In short
- Lever taps are easier to use than round taps — most go from off to fully on with a quarter turn.
- Tap turners fit over your existing taps and give you more leverage.
- Long-handled sponges and foot-care aids mean less bending and stretching.
- Use a non-slip mat in the bath or shower, and check it is stuck down before every use.
- A water-level alarm can tell you when the bath is full.
Lever taps and tap turners
If you have arthritis or a weak grip, round taps can be hard to turn.
- Lever taps replace your existing taps. Living Made Easy says the lever can be pushed or pulled, and on most "the lever only needs to turn a quarter of the way around the tap to go from off to fully on".
- Tap turners "fit onto the top of your existing taps", giving you a handle to push.
In Wales, the ENABLE scheme lists "accessible taps" as an example of a small adaptation.
Long-handled washing aids
Living Made Easy says there is long-handled washing equipment, and hand and foot care aids, "designed to help make it easier to reach parts of your body when washing with less stretching or bending". It suggests using them while you are sitting down, so that reaching does not affect your balance.
Non-slip mats
The NHS advises using "a non-slip mat in the bath or shower". Living Made Easy says suction mats, self-adhesive strips and spray-on slip-resistant coatings all help. Check the mat is firmly stuck down before every use.
Other useful small aids
Age UK lists:
- a special safety plug that limits the water level
- a flood detector
- long-handled sponges
- non-slip mats or foot-cleaning mats
Living Made Easy also describes water-level indicators, which "emit an audible warning when in contact with water" to tell you the bath is full.
Bathroom aids to look at
- Tap turners (Taps and small aids)
- Long-handled sponge (Taps and small aids)
- Bath water-level alarm (Mats, thermometers and night lights)
Sources we checked
- Living Made Easy: Bath lifts and hoists (other useful bathing equipment) (opens another website)
- NHS: Falls (opens another website)
- Age UK: Adapting your home (information guide) (opens another website)
- Welsh Government: ENABLE – support for living independently (opens another website)
We last checked these sources on 3 October 2026. Rules and amounts can change, so please check with the organisation before you rely on them.
Get an assessment first
An occupational therapist (OT) can visit you at home and recommend what is safe and suitable for you. Ask your council’s adult social care team — in Northern Ireland, your Health and Social Care Trust.
This guide is general information, not medical, financial or legal advice. Everyone’s needs are different. Speak to an occupational therapist, your GP or the organisations we link to before making decisions.
