Essential Tips For Creating An Intergenerational Bathroom

Multi-generational living is becoming more common, as family members of various ages decide to live together under one roof. This can be a practical way to provide care to an older family member, or it may be for cultural or economic reasons. It’s often a mutually beneficial arrangement, but it may require a rethink of the bathroom space. 

This is particularly important if one or more of the family members needs special assistance with their personal care, be they elderly or very young. Here’s a look at how to create a bathroom that can cater for a diverse range of needs, whilst also being stylish and relaxing for your personal convenience. 

The shower

A shower is more practical than a bath if you are assisting a family member with personal care. If you are dealing with a non-ambulatory person, then a wet room is an ideal solution because it’s fully accessible from a wheelchair. Install a shower seat that they can easily be transferred to.

In order to protect the other fixtures and fittings in the wet room from getting splashed when the shower is in use, install a shower screen. This can be held in place with a deep U channel for glass to ensure that it is safe and secure. If a wet room is beyond the scope of your time or budget, then a walk-in shower with a low threshold is the next best option. 

Other considerations for the shower include a showerhead with adjustable controls that allow you to control the intensity of the water jet. This will ensure that a comfortable pressure can be used for young children or elderly family members who may have more sensitive or fragile skin than young adults or middle aged people. 

Flooring

Anti-slip flooring will help to minimise the risk of trips and falls. It has a deliberately textured surface to provide extra traction underfoot, creating more friction and therefore reducing the likelihood of slipping even if the surface is wet. In a bathroom, the most common type of anti-slip flooring is tiling, which has a variable scale of resistance grades.

However, there’s no need to compromise on style as they are available in attractive finishes, such as realistic wood effect or imitation natural stone. Alternatively, vinyl is another commonly used material for anti-slip flooring. 

Smart tech

Smart technology is transforming our lives, and the bathroom is no exception. It can be invaluable for creating safe, hygienic bathrooms that are convenient for all ages of users. For example, touchless taps are a game changer for older people who may struggle with manual taps, and also for young children. 

Smart temperature and timing controls for the shower or bath can allow you to set maximum temperatures to avoid the risk of scalding. They can also be programmed to automatically shut down the water supply after a certain amount of time, helping to conserve water and reduce utility costs.

Smart lighting systems with motion detectors can be helpful for older people who may need to get up to use the bathroom during the night. They are also useful in families with children, who may not be able to reach the light switch or often forget to turn it off when they leave, wasting energy.

Fixtures and fittings

A comfort height toilet that is slightly higher than a standard toilet can help older and less mobile family members to use it more easily. Consider installing a grab bar for extra support.

If you have a larger bathroom, consider installing double sinks so that more than one family member can carry out tasks such as teeth cleaning on busy mornings when everyone is getting ready to leave the house. 

Make use of the vertical space for storage, with cabinets, floating shelves, or pull out drawers to reduce clutter and help everyone store their personal items for ease of access. 

Consider en-suite bathrooms

If space allows, consider adding en-suite bathrooms to one or more bedrooms to ease the pressure on the main family bathroom.