Inclusive Bathroom Design – as we age: a new publication by VitrA & Lab4Living

Researchers from C3RI’s Lab4Living have collaborated with Turkish bathroom specialists, VitrA to publish a guide on inclusive bathroom design.

An ageing population demands innovative solutions to support independence at home for people living with long-term health conditions or disabilities. This publication, based on research carried out by Lab4Living at Sheffield Hallam University, considers a range of physical factors and cognitive changes associated with ageing to provide guidelines for inclusive bathroom design. These factors, such as strength, dexterity or hearing, have informed understanding of the changing role and function of bathrooms as populations age and their needs and desires evolve. The guide suggests inclusive and aesthetically pleasing solutions to accessible and adaptable bathrooms that are also ‘family-friendly’.

The research behind the guidelines directly involved older people from local communities in Sheffield who helped identify the challenges of bathroom use that come about in later life. The Lab4Living guidelines have informed the design of VitrA’s bathroom products throughout the publication including bathroom layout, lighting, storage and heating.

A copy of the publication is available on the VitrA website.

 

Image credit: VitrA (http://vitra.com.tr/)