Do you “see” your bathroom objectively? Are you a senior - or do senior members of the family live in your home? It is a well-known truth among Health Care agencies that falls aren't only the second major cause of death, with regards to accidents - but that the majority of these happen in the bathroom.
What steps can you take to improve the safety of your bathroom?
Common Bathroom Hazards
Several! But before we ever get to installing anything, first let’s consider the most frequent hazards reported by emergency personnel:
*Rugs that slip or rumple easily
*Projecting objects people trip over
*Inadequate lighting
*Unstable toilet seats
*Normal toilet seats (too low for those 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 individuals with limited mobility live with every day. This fear can limit confidence, generate anxiety and insomnia, increase ill health, and diminish enjoyment of life.
Yet it is human nature to dismiss or simply plain not think the requirements of those with limited functioning experience, when we’re young. If we’re well-brought-up or especially kind-hearted, we may 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 otherwise not, this really is going to be us, in 10, 20, 30 years from now.
Increasing Bathroom Safety
Installing one of the tubs you see on TV - those that open so seniors can quickly step inside - isn't a reality for many people. It is out of their price range. But you can certainly still make the bathroom a significantly safer place - even without the special tub.
Some are absurdly straightforward fixes - but can mean the difference between actual injury or death, and safety. A few will cost a little more on home improvement.
1.Sew rubber mason jar rings or stick double-sided tape onto loose rugs, to stop them from slipping - or even better, remove them altogether. Rugs remain the main bathroom hazard for the elderly, or individuals with limited vision. (And do use rubber “non-slip” stick-on inserts inside the bathtub or shower.)
2.Mount an extendible magnifying mirror, to aid individuals with impaired vision in individual grooming.
3.Use wall-mounted soap dispensers as opposed to loose bottles. The latter could be slippery or cause a mishap as somebody reaches over trying to catch one they’ve pushed off the vanity or bathtub rim. (And be sure to mount them where the individual with physical challenges can truly reach them!)
4.Replace your fixed shower heads with hand-held ones. Those with poor mobility do far better if they can control the shower head themselves. They do not have to worry about not being able to react quickly 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 additional 1 ½” - 2 ½” can mean more than you’ll ever realize to a senior - or anyone else who may have mobility, balance or back troubles
6.Change your faucet - Install one with simple lever handles that can be easily turned on and off without requiring physical strength. Lever handles are also reported to be much less confusing for anybody having a cognitive disorder. (Install one with a hot limit quit, too - this stops accidental