Five bathroom solutions for people with arthritis and joint pain

The symptoms of arthritis include pain or tenderness, inflammation and restricted movement in and around the joints. These symptoms can make routine daily tasks extremely hard and painful.

While a full bathroom remodel may become necessary if your arthritis is particularly severe, there are many ways in which you can improve bathroom mobility without blowing the budget.

1.      Small objects or bathroom gadgets

Painful joints can make holding a slippery bar of soap or squeezing a tube of toothpaste, shower gel or shampoo difficult. Look for products that come in pump-action dispensers as these require less grip strength or dexterity.

For people who find it difficult to grip a manual toothbrush, an electric toothbrush is the answer. The head moves with minimal effort on your part, giving you a thorough and efficient cleaning.

2.      Showering or bath options

Bathing or showering is a matter of personal preference, with older generations possibly more accustomed to a bath than younger people who prefer showering.

Showering can be difficult for many people, especially those with limited mobility. Consider installing a folding or fixed shower seat to help take the weight off your joints. If you have swelling in your hands, look for lever shower valves that are easy to operate and a non-slip shower tray will help prevent falls. A walk-in shower will make your showering experience much more enjoyable and safer.

If you are confined to a wheelchair, a walk-in shower with no door and no step or lip to trip on can increase your independence. To create a wet room, the floor is first profiled to allow all water from the showering area to flow to a drainage outlet. The walls and floor are then entirely sealed with a watertight membrane, and then the floor and wall coverings are laid on top of the membrane.

Many people prefer baths, relishing a long soak at the end of the day to soothe the aching of stiff joints. To make your bath-time easier, install a grab rail next to the bath to support you as you lower yourself into the water and pull yourself out again. This will be more effective than standard handles built into some baths as it will extend further along the bath, giving you more support. If you need assistance when getting out of the bath, there are excellent products to help you, such as bath lifts and walk-in tubs.

3.      Drying yourself after a bath or a shower

After a bath or shower, drying your body can be a challenge. Towels are inexpensive, require gripping, bending and twisting, and don’t reach every part of the body. A body dryer is an excellent alternative to towels as it:

• Offers total body drying to eliminate damp patches that can breed bacteria, leading to sores and infection
• Can be installed unobtrusively in the corner of a bathroom, where it will also help reduce condensation and steam, and prevent the accumulation of limescale and mildew;
• Eliminates the need for towels and heated towel rails. The first reduces the amount of washing you need to do and the second removes a potential burn risk from the bathroom.

4.      The benefits of smart toilets

Installing a grab rail and a raised, comfort-height toilet will help you get on and off the seat.

You may face other challenges though. If your fingers lack the strength to firmly hold toilet tissue, or if stiffness in your back prevents you from reaching properly, installing a smart toilet that replaces toilet tissue with a gentle and hygienic automatic wash/dry cycle can make cleaning yourself easier.

The warm water and warm air of this all-in-one device can be activated sitting forward, and it performs the function of a toilet and bidet in one.

5.      Overcome the challenges of wash basins

If you have arthritis in your hands, you already know how uncomfortable it can be to wash them. But there are ways to make it easier:

• An accessible wash hand basin with integral hand grips at the front of the basin gives support and reassurance when standing;
• Installing easy lever taps makes it quicker and easier to open taps and adjust the temperature;
• Manually or electrically operated sink height adjustment allows you to sit down for those tasks that take longer, or if you use a wheelchair.

How can mobility bathroom installers help?

Specialist bathroom adaptation providers, like EA Mobility, have many years of experience and a wide range of solutions that can be tailored to your individual needs. Most companies will strive to create pleasant bathroom environments where you can begin and end each day in comfort, using products that are stylish as well as functional.

There are differences between different providers and what they offer so do your research before making the final choice.

For example, if you use EA Mobility for your bathroom adaptation, our employed workforce (designers, fitters, electricians, plumbers and decorators) are fully trained and vetted, they will manage the entire project from concept to completion, working to the highest standards and with minimal disruption to your home and life.

Without relying on subcontractors juggling multiple projects and clients, EA Mobility can provide much faster turnaround times on starting projects, typically just within four to six weeks, and a fast completion without sacrificing the quality.

We take the time to get to know you personally and to assess your needs while giving you professional, unbiased and personal advice on how your bathroom can be adapted.

If you would like to get a free brochure or to book a visit from one of our home assessors, please call us on 0800 955 8810 or visit www.eamobility.com.

PS Did you know that Arthritis Digest Magazine is labelled the best UK Arthritis blog from thousands of blogs on the web ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness