Barrier-free care bathroom with washbasin and shower area

HEWI MAG / Sanitary

Care home bathrooms - comfort and safety for residents

An ideally designed bathroom in a care home not only improves safety and comfort for residents, but also makes daily care easier. Barrierfree, flexible solutions that can be adapted to individual needs are particularly important here. In this article, you will find valuable tips and advice on fitting out a care home bathroom as well as information on the HEWI LifeSystem products, which have been specially developed to meet the requirements of everyday care.

Requirements for a barrierfree care home bathroom

A barrier-free care home bathroom must meet special requirements in order to offer both residents and care staff the greatest possible comfort and safety. Particularly important here is: 

  • freedom of movement: Sufficient space is crucial for wheelchair users to be able to move freely in the care home bathroom. Freedom of movement of 150 cm x 150 cm makes it possible to move around safely and without obstacles, whether using the toilet, washbasin or shower. 
  • Support rails and hinged support rails: To prevent falls and offer residents additional safety, support rails and hinged support rails are essential. These should be flexible and positioned in suitable places to ensure stability with every movement. 

The care home bathroom should be flexible and adaptable in order to meet the different and changing needs of residents. This is where the LifeSystem from HEWI offers a well thought-through solution. It puts the focus on people, as it can be used regardless of physical conditions. The flexible products promote independence and can be ergonomically and kinaesthetically adapted to the individual needs of the user. Sophisticated details ensure safety and comfort, while the aspects of easy care and robustness support care staff in their everyday work. 

WC equipped with folding support handle and toilet brush in the colour anthracite matt

Floor-level showers - practical solutions for older people

For people with limited mobility, daily personal hygiene is a challenge that can be made easier with well thought-through, barrierfree solutions. Floor-level showers offer easier access and make it easier to get into the shower safely without having to overcome obstacles and barriers. Seating in the shower provides additional stability and relief so that residents can shower independently or carers are given better support. 

Slip-resistant materials in the shower again ensure greater safety and significantly reduce the risk of falls. In addition, splash guards help to keep the floor dry and further minimize the risk of accidents. 

For residents who need additional support, height-adjustable shower stools are particularly practical. The LifeSystem Premium hinged seat is a flexible solution here: It can be adjusted in four stages from 420 mm to 510 mm in order to adapt optimally to the user's needs. This provides additional comfort and safety, both for residents and care staff. 

Hygiene standards and disinfection options

Strict hygiene standards are essential in care homes to protect the health of residents and care staff. A care home bathroom should therefore be designed in such a way that it facilitates compliance with these standards. The integration of disinfectant dispensers and the use of easy-to-clean surfaces are particularly important to enable thorough and quick cleaning. 

Products from the HEWI LifeSystem are specially designed to meet the high hygiene requirements in the care sector. The materials used are robust and resistant so that they do not lose their functionality even with frequent cleaning and disinfection. Thanks to the easy-care surfaces, LifeSystem is quick and easy to clean, making everyday care easier and ensuring high standards of hygiene. 

Contrasts and colors for orientation in the care home bathroom

A well-thought-through color scheme in the care home bathroom is crucial to facilitate orientation for people with impaired vision or cognitive impairments. Support and grab rails, for example, should be easily recognizable to ensure the safety of residents.

The LifeSystem hinged support rails offer a clever solution here: They are available in anthracite with a white grip pad, creating easily recognizable contrasts. These help people with impaired vision to recognize the handles more easily and use them safely.

In addition, contrasts play a central role in orientation for people with dementia. Studies show that clear, highly visible colors can improve perception and reduce the risk of disorientation. This is where HEWI's dementia-sensitive products come into play: The specially developed dementia washbasin with red design accents and the products in the Series 800 K create highly visible contrasts with their ruby red elements, which provide targeted orientation in the care home bathroom.  

Comfort, safety and flexibility in the care home bathroom

Well thought-through planning and ideal fittings help to promote the independence of residents and make everyday care easier. Floor-level showers and non-slip materials offer additional protection, while high-contrast elements improve orientation. With robust, easy-care surfaces and products that meet the highest hygiene standards, the HEWI LifeSystem offers an ideal solution to meet the diverse requirements of professional care.

Barrier-free care bathroom with washbasin, shower area and WC

Use the HEWI planning service for your individual projects

Let the HEWI experts advise you and find tailor-made solutions that combine comfort, safety and functionality in your project. Contact the HEWI planning service to jointly develop the ideal concept for your requirements.