Sometimes your bathroom needs a particularly special update: to make it more accessible for family members with a physical disability. These updates can mean wider doorways, a new walk-in shower, or a roll-in shower that requires that the ground be completely flat. It can mean lower bathroom sinks to accommodate a wheelchair user, and a higher toilet seat to accommodate easier transfer for the wheelchair-bound individual.
These upgrades to your home can be particularly expensive and you’ll likely need professional help to make the changes. However, thanks to the Australian government’s initiative, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) allows you as the homeowner to claim certain expenses back through the NDIS program, such as NDIS bathroom renovations.
While you might be tempted to go the whole hog on an NDIS bathroom renovation, you don’t have to do so to make a difference to someone with a disability. There are plenty of NDIS bathroom modifications that don’t require a huge remodel. Here are some easier-to-make NDIS bathroom modifications.
If you’re in need of a more complete bathroom remodel to accommodate an individual in your household with mobility challenges, then Crystal Bathrooms can help with an extensive NDIS bathroom renovation. We provide assistance throughout every step of the renovation process: helping you to design the bathroom, offer material suggestions and research, and then finally offering physical assistance in doing the renovation for you.
Our goal is to help make your bathroom more accessible for you – and as accessibility actually makes life easier for everyone, your bathroom becomes more accessible for everyone, too! Usually, when you’re making large-scale accessibility-related renovations, you need to consult an NDIS specialist before making the changes, to make sure you’re covered under the insurance.
NDIS, or the National Disability Insurance Scheme provides homeowners who are themselves living with a disability or will be making renovations to provide for those in the household that are living with a disability, with specialised insurance funds to make those renovations possible, as they can be very extensive and expensive.
Having an NDIS-approved renovation plan will make sure that you’re covered in the event of an accident in your home, in the space that was covered with the NDIS. NDIS-approved modifications to a bathroom are things like installing wider doorways, replacing a sink and counter, so that it can be lowered to accommodate a wheelchair user. Or the replacing of a bathtub-shower, with either a full walk-in shower, or a roll-in shower for those with wheelchair users in the home.
Crystal Bathrooms can help navigate the Insurance Scheme, making sure everything checks all of the boxes, at every stage of the renovation.
A well-designed bathroom can be life-changing for someone with a disability. With NDIS bathroom renovations, you can access the fees and funding necessary to make complex home modifications. At Crystal Bathrooms, we work with occupational therapists to design an NDIS approved home modification. We allow the professionals to guide our design to make daily tasks simple for children with limited mobility.
Home modifications are changes to your home, and in terms of NDIS approved modifications, it is changes made specifically to benefit someone with a disability. An occupational therapy professional will make recommendations about assistive technology and potential structure layout or fittings. As your home modification provider, we will work with you to put an NDIS plan together that works for your child.
The bathroom is a particular safety risk. Bathroom modifications, under NDIS rules, can include:
You likely use your bathroom daily without thinking much about what you’re doing. But for children living with disabilities, it can be the most challenging aspect of their day. Even the most simple modifications can be life-changing in terms of empowering children to live independently. Bathroom activities are a necessity, and NDIS modifications provide children living with disabilities to handle self-care. It’s the difference between toileting and bathing on their own versus having someone else handle it for them.
Making changes to the structure of your home will require permits, but you don’t need to worry about that because Crystal Bathrooms can take care of that. While structural changes aren’t always necessary, door widenings would be classed as such. Installing hand rails, however, would not. There is a variety of NDIS bathroom modifications you can make. A door widening can provide easy access for a child who uses a wheelchair.
Hand rails are a helpful installation in the shower to aid balance during a variety of bathing tasks. They are also useful next to the toilet to make it easier to use, whether it’s to transfer from a wheelchair or to provide additional balance. Hand rails are classed as a simple NDIS home modification.
In terms of complex NDIS home modifications, creating a wet room style shower area to replace a recess and tub would rise to this category, or removing shower doors. Another simple modification would be lowering the height of or increasing the height of the toilet.
A moderate renovation would be widening door entrances, installing a sliding door, or removing a shower door. There are additional shower aids that can make the bathing process easier.
You can see just how many different ways there are to make home modifications to improve access for a child with a disability. Allied health providers play a crucial role in the NDIS process, contributing to the participant’s plan and offering advice and recommendations on what changes should be made.
NDIS participants can seek funding for home modifications, and according to the National Disability Insurance Agency, it may be included in your current budget. If your child can’t reasonably access areas of your home and you have had an Occupational Therapist’s assessment that recommended modifications, you should be able to have these changes funded. While this will fund the standard fittings and modifications, you may need to contribute your own money if you want a more expensive fixture or finish.
While there are certain modifications you can handle on your own, you should always use a professional for NDIS home modifications. We make these modifications with expert advice and your child’s safety in mind.
