What is a shower for people with reduced mobility?
A shower for people with disabilities must be easy to access and use. This depends on each individual's disability, as well as whether they need a carer or nurse to help them transfer, sometimes for washing.
Depending on the elderly or disabled person, this may involve installing a PRM shower rail or considering work to install a walk-in shower. Sometimes it is mainly the dimensions that pose a problem, in order to be able to use a reclining shower chair. Sometimes the shower screen needs to be changed to allow easy entry and exit, and then all you need to do is buy a folding shower seat, a chair or a shower stool.
Please note that there are several professionals who can help individuals with the conversion of a bathroom for disabled access, whether or not building work is required.
How do you convert a shower for disabled access?
There is a wide range of equipment available for creating a PRM shower, an accessible, comfortable, fall-proof space for a dependent person or someone with reduced mobility. As a general rule, you will need:
To make washing easier, discover the long-handled brush on our website or a hand shower for washbasin taps.
About disabled shower enclosures
There are two options for installing a disabled shower enclosure: adapt the various elements of the existing shower to make it accessible and safe, or purchase a disabled shower enclosure.
The latter is often made to measure or based on a model offering different dimensions. Several parts can be customised, including the wall, tray and PRM shower column.
Please note that it is possible to install a shower enclosure or have an Italian shower built without it being specifically labelled ‘disabled’, but its characteristics will make it suitable for certain disabilities.
Disabled shower standards
PRM shower standards specify the minimum dimensions (120 x 90 cm) and minimum shower height (180 cm). The height of a mixer tap is between 90 and 130 cm, as is the door handle. If you install a disabled shower seat, it must be 45/50 cm high. The height of a PRM shower rail or wall-mounted grab bar should be between 70 and 80 cm.
How much does it cost to install a disabled shower?
Depending on whether you buy a shower chair for disabled people, a chair or a folding seat, the price varies from less than £100 to £500.
With a shower handle and a few inexpensive accessories, you can convert your shower cubicle or walk-in shower for less than £1,000, or even less than £500, without any building work.
If you need to carry out building work, financial assistance is available for installing a disabled shower. The price varies greatly as there are many options available, but you can estimate that it will cost between £1,000 and £2,000, with higher prices for many walk-in showers.
Discover our range of products for disabled toilets.
