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The Benefits of Mobility Wet RoomsÂ
Updated October 2023
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Mobility wet rooms offer a solution for people with limited mobility, older people and wheelchair users who have difficulties using a conventional shower safely. If you have been considering transforming your bathroom or another room into a mobility wet room, there are various safety features available, as well as a range of design options for you to choose from.Â
A disabled wet room can be a valuable addition to your home, and when considering different types of mobility wet rooms, there are many factors to take into account. Most importantly, if you have problems using your toilet, sink or shower, a wetroom can be fitted with safety features to meet your individual mobility requirements.
Should you have any further questions or would like to discuss the options and choices for mobility wet rooms, please get in touch with our friendly team. Alternatively, if you would like to see how we can turn your bathroom into a mobility wet room with all the features and fittings you require, we can provide you with 3D-design images of mobility wet rooms. Simply complete the form at the bottom of this article, and we will get working on it for you straight away.
You can also arrange a free, no-obligation home survey and consultation to discuss your requirements with a member of the Age Care Bathroom team face-to-face.
What Are Mobility Wet Rooms?
A mobility wet room incorporates a fully waterproof, level-access floor and typically has a shower, sink and toilet. It is also possible to have a walk-in bath in a wet room if desired. For wheelchair users or those with limited mobility, this means that there is easy access to all areas of the bathroom.Â
It is reported that 80% of all falls at home will happen in the bathroom, and the likelihood of a bathroom-related injury is much higher if you are older or disabled. A mobility wet room can help to prevent tripping or falling by removing obstacles like a shower tray or a bath that you need to step into. The right safety features also significantly reduce the risk of injury while ensuring that your bathing experience is comfortable and enjoyable. In a nutshell, mobility wet rooms are designed to help make you feel safe in your own bathroom again.Â
Let’s explore the different mobility wet rooms you can have in your home.
Design Ideas for Mobility Wet RoomsÂ
Along with practical considerations, mobility wet rooms are available in many different designs and styles. With Age Care Bathrooms, you can choose from a range of options that are every bit as stylish as they are safe. Your bathroom is somewhere you should enjoy spending time in every day, so make sure it is somewhere you not only feel safe in but a place you love being in, too!
Mobility Wet Rooms with Open Showers
One of the most popular design options for a wet room is open showers. This means the shower isn’t screened off by doors, screens or a shower curtain. This type of design is often used by high-end hotels, and the entire floor is covered with the same finish.Â
For a sleek and modern look, the walls are typically covered with waterproof wall boards or tiles. This design can incorporate a toilet and sink, or it can simply be a luxurious shower room — the choice is yours.
Mobility Wet Rooms with a Level Shower Area
The image below shows another choice of design with a level access shower separated from the rest of the room with easy-to-open doors and a shower curtain, which provides privacy. The floor of the shower has a different finish, completing the look of a separate shower area with a completely level floor.
Mobility Wet Rooms with a Walk-In Bath
Walk-in baths can also be fitted into a mobility wet room when there is space available. This type of bath can have a rising chair for wheelchair users or make it even safer for people with limited mobility to get in and out of.
Safety Features and Fixtures for Mobility Wet Rooms
To ensure that all of the mobility wet rooms we install are completely tailored to your needs, there are a number of safety features that can be added to make it safer and easier to use the toilet, sink, shower and bath. You can also adapt a wet room to make it safer for someone with limited mobility. Below is a list of features for disabled people that you may wish to consider:
Shower Seats: Shower seats are one of our top mobility wet room safety features, and they make showering much more comfortable. Which type of shower seat you choose will depend on your personal preference; options include:
- A fixed shower seat that remains permanently in the same place
- A mobile shower seat that can be moved out of the way if another family member wants to stand in the shower
Both types of shower seats come in numerous styles; please get in touch if you would like to learn more about what is available.
Anti-Slip Flooring: While we have listed this as an idea to consider, we install anti-slip safety flooring in all the mobility wet rooms we install. We think that it is an essential feature for every safe wet room. With anti-slip safety flooring, you can walk or wheel yourself in with confidence that you will not slip. At Age Care Bathrooms, you can choose from a range of wet room flooring colours and finishes to meet your style preferences!
Safety Bars (Grab Bars): Safety bars (also known as grab bars) are another essential feature for mobility wet rooms. As their name suggests, grab bars give you something to hold on to to increase stability and balance. Many falls in the bathroom can be avoided by having grab bars in the correct places.Â
Grab bars allow a disabled or older person to move safely around their wet room with confidence. We install grab bars from top-quality manufacturers so you can be sure that they will be completely secure and can hold your full weight. Where you place the safety bars will depend on the layout of your wet room, as well as other individual factors, such as whether you are left or right-handed. Our team can advise you on this when designing your disabled wet room.
Accessible Wall-Hung Basins: A wall-hung basin is an extremely useful feature, especially for wheelchair users. Since there is no pedestal in the way underneath the basin, it allows a wheelchair user to manoeuvre around the sink freely. It also means people with limited mobility and older people can use a chair beneath the sink to sit down.Â
Wall-hung basins look really modern and stylish and can be installed at different heights to accommodate individual needs. We think these are a really neat idea for all mobility wet rooms!
Shower Doors and Curtains: Many of our customers who live with a carer like the idea of having a door and, or curtain around the shower for privacy. As well as providing a more private showering experience, they also help to keep the carer dry! This idea is more of a personal preference than a safety feature — but it is definitely something to consider. For some, maintaining privacy where possible when showering is an important part of keeping their independence.
Adjustable Shower Heads: Adjustable shower heads are essential for mobility wet rooms, which will be used as a family bathroom. They enable each person using the shower to adjust the shower head to a height that is convenient for them, whether they prefer to sit down or stand up.Â
Disabled Raised Toilets (Comfort Height Toilets): Disabled users may require a raised toilet (also known as a comfort height toilet) to enable them to get on and off the toilet more easily. As these are taller in height, they require a lower degree of mobility when lowering oneself onto the toilet seat. We also recommend having grab bars positioned by the raised toilet for further assistance and safety.
Wide Doorways: In addition to wheelchair-accessible showers, it is critical a mobility wetroom has the correct width of the doorframe for wheelchair users. In some cases, this may need to be made wider so that a person in a wheelchair can comfortably get in and out. We can advise you about this when installing your disabled wet room.
We hope this has given you a better understanding of how to design your ideal mobility wet room.  As one of the UK’s leading independent installers of mobility bathrooms, we have access to a huge range of different products that can make your life easier and safer when using your bathroom. Our team has been installing mobility wet rooms for over 30 years, so if you’d like to discuss more ideas for your bathroom or get a quote for a mobility wet room installation, please get in touch with our UK team for more advice.
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