The team at Crystal Bathrooms can visit your home to handle assessments and recommendations. There is a range of home modification options that will improve the lives of people with disabilities. We can work with you to design the structure layout, design the updates, and carry out the home modifications. We can provide you with a stylish, but functional bathroom renovation that meets everyone’s needs. Crystal Bathrooms is an approved NDIS provider. Get in touch to start the home modifications assessments process.
The NDIS is a health and housing support scheme created to improve lives, and that includes home and bathroom modifications. A modification, according to the NDIS, changes the layout, structure, and fittings, and specifically, those changes are necessary to increase safety and ease of use. Living in a nice environment is an important part of leading a healthy, happy life, and the NDIS helps make that a reality.
When it comes to bathroom renovations and modifications on the NDIS Scheme, many homeowners opt for neutral fixtures and fittings, but let’s face it – this can be a little drab and boring. If you want to bring a little life into your home, consider adding some pops of colour to the bathroom.
How you incorporate colour into your bathroom will depend on whether you own your home or are renting. As a homeowner, you have free reign over what you can do in the bathroom. You might want to go all out and paint the walls, opt for bright coloured tiles, or simply choose fixtures and fittings that add a little zing to the bathroom.
If you have plans to sell in the next 5 years or so, or you are renting your property, your best bet is to stick with neutral colours as a base and these don’t tend to date the way colour trends do. The neutral canvas still gives you the chance to create a vibrant room with your accessories. Here are a few easy ideas for how you can incorporate colour:
Paint: Easily the most affordable option for adding colour to your bathroom, a splash of paint on the walls, or even just topping up the cupboards with a brighter palette can make a huge difference to the ambience of a room.
Accent Tiles: If the majority of your tiles in the bathroom are plain white, or boring grey, add a few patterned accent tiles as a splashback to the basin, or around the shower.
Wallpaper: If you don’t want to change the paint or tiles, wallpaper is a great temporary option that also gives you the freedom to change it with the seasons. It’s also ideal for renting, and the best thing about wallpaper is that it comes in thousands of different colours and design combinations.
Towels: If you are renting or simply want subtle changes to the bathroom, including bright coloured towels, hand towels and mats is a great and easily affordable option for your new NDIS bathroom modifications.
Décor: This is where you can really play around with the colours. Whether you include some flowers (fake or real) and indoor plants, or water resistant art works, the options here are endless. Just keep in mind the placement of your items to ensure they aren’t getting wet and aren’t at risk of mould and mildew.
Not sure which colours to choose? You can really go with anything in the bathroom, but there are some that will work better than others. The following are considered “hot” shades for bathrooms in 2021:
If you qualify for NDIS funding, you can install hand-held showers, mobility aids such as handrails, remove shower screens, install an adapted toilet, and much more. For the best efficiency, you need to work with an NDIS registered contractor who will work in conjunction with an Occupational Therapist’s assessment of the necessary modifications.
With Crystal Bathrooms, your NDIS bathroom modifications goals can be transformed into a reality. Get in touch with us to start the NDIS bathroom renovations process today. As an NDIS registered contractor, we have the necessary knowledge and skills to bring your vision to life.
If someone in your home uses a wheelchair, you want to make sure as much of the property is as accessible as possible. But there’s nowhere more important than the bathroom. Ensuring the toilet and shower room are accessible is essential for everyone’s wellbeing at home.
Unfortunately, most conventional bathrooms these days are focused on having as much as possible in a small space – rather than having as much space as possible in a small room. If you are looking at a bathroom renovation to accommodate wheelchair access, here are some of our best suggestions:
Update Your Doors
Start with the door itself. Your door hardware shouldn’t be too heavy to open – you want to be able to open it with one hand, without having to pull it hard or grip it too tight. Round doorknobs aren’t ideal, so opt for lever handles instead, or you even might consider automatic doors.
Consider the width as well. Accessible doors should also be at least 85 centimetres of clear width. That’s the measurement between the face of the door itself, and the opposite stop. So, whether the door is hinged, folding, or sliding, the space between when it’s fully opened should be no less than 85cm.
Check the space. You want to make sure there is plenty of room for the wheelchair user to approach the door, reach for the handle, open the door, maneuver through the doorway, and then close the door behind them.
Check the Flooring
Ensure the floors are stable, level, and durable. Consider the amount of friction each flooring type offers – you want something that is slip-resistant, especially when it’s wet. As texture is also important, and carpet and tiles could be a problem here. You need durable flooring, so your wheelchair doesn’t leave dents, scuff marks and scratches. But you also want to make sure the bathroom flooring also matches the aesthetics of the rest of the home.
