Many homeowners find themselves in the need to have an accessible home, for either themselves or other family members. Millions of people in the United States use wheelchairs and having an accessible home is one good way for them to continue living in their homes independently.
A good way to go about this is to make your house accessible to personal needs. The reason behind this is that the right modifications can boost accessibility, safety, and independence. An example of an addition is having an accessible sink. This article looks at wheelchair accessible sinks and their benefits to individuals with mobility problems.
What are Wheelchair Accessible Sinks?
Wheelchair accessible sinks can be described as bathroom washbasins properly designed to accommodate all individuals with mobility issues. Even the most basic sinks meet the required standards of depth, clearance, and height as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These attributes make them more accessible to all individuals that use wheelchairs.
New wheelchair designs go above these basics, making the bathroom sinks more comfortable to use, and your bathroom a lot safer. Some of these extra designs include safety rails, height adjustability, and easy to clean features.
Types of Wheelchair Accessible Sinks
The market has a variety of wheelchair accessible sinks that come in distinct designs for different purposes. Here are some examples:
- ADA Wall-Mounted Sinks
ADA wall-mounted sinks are firm and can easily be mounted to the wall. These sinks follow standards and guidelines provided by the ADA. These sinks are effective for those bathrooms with a very low number of disabled users.
- ADA Under Mount Sinks
These sinks are made to be installed in a counter, cabinet, and other supportive areas. Under mount sinks are often used in those areas where storage and space are at a premium. One thing to note about these sinks is that care must be taken when installing them to ensure that the spaces they are installed in meet the required ADA guidelines.
- ADA Vanity Sinks
These sinks meet ADA requirements but are designed to provide you with aesthetic appeal. They are normally mounted on the wall. However, adjustable designs are available in the market. Due to their aesthetics, ADA vanity sinks are common in hotels, homes, and other areas where décor is a major concern.
- Height Adjustable Wheelchair Sinks
These sinks are mounted to a track and attached to the wall, and can move either vertically or laterally. These sinks are mostly used in healthcare facilities like hospitals and they serve a wide array of body sizes and needs. The good thing about height adjustable wheelchair sinks is that they can be adjusted to serve almost anyone.
Benefits of Wheelchair Accessible Sinks
- They Enable Cost Savings
One advantage of having wheelchair accessible sinks is that they boost an individual’s independence because they can use the bathroom at their own convenience. Being independent goes a long way in saving you money that you would otherwise use for family, health, and government systems geared towards assisting people with mobility problems.
If you are a senor that pays healthcare costs out of your own pocket, such high payments dig out on your retirement savings. Installing a wheelchair accessible sink and other features will enable you to save a lot of money in the future.
- Physical and Emotional Benefits
Your home is supposed to be a comfortable place. Therefore, you do not want to have any issues accessing certain parts of your house. By installing a wheelchair accessible sink, you will be able to use your sink and complete any tasks you want. This goes a long way in boosting your physical and emotional health.
- Boosts Your Home’s Resale Value
You might not think about it, but renovating your bathroom to install wheelchair accessible sinks goes a long way in boosting your home’s resale value. Investing in a wheelchair accessible sink has a good return on investment. While having an accessible sink improves the quality of life and boosts general happiness, it will also be worth it when planning to sell.
As homeowners continue becoming aware of accessibility issues in their homes, it is critical for you to understand all aspects of accessibility. Wheelchair accessible sinks are washbasins designed to accommodate those individuals with mobility issues. They meet all needed standards of height, depth, and clearance as suggested by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Wheelchair accessible sinks are all about offering their users with a safer and more comfortable way to use their bathrooms. If you are looking to have a more accessible bathroom, then consider installing a wheelchair accessible sink.