As a community occupational therapist (OT), one of the key challenges you may face is finding practical solutions for clients with complex needs who live in small or inaccessible homes. Limited space can make it difficult to accommodate essential bathroom adaptations, such as assisted baths, hoists, or showering solutions. However, with the right approach and support, even the most challenging environments can be adapted to improve accessibility, independence, comfort and safety.

At Astor Bannerman, we specialise in providing innovative bathroom solutions for disabled people and their families. Our experienced team works closely with OTs to assess each unique situation and recommend equipment that maximises functionality while fitting within the available space. Here, we explore how OTs can address space limitations and highlight real-life solutions from our case studies.

Understanding the Client’s Needs and Space Constraints

Before recommending any adaptations, it’s essential to assess both the client’s current and future needs, as well as the physical constraints of their home. Key considerations include:

The client’s mobility level and transfer needs
Whether the client requires carer assistance
Available space and layout restrictions
Potential for reconfiguring the existing bathroom

Tip: Our team at Astor Bannerman can assist with site visits and technical advice to ensure the best use of space.

Exploring Structural Adaptation Options

For clients with extremely limited space, structural changes to the bathroom may be necessary. Options vary greatly in terms of complexity and cost but can make a significant difference in accessibility. Some possible structural solutions include:

Extending the bathroom to create more usable space
Remodelling the existing layout to improve flow and usability
Repositioning or replacing equipment to better fit the available space
Installing wall-mounted and folding equipment to maximise floor space
Widening doorways or removing walls to improve wheelchair and mobility aid access
Wall mounted rather than ceiling mounted hoist

Tip: Understanding the budget and funding options available to the client will help determine the feasibility of these structural changes.

Choosing the Right Bathing and Showering Solutions

Many standard mobility aids and pieces of equipment require significant space, which may not always be available. However, there are specialist products designed to work within smaller bathrooms without compromising on accessibility. Here are two examples of different solutions within small bathrooms.

Case Study 1: Accessible Bathing and Hoisting in a Tight Space

A client required a hoist system and a bathing solution, but the bathroom layout was restrictive. The family worked with an architect to alter the layout of the first floor to create more space. By installing a ceiling track hoist from the bedroom to the bathroom, alongside a multi-functional Astor Kiva Fusion bath (height adjustable, with integrated stretcher, shower and guards), our team enabled safe and efficient transfers while preserving as much usable space as possible. These pieces of equipment were complimented by a fully height adjustable compact washbasin, the Astor Aquba, designed to fit in small spaces and under a window.

Solution: Ceiling track hoists can be a great space-saving alternative to floor-based hoists, freeing up valuable floor area and improving accessibility. Multi-functional equipment and/or compact pieces of equipment are an incredibly useful way to incorporate multiple activities within a small footprint.

Read the full case study

Case Study 2: Full Accessible Bathroom Adaptation in a Small Bathroom

In this case, a client needed a fully adapted bathroom but had a very limited footprint to work with. Our team helped reconfigure the bathroom layout, installing a shorter version of the Astor Kiva Fusion bath – the Astor Rio Fusion. Because this bath includes a changing stretcher with integrated guards, the hoist system could be used to transfer the client from their wheelchair safely to be changed, bathed and showered in a small space.

Solution: Shorter length baths can be a great way of saving space, depending on the client’s needs. Multi-functional baths reduce the number of pieces of equipment required.

Read the full case study

Tip Get our team involved early in the process to ensure the right equipment and design is recommended

Making the Most of Multi-Functional Equipment

Space-saving does not mean compromising on functionality. Many modern accessible bathroom products are designed to be multi-functional, making them ideal for small spaces.

Equipment offering multiple functions, such as bathing, changing and showering, save space within the bathroom.
Height-adjustable baths can be used by multiple family members.
Wall-mounted washbasins provide accessibility for multiple family members without taking up floor space.

Tip: The right solution may not be just buying a smaller product – buying a product that does more within the same footprint could be a more efficient thing to do.