Bathroom Checklist
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2004-02-01 00:00:00-05:00
Will you be able to use your bathroom safely as you get older? Here's a good way to find out. Take a good look around your bathroom. Then complete this checklist online or print it out to complete by hand.
Did you answer "yes" to a question? Great! That part of your bathroom should be easy to use for many years to come. Did you answer "no" to a few questions? Maybe your bathroom isn't as user-friendly as you'll need one day. For more information on these bathroom features, follow the link at the top of each section.
Bathroom Safety
| Yes | No | |
| The bathroom door is at least 32 inches wide. | ||
| Someone can unlock the door from the outside. | ||
| The door opens out. | ||
| The bathroom has enough clear floor space for a wheelchair. | ||
| The floor has a non-slip surface | ||
| I have a bathroom telephone. | ||
| I can reach the phone from the toilet or tub. |
| Yes | No | |
| There is a flat ledge on my tub where I can sit. | ||
| My bathtub has a non-slip surface. | ||
| I can reach the water controls from outside the tub. | ||
| I can reach my towel and shampoo while I sit in the tub. | ||
| I have grab bars around my tub. | ||
| I use a hand-held shower. | ||
| My tub has an anti-scald device. |
| Yes | No | |
| I have a walk-in shower. | ||
| A fold-down seat is attached securely to the wall. | ||
| My shower has a non-slip surface. | ||
| There are grab bars where I need them. | ||
| I have a hand-held shower. | ||
| I have a shelf to hold shampoo and soap. | ||
| The shelf is easy to reach. | ||
| My shower has an anti-scald device. |
| Yes | No | |
| There are grab bars around my toilet, tub and shower. | ||
| They can support someone who weighs up to 250 pounds. | ||
| They are attached to the wall studs. | ||
| My grab bars measure 1 ¼ " -1 ½ " around. | ||
| They have a textured shape. | ||
| There is 1 ½ inches between the grab bar and the wall. |
| Yes | No | |
| My sink is 34 inches from the floor. | ||
| It has knee space underneath. | ||
| I can control hot and cold water with one handle. | ||
| I use lever handles - not knobs - to turn on the water. | ||
| My sink has an anti-scald device. | ||
| There ' s plenty of counter space to hold my things. | ||
| The counter edge is rounded. | ||
| I can reach my medicine chest when I am sitting down. | ||
| I have a mirror that tilts up and down. |
| Yes | No | |
| My toilet is 17 inches from the floor. | ||
| It has grab bars around it. | ||
| There is at least 18 inches of free space in front of the toilet. | ||
| There is 42 inches of floor space on the side of the toilet. | ||
| I can reach the toilet paper easily. | ||
| I have a bidet seat to make hygiene easier. |
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