The best types of flooring to consider for your bathroom renovations include small, slip-resistant tiles. Smaller tiles will hold the weight of the wheelchair better and there will be less risk of it cracking. They also create more friction, which will help keep the tires from slipping. Another option is vinyl flooring – it’s water-resistant, durable and the thick protective layers it has will prevent slipping.
The Fittings and Fixtures
Now that you have the room access and flooring complete, it’s time to consider the fittings and fixtures. The most important thing you need to look at is how easily accessible your shower, toilet and basin are.
Key elements you might want to include are:
Finally, make sure you have good lighting in the room, with switches low enough so they can be reached while sitting in a wheelchair. Motion sensor lights are also a great idea.
If you’re ready to get started and looking for a Sydney bathroom renovations company, Crystal Bathrooms is here to help. Get in touch and our bathroom designers will help you come up with the ideal layout and turn your dream bathroom into reality.
A sudden illness or disability is life-changing, and often, people require modifications to their home for it to serve them properly. Home is where the heart is, and if it doesn’t serve your needs, then changers are necessary, especially in the bathroom.
The NDIS (Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme) offers financial support to the people, under 65, who live with a disability. With over four million Australians living with some type of disability, the purpose of this scheme is to provide support, both health and housing, and improve community service access. One of the key offerings is the home modification assistance they provide. However, to get the best of the bathroom renovation process you should always choose a Registered NDIS Provider. This is simply a supplier, such as Crystal Bathrooms, which has been approved by the scheme to carry out the work for which you have received funds.
You may be entitled to NDIS assistance for your bathroom renovation if you:
If you require a bathroom renovation for modifications due to disabilities, then a Registered NDIS Provider is a must. Before your support is approved, you will need to complete an HM assessment to provide evidence to show that the modifications are necessary. You will also have to give the NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) permission to discuss potential modifications with your chosen Registered NDIS provider. Once you have secured the support, you have to work with a Registered NDIS Provider to use that support.
Whether you have experienced a sudden illness, injury, or you have a long-term impairment, you will likely require a bathroom renovation. There is a range of options available to you when carrying out a bathroom renovation to modify the room for your unique needs, including:
While you must choose a Registered NDIS provider it is also beneficial. As a Registered NDIS Provider, Crystal Bathrooms is uniquely equipped to undertake your project and ensure your bathroom renovation ticks all of the boxes. As an experienced company, we are well versed in the Building Codes and Australian Standards.
We can help you design, renovate, construct, and install a bathroom renovation that provides you with the assistance you need. Accessibility is an important factor in every area of life, but the bathroom is perhaps one of the most crucial areas.
At Crystal Bathrooms, we always seek the latest technology and advances within the industry to offer our customers the best experience possible. This is particularly true when it comes to improving disability-friendly designs. We work with specialists within the industry to choose the right components at every step of the way. In addition to open-plan designs and height adjustment to provide a wheelchair friendly area, we can also offer anti-scald mixers to add a layer of safety without impacting function.
Our design team will work with you and medical experts, such as your occupational therapist, to create an accessible bathroom which will meet all of your needs. Before work begins we will provide you with the design in 2 and 3D to show you exactly what you have to look forward to. Once work begins, we are happy to work around you to ensure the disruption is minimised. We’ll create a schedule that suits you, your caregivers, and family.
If you, or someone you care for, is living with a disability, you know how debilitating it can be. And if your home isn’t up to scratch, it can make life even more difficult. The good news is you don’t have to sell your home and start again or move to another rental. In fact, it could be as simple as making some minor modifications and alterations to your hallway, doorways, garage, kitchen or bathroom.
Making home modifications can have a huge positive impact on your life or the life of the ones you’re caring for. Keep reading to find out how home modifications and bathroom modifications, in particular, could make life a whole lot easier on everyone.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides financial support to people who are living with a disability, under the age of 65 years. The scheme aims to provide housing and health support, as well as better access to community services. One of the things they do is assist people with home modifications, provided your modifications fall under their assessment guidelines.
According to the NDIS, home modifications are defined as “any changes to the structure, layout or fittings of an environment that are required to increase the ease and safety of access with which tasks can be performed”.
The NDIS may fund home modifications if carers and the person living with a disability are unable to reasonably access particular rooms in the house, such as the bathroom. It can include adding fixtures and fittings, or full redesigns to suit.
A sudden illness or injury, or longer-term impairment could mean a revamp of your current bathroom is now necessary. When it comes to handicap bathrooms for residential tenants, there are a range of modifications you might consider, particularly if you’re planning on applying for financial assistance with the NDIS. These include:
If you require NDIS assistance for your bathroom renovation, you first need to undergo a home modifications assessment. The home modification assessments are completed by NDIS registered provider, who must prove to the NDIS that modifications are necessary within your bathroom. This is completed by an Occupational Therapist (OT) who will visit your home. They will look at the current layout of your home, observe the activities you complete daily, and assess what you need further assistance with (if anything). They’ll then discuss their findings with you and make recommendations.
