he can’t reach to adjust the water temperature. I don’t know the ideal set up because it still wouldn’t have worked for him to turn the water on if we had done it the other way. I could’ve done it for him, but we were building it at a time when he was more independent for showering.

 

[Evergreen]

This is the one aspect of design I feel like I messed up on. I put the controls on the entry wall so that ds could turn the shower on without having to go all the way in to the other side and get wet, but it means it’s a problem for him during the shower itself because he can’t reach to adjust the water temperature. I don’t know the ideal set up because it still wouldn’t have worked for him to turn the water on if we had done it the other way. I could’ve done it for him, but we were building it at a time when he was more independent for showering.

I think it's impossible to get it all "right". Each option has pros and cons. And only some options are possible in each bathroom.

I was lucky because a relative with different health issues had recently installed a new shower that I had used. So I was able to pick the bits that I definitely wanted - frameless shower screen with open access and deflector panel, little grab rail where I sit under shower. And I was able to avoid the bits that I knew did not work for me - controls at the entrance, no pressure control and a too-heavy showerhead. I loved their niche/recess but knew I needed a bigger one and I needed it where I could reach bottles from sitting - ended up getting one almost the full length of the shower at sitting-arm height.

I had to really go against both the professional's advice and my carer's opinion on the shower. Going for the open access was risky as the space was smaller than my relative's, so the opening was much closer to the shower head, and wider, making flooding a distinct possibility. That's actually why I had them put the showerhead off-centre - to prevent flooding. So I think it was a series of inadvisable choices and accidents that ended up meaning that I can both turn the water on without getting wet and reach the controls during the shower. Thankfully it worked out - no flooding.

All that planniing nearly broke me. And if I end up needing a carer to shower me, they will probably curse some of my choices.

You sound like you're doing such a good job looking after your son.

 

[Wits_End]

With regard to the optimum position for passing stools, the advice is often to raise your knees as high as possible. I was wondering if putting your feet on one of those small step-things that little boys are supposed to use to help them get high enough to use the loo properly might be beneficial in doing this?

 

[Cedar]

With regard to the optimum position for passing stools, the advice is often to raise your knees as high as possible. I was wondering if putting your feet on one of those small step-things that little boys are supposed to use to help them get high enough to use the loo properly might be beneficial in doing this?

This is what the “Squatty Potty” I reference above does. I’m sure they have different brands in different countries, but it fits against the contour of a toilet base with an elevation on each side for your feet.