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Bathroom design considerations to help with Parkinson’s Disease (PD)

By Adam Ferry Occupational Therapist

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time, and therefore future proofing is very important when considering your bathroom adaptations. 

People tend to associate involuntary shaking, often called a tremor, as the main symptom of PD, and although that may be true, we should not dismiss other symptoms such as changes to the walking pattern, associated risk of falling, and sensory changes, as having an important impact on function, and therefore the importance of the environment.

Generally, people don’t want to consider what they might need in the future, however, this is often associated with environments and equipment that are very clinical and scream “disability”. Firstly, lets change that perception and accept that environments are disabling rather than the person being disabled. Secondly, there is no reason why adaptations once considered clinical cannot now be seen as home improvements. Not only are G360 experienced in designing and installing bathrooms to meet a person’s needs, but they also look amazing as well!

When making changes to your bathroom, consider:

  • Potential changes in mobility and transfers.  
  • Do you prefer a bath or shower? If it’s a bath there are options that make it safe, and if a shower then go for a level access or ‘wet room’ space.
  • Reduce open pipe work and choose low surface heating so that risks of burning if there is a fall are reduced.  
  • Controls, including taps and shower should be easy to use despite a tremor and for someone with limited grip.  
  • Flooring should be one solid colour and preferably not dark which helps with mobility and reduce falls risks.

You’re not going to think of everything, which is why the team at G360 are so important. Their experience at designing and installing bathrooms that meet the individual need, reduce risk and supporting independence help to provide a bathroom you can use with confidence.  

With their support in designing a personalised bathroom concept you can rest assured that both current and future needs will be considered, whilst providing a wonderfully aesthetic domestic bathroom.