Nursing Home Design Guide
2006
impede access to room ventilation.
assisted showers, e.g., a handheld
or "telephone" style shower head
Curtains are preferable to rigid doors.
The option for a ceiling track rather than
and hose. Staff assistants should be
able to safely shower a resident
shower rod may provide easier
maintenance and address potential
without dousing themselves in the
process.
hazards posed by shower rods.
8. Drains and Floor Safety
10. Temperature Control
Methods employed for keeping the floor
In addition to scald control in the facility-
safe and dry should be indicated on the
wide plumbing system, scald control
plan and typically include the following:
should be provided in the shower,
preferably on a wall and on the
Water should drain to the rear of the
handheld shower device. Fixtures and
shower or away from footwork zones
temperature controls should be
of the toilet room floor. The floor
available to residents and staff
may gently slope to the back to keep
assistants' at the most open or
water from flowing to resident and
accessible "front" entry point to the
staff circulation areas.
shower. The objective is for controls
The transition from the room's dry
and showerheads to be used both by
floor to the shower's wet floor should
capable residents and by assistants.
be designed to direct water flow to
11. Grab Bars in Showers
the drain and restrain it from the dry
Grab bars should be provided at the
areas.
entry of the shower in the most
The shower floor should be non-slip,
accessible location and along the back
preferably of an easy to clean,
and side walls. (See figure 3.11).
seamless rubber or equivalent
material. Some materials are
suitable both for room and shower
floor use.
Fixtures should have a shower hose
that will reach diagonally across the
shower space and/or around a
seated occupant. Problems of
dropped devices and related water
spills on the room floor can be
avoided.
Shower curtains should be used to
keep water within the shower instead
of splashing onto floor.
9. Closures and Mountings
For the typical shower in a resident
bedroom, the closure should allow the
Figure 3.11
resident and caregiver open access to
Shower Designed for Assistance
the space available rather than separate
Moorings Park, Naples, FL;
resident from staff. Closures should not
Office of Facilities Management
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