The OT will complete a report that includes measurements of the changes required, including doorway widths that need changing, rail heights and diameters, and so on. They’ll even come back after the work is completed to evaluate the changes. Get in touch with your local NDIS office to find out more.
Once you’re approved for NDIS home modifications, the next step is to find a reputable company to complete the work for you. The best way to do this is to get on Google and search for local companies. Give them a call or send them an email and ask them the following questions:
It’s best if you have an idea in mind of what you need, but that doesn’t have to always be the case, and many bathroom renovations companies are happy to provide advice.
At Crystal Bathrooms, we provide NDIS home modifications to ensure your disability bathroom provides everything you need for comfortable living. We also offer aged care bathroom renovation services.
Home modifications are changes to your home, whether this is the structure, the layout of the house or fittings. It allows someone who is living with a disability better access to the home and features within it, including safer access, to enter the home and to move around inside. Home modifications could include a full redesign of your bathroom or adding rails in the toilet, to building a ramp at the front door. NDIS home modifications are generally only made if it is expected that the home will remain the primary residence in the long term.
To make alterations to your home, there are several laws and regulations you must adhere to. These include the Building Codes and Australian Standards, which regulate the type of home modifications you can complete. Minor alterations usually don’t need anyone’s permission, unless you are renting or you require assistance from the NDIS – in which case you need both your landlord’s permission, and you need to see if you’re eligible for financial assistance. Major alterations, however, could be subject to Council approval, so your best bet is to contact your local City Council to discuss your requirements.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is also known as the NDIS, which is administered by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The organisation is jointly funded and governed by the Australian Government and State governments. It provides financial support to people who are under 65 years of age, who are living with a disability, as well as their families and carers. The role of the NDIS is to provide a range of support packages to eligible people. It also aims to help people with a disability have better access to mainstream services, such as housing and health; provide better access to community services, and to help those living with a disability maintain their own support systems.
There are some instances in which the NDIS will consider funding your home modifications.
These include:
As part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, arranging a home modification varies depending on where you live. It also depends on if you are renting or an owner. If you’re renting and your home is public or community housing, you need to contact your local Housing Provider. If you’re renting privately, ask your landlord’s permission to make any changes to the home. If you own your property, you can simply undertake the modifications yourself. This changes if the property is part of public or community housing, in which case you need to contact the operator of the retirement village or the Owner’s Corporation.
NDIS Provider # 4050062560
If you or a loved one is living with a disability, life can be challenging. However, your home should be designed to work for you, and no other room needs to be more carefully thought out to meet your needs than a bathroom. Having an accessible bathroom makes a lot of everyday tasks that much easier and allows those with disabilities to be more independent while going about their daily lives.
In Australia, there is a disability scheme known as NDIS (the National Disability Insurance Scheme) and it is designed to help those with disabilities get the assistance they need while going about their daily routines.
NDIS helps over 4.3 million people across the country deal with their unique disabilities via funding and support. The goal of the scheme is to ensure those that need them, have access to the functionality and devices required to live a productive life.
This access includes certain home renovations that allow a user to modify their space so that they are able to more safely use it and move around more comfortably in areas they frequently visit (like the bathroom, for example).
Home modifications can be included in your NDIS plan if:
Individuals between the ages of 7-65 that live and have residency in Australia are eligible to request help from the scheme to improve certain heavily used areas of the home to make them more accessible. Once approved, individuals can utilise NDIS. However, they must work with an NDIS approved supplier, of which Crystal Bathrooms is one.
Individuals under NDIS have a range of unique needs, and modifying a bathroom to meet them is different for everyone. Our goal at Crystal Bathrooms is to work with you, your family and your medical experts to deliver an NDIS bathroom renovation that will meet your specific needs.
Modifications to bathrooms may include:
At Crystal Bathrooms, we pride ourselves on staying up-to-date with the latest bathroom advancements that make accessible bathrooms safer and more user-friendly. We work with industry specialists to seek out the best features, fixtures, and tech – from frameless showers to open plan designs.
Our products include the latest in mobility supports, anti-slip flooring, and automated lighting. We also handle finishing touches such as anti-scald mixtures that keep users safe without reducing function.
Crystal Bathrooms always provides full 2D and 3D designs so you can see exactly how your bathroom will look once completed.
We understand the disruptions to a home can be difficult, especially for those with disabilities. Crystal Bathrooms works to make every effort to minimise the effects of installing and renovating NDIS bathrooms. Our team will work closely with you, your family and your caregivers to devise a work plan that will keep disruptions to a minimum.
We’re committed to completing the work on-time whenever possible, keeping you appraised of the work and progress, and delivering results as promised.
Speak to Crystal Bathrooms today to see how we can help you with an NDIS approved bathroom renovation.