13 Support Strategies for Dementia and Mobility-Friendly Disabled Toilets

Disabled toilets are specifically designed to cater to people with specific needs, such as dementia and mobility issues, and offer significant advantages in enhancing comfort, safety and accessibility. Equipped with features such as adjustable toilet seats, carefully planned dimensions and essential disability aids, disabled toilets and disability toilet aids play an essential role in supporting independence and dignity. 

At Age Care Bathrooms, we have installed thousands of disabled toilets as part of comprehensive mobility bathroom adaptions, including downstairs toilets. Here are 13 benefits of disabled toilets and some simple support strategies for people facing dementia and mobility challenges.

1. Increasing Accessibility

Making sure the bathroom is easy to enter and move around in, especially for those with mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers, is crucial; things you can do include:

• Door: Replace heavy doors with a lightweight door that opens easily with minimal effort, include a horizontal grab bar on the door’s inner side for easy closing and stability.  Additionally, bathroom doors should always open outward for emergency access if needed. 
• Doorways: Aim for wider doorways, at least 32 inches wide, to allow comfortable and safe entry and exit when using walkers or a wheelchair. 
• Disable toilet size: There should be sufficient room to move around the toilet, sink, and other fixtures. The UK building dimensions of a disabled toilet room are a minimum of 2200mm deep and 1500mm wide. This is sufficient for a disabled toilet and sink, but a mobility bathroom with a walk-in bath or a mobility wet room would need to be larger than this. 

Book a free home survey online or call us, and our team of experts can assess your bathroom, or space yet to be converted into a bathroom, and provide you with advice on how to make it more accessible. 

2. Adjustable Toilets and Toilet Seats

There is a range of disabled toilets that can make using the toilet more pleasant and hygienic for people with mobility problems or dementia. The most popular disabled toilets include:

•  Auto bidet wash and dry disabled toilets: These auto-cleaning disabled toilets with remote controls for water and air temperature are usually installed to promote independence and enhance personal hygiene.
• Powered height-adjustable toilets: These specialised disabled toilets come in two primary configurations: tilt-powered and full-rise. Tilt-powered models gently tilt the seat upward, providing a subtle boost to assist users when standing up. Full-rise models, for those with more significant mobility challenges, lower and raise the entire seat. Both options can be equipped with convenient controls integrated into the armrests and additional manual or remote controls for caregivers.
• Raised-height disabled toilets: The height of disabled toilets can range from 390mm to 500mm, catering to the diverse needs of people with varying mobility levels. While the average and most common height is 450mm, the optimal height is ultimately determined by individual requirements. 

3. Toilet Lifters and Height-Adjustable Toilet Seats

Toilet lifters and height-adjustable toilet seats are critical features that enhance accessibility and comfort for users with mobility issues. These seats can be adjusted to a comfortable height, reducing the strain and effort required to sit down and stand up. This adjustability not only promotes independence but also significantly lowers the risk of falls, which is particularly important for elderly individuals or those with limited mobility due to conditions like arthritis or muscle weakness.

Toilet seats equipped with back and armrests, as well as cushioned seats, offer additional benefits. This enhances comfort, making the overall toileting experience more reassuring and pleasant, especially for people with dementia who may experience fear or anxiety around using the toilet.

4. Toilet Frames

Toilet frames can be used with standard toilets and promote independence by providing essential stability and support. These assistive devices enable users to sit down and stand up with ease, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. The sturdy frame offers a secure grip, enhancing balance and stability during transfers. Toilet frames are a valuable addition to all toilets for users with varying mobility needs.

5. Supportive Grab Bars

Strategically placed grab bars around disabled toilets provide crucial support for users with dementia and mobility issues. These bars are designed to assist with balance and stability during transfers, offering reassurance and reducing the risk of slipping or falling.

6. Lever Taps 

Installing mixer taps equipped with easy-to-grip levers is an important modification for people with limited dexterity, mobility challenges or dementia. These lever-style handles eliminate the need for twisting or pinching motions, which can be difficult for those with arthritis or reduced hand strength. The ergonomic design and smooth operation of lever handles make it effortless to adjust water temperature and flow, enhancing independence and safety for all users. 

Motion sensor taps offer an alternative to lever taps and because they turn off automatically they reduce the risk of a sink overflowing if a tap is left running. This feature is especially helpful for people with dementia or in wheelchairs, who may struggle to either reach tap levers or may forget to turn off taps.

7. Pop-up Sink Plugs

A pop-up sink plug is a user-friendly and hygienic alternative to traditional plugs. It’s easy to install and use, making it a quick and low-cost modification that can aid people with dementia or limited dexterity in managing personal hygiene independently. The push-button mechanism eliminates the need for grasping and pulling, which can be challenging for those with weak grips or hand tremors.  

This simple change prevents the common issue of losing the plug, which can cause confusion and frustration for people with dementia. It also eliminates the need to bend down to retrieve a dropped plug, reducing the risk of slips and falls.  

8. Soap Pump Dispensers

Ergonomic soap pump dispensers offer a user-friendly alternative to traditional soap bars, particularly for people with dementia or mobility impairments. Their intuitive design eliminates the need for slippery soap bars, reducing the risk of accidental drops and subsequent falls. The easy-to-operate pumps dispense a controlled amount of soap with minimal effort, promoting hygiene and independence when using the bathroom.

