Arranging a new bathroom for a parent or grandparent is often done in a hurry, after a fall or a hospital stay. A little preparation makes the survey far more useful and stops money going on features that will not help. Work through this list together with the person who will use the room.
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Step one: watch a normal day
Before thinking about products, notice how the bathroom is used now. Small observations shape big decisions.
- Does your relative hold the basin, towel rail or door frame for balance?
- Is getting in and out of the bath the hardest moment, or getting up from the toilet?
- Do they use a walking stick, frame or wheelchair, even occasionally?
- Do they sit to wash or dress?
- Is anyone helping them, and would that carer need space to stand alongside?
Step two: note the room
- Which way does the door open, and could it trap someone who falls behind it?
- Is there a step or raised threshold into the room?
- Is the bathroom upstairs, and how are the stairs managed now?
- How is hot water provided: combi boiler, tank or cylinder?
- Is the floor slippery when wet?
Step three: decide the big questions first
Three choices shape everything else, so settle them before worrying about taps or tile colours.
- Bath, shower or both. A bath with a low side and a rail can work for someone who still bathes safely. A walk in bath is another route. Where transfers are difficult, a level access shower is usually the safer answer.
- Level floor or low tray. A fully level floor suits wheelchairs and frames. A low profile tray may be enough for someone walking with support.
- Now or later. Are you solving today, or planning for the next ten years? Planning ahead often costs little extra at build stage.
Step four: the features worth asking about
- Grab rails at the toilet, shower and basin, with reinforced walls behind them.
- A fold down shower seat.
- A comfort height toilet.
- A thermostatic shower valve set at a reachable height, to reduce the risk of scalding.
- Slip resistant floor tiles.
- Good lighting, including at night.
Our grab rails and level access page explains how each is fitted.
Step five: questions for the fitter
- Will the walls take a rail wherever we might need one later?
- How will my relative manage without the bathroom during the work?
- Who does the plumbing, tiling and electrics?
- Is the quote fixed and in writing, with a finish date?
Step six: plan the weeks of the work
Think early about how your relative will wash and use a toilet while their bathroom is out of action. Could they stay with family for the noisiest days, or is there a downstairs toilet they can reach? Tell us about hospital appointments, carers' visits and medication routines so working hours can fit around them. A written start and finish date makes it much easier to arrange cover, and it means nobody is left guessing when the room will be usable again.
Bring the list to the survey
We cover Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Trentham, Stone and Leek. The survey is free, we are happy for family members to be there, and the quote arrives in writing within 24 hours. See our easy access bathrooms for the types of room we build, then book a visit or call 01782 901390.
Common questions
What is a mobility bathroom?
A bathroom adapted so someone with limited mobility can use it safely and independently, typically with level or low access showering, support rails and room to move.
Should the bath come out?
Not always. Where someone still bathes safely we can fit a bath with a low side and a grab rail, or install a walk in bath. Where transfers are difficult, a level access shower is usually safer.
Should my relative be at the survey?
Ideally yes. How they move, sit and reach tells us far more than measurements alone, and it is their room.
Do you fit grab rails and level access?
Yes. Rails, seats and level access showers are part of our easy access bathroom work, fitted by our own team.
How quickly can work start?
You receive a fixed written quote within 24 hours of the free survey, and a start date is agreed with you.