Living made easy

Help and advice

You may be considering building a new bathroom on the ground floor either because of space restrictions or because it is difficult to access an upstairs bathroom. If this is the case, check that all other options have been considered.

For example, it may be more practical and cheaper to install a stairlift or through-floor lift to provide easy access to the first floor. Alternatively there are shower cubicles that can be located in a suitable space in the house including bedrooms or in a larger bathroom retaining the bath. This can be helpful if there are several people in the household that have different needs.
Read advice on funding adaptations for your bathroom.

If you already have a shower in a shower tray or shower cubicle there may be modifications that could be made at least in the short term by installing showering equipment such as:
- wall mounted seating
- wall mounted rails
- ramped access kits

The suitability of these products depends on available space and the needs of the bather and other household members.

See our choosing a shower and accessories fact sheet

When considering bathing equipment an individual assessment with an occupational therapist may be appropriate, your safety in your bathroom is very important. There may be individual factors which determine which bathing or showering equipment best suits your needs, the information on this site is not a substitute for individual assessment.