Do you “see” your bathroom objectively?  Are you a senior – or do senior members of the family live in your home? It’s a well-known truth among Health Care agencies that falls are not only the second major cause of death, with regards to accidents – but that the majority of these happen in the bathroom.

What actions are you able to take to improve the safety of your bathroom?

Common Bathroom Hazards

Several!  But before we ever arrive at installing anything, first let’s look at the most frequent hazards reported by emergency personnel:

*Rugs that slip or rumple easily

*Projecting objects individuals trip over

*Inadequate lighting

*Unstable toilet seats

*Normal toilet seats (too low for people with poor mobility)

*Stiff taps

*Water on the floor

*Bathtub entry and exit

There’s an additional hidden danger most people can’t see:  The actual anxiety about a fall that seniors and those with limited mobility live with every day. This fear can limit confidence, create anxiety and insomnia, increase ill health, and diminish enjoyment of life.

But it is human nature to dismiss or simply plain not believe the requirements of individuals with limited functioning go through, when we’re young. If we’re well-brought-up or particularly kind-hearted, we may possibly soothe ourselves with “token” concern.  A lot of people get used to it that seniors “just have to be a bit more careful” – or don’t really have any cause for fear.  But like it or not, this really is going to be us, in 10, 20, 30 years from now.

Increasing Bathroom Safety

Installing one of those tubs you see on TV – the ones that open so seniors can effortlessly step inside – is not possible for many people.  It is beyond their budget range. But you can certainly still make the bathroom a much safer place –  even without the unique tub.

Some are absurdly basic fixes – but can often mean the difference between actual injury or death, and safety. Some will cost you a bit more on home improvement.

1.Sew rubber mason jar rings or stick double-sided tape onto loose rugs, to prevent them from slipping – or even better, remove them altogether.  Rugs remain the number one bathroom hazard for the elderly, or those with limited vision. (And do use rubber “non-slip” stick-on inserts in the bathtub or shower.)

2.Mount an extendible magnifying mirror, to assist those with impaired vision in personal grooming.

3.Use wall-mounted soap dispensers as opposed to loose bottles. The latter can be slippery or cause an accident as somebody reaches over attempting to catch one they’ve pushed off the vanity or bathtub rim. (And make certain to mount them where the individual with physical challenges can actually reach them!)

4.Replace your fixed shower heads with hand-held ones.  Those with poor mobility do far better when they can control the shower head themselves. They don’t need to worry about not being able to react speedily sufficient, if the water rushes out, scalding hot.

5.Install an increased-height toilet. The standard toilet is between 14” and 15”.  Increased height toilets are a full 16.5”. This extra 1 ½” – 2 ½” can mean far more than you’ll ever understand to a senior – or someone else who may have mobility, balance or back issues

6.Change your faucet – Install one with basic lever handles that can be easily turned on and off without having requiring physical strength.  Lever handles are also considered to be less confusing for anyone with a cognitive disorder.  (Install one with a hot limit quit, too – this stops accidental burns from scalding.)

7.Put in a “barrier-free” shower.  If you’re planning to change the shower anyway, this really is one alternative you might like to take.  What does “barrier-free” mean?  The floor of the shower has a threshold that is less than ½” from the finished floor.  This allows people with walkers, or those who can’t climb steps, to enter effortlessly.  (In case you are thinking of a genuinely wheelchair accessible shower, remember that this is normally much larger than the average shower. This one will almost certainly mean a major bathroom re-design.)

8.Install a taller sink – one that a chair or wheelchair can fit underneath. Regular pedestal sinks are 24”-30” high. Install a vanity or pedestal sink that’s 31”-36”.

9.Clamp-On Grab Bars.  If your financial budget is very limited, this can be a life-saving option.  These tall handles mount easily, with out installation of any hardware, around the rim of the average bathtub, meaning that individuals with limited mobility can grab onto them without having bending, and use them as a support while climbing in and out from the tub. (For those who have a built-in shower unit, you can replace the entire insert completely with a brand new unit -containing a ready made grab bar.)

10.Bath Chairs and Transfer Seats – these can also free-stand within the shower, to be removed when other members of the family are bathing.

The lovely thing about Bath Chairs or Bath Stools, and Clamp-On Grab Bars – you are able to normally obtain them quite inexpensively at Assisted Living shops (usually under “Medical Supplies” inside the Yellow Pages.)

Also, if there is a volunteer-run “Loan Cupboard” in your town, products are typically discovered there – in wonderful condition. (Some donated by people who are lucky enough to merely need assistive devices temporarily.)

Remember – even one of these precautions could easily save a life.

These are interesting points we wrote in our article, but it isn’t the only place to find this subject.  We have found other sites like this one about bathroom safety that you may find useful too.  Why don’t you share it socially too!

 

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