9. Clear Signs 

Clear signs both outside the toilet or bathroom and above the toilet itself are crucial for people with dementia. These signs are designed to be easily recognisable and understandable, using clear symbols and contrasting colours that enhance visibility. 

10. Colour Contrast

Further to the above, accessible design features such as colour contrast can also help people with dementia to use the toilet and move around the bathroom independently. High-contrast colours between walls, floors, and fixtures help distinguish different elements of the bathroom, reducing confusion and enhancing spatial awareness.

11. Non-Slip Flooring

Non-slip flooring is a vital safety feature in any bathroom, but it becomes especially important in mobility bathrooms designed for people with dementia or mobility impairments. It drastically reduces the risk of slips and falls,  and vinyl non-slip flooring provides a softer, warmer surface underfoot when compared to tiles. This is a feature particularly appreciated by people with dementia who may be more sensitive to cold.

Non-slip vinyl flooring is an ideal choice due to its affordability and ease of installation. It can often be laid directly over existing floors, making it a practical and budget-friendly bathroom modification for increasing accessibility without the need for extensive renovations. 

More information about non-slip flooring is available in our blog:  The Three Best Non-slip Bathroom Flooring Options.

12. Lighting

Well-lit bathrooms are crucial for people with sight impairment and older people with mobility challenges or dementia. Bright, even lighting significantly enhances visibility, reducing the risk of trips and falls. Consider installing large, easy-to-operate light switches or motion-activated lighting for added convenience and accessibility. Adequate lighting not only promotes safety but also creates a welcoming and reassuring atmosphere, easing anxiety for people with dementia, especially at night time. 

13. Emergency Call System

Installing a reliable emergency call system is a critical safety feature. This system allows users to quickly and easily call for assistance in case of an emergency, offering peace of mind and ensuring fast help can be provided. This feature is particularly important for people with dementia who may become confused or anxious when using the toilet.

Final Thoughts: Disabled Toilets

Disabled toilets and disability toilet aids can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia and mobility impairments. Helping to alleviate anxiety and increase confidence in using the toilet independently or with minimal assistance promotes independence and dignity and supports caregivers by reducing the need for constant supervision and assistance in toileting tasks.

Related Reading: A Guide To Bathroom Adaptions For the Elderly

Funding Home Adaptations: Making Your Home Accessible

If you or someone you care for is struggling with daily life due to a physical or mental health condition, small adjustments are often covered by the council. They can include items such as grab rails, motion sensor lighting and disability toilet aids. For more extensive adaptations, you may be eligible for a disability facilities grant (DFG). 

This grant can cover bathroom adaptations like grab bars, non-slip flooring, wet rooms and adjustments for wheelchair users. To begin the process of applying for assistance with funding for small and large home adaptations, you will need to apply for a home or needs assessment, which is explained below.

– Home assessment: If you or someone you know needs help with daily activities or is worried about falling, during a home assessment, an occupational therapist will ask questions and accompany them around their home. This is done to identify what type of assistance is needed and the equipment and home modifications that will help to increase safety and support independence. Before a home assessment takes place, it’s important to consider what adjustments are needed. Make a list and write down how each adjustment will help you or someone you care for remain safe and independent in daily activities. Apply for a home assessment here.

– Needs assessment: This is conducted by social services to identify your specific needs and determine what support you may be eligible for. You may be offered an assessment online, over the phone or face-to-face. If you prefer a face-to-face meeting, don’t hesitate to request it. The assessment will consider your specific situation, including:

• Your physical and mental health needs
• Your ability to perform daily living tasks like eating, bathing and getting around
• The impact of any difficulties on your overall well-being
• Your personal preferences and desired outcomes.

Support can include a variety of services, such as:

• Practical help with cleaning, shopping, preparing meals or personal care
• Assistive equipment and home modifications
• Day centres and respite care
• Care homes and carers.

Apply for needs assessment here.

Related Reading: Dementia Support: Personal Hygiene and Bathing Guide

Accessible Bathrooms for All: Your Support Can Make a Difference

At Age Care Bathrooms, we see firsthand how comfort, safety and autonomy are greatly increased by mobility bathroom modifications. Please help us with our campaign to improve access to the disability facilities grant (DFG) and the quality of life for the elderly and disabled, as well as people with a range of illnesses and impairments.

Many older people are hesitant to apply for the disabled facilities grant (DFG) because they fear their financial assets may be exhausted. The maximum savings amount of £6,000 is, in our opinion, out of date and requires revision, and the current means test is confusing. Due to financial limitations, we aren’t always able to offer all of our clients comprehensive bathroom solutions — this is why we started a campaign to change the rules surrounding the DFG.

Campaign for Change

We urge the Government to address these issues by clarifying the eligibility criteria for the DFG and reviewing the savings exemption limit. Join us in our campaign for change by signing our petition on Change.org to help our loved ones gain the support they deserve. Sign our petition with change.org today.

With over 30 years of experience, our team at Age Care Bathrooms can advise you about bathroom modifications without any obligation. Arrange a free home survey or call 0800 999 8994, and let us assist you in selecting the best bathroom solutions for your needs.

Further Advice and Support Resources

• Age UK: Advice line: 0800 678 1602 — open 8 am to 7 pm, 365 days a year
• Money Helper: Advice about money and benefits: 0800 138 7777 —  open 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday
• Carers UK:  Advice for carers: 0800 808 7777 — open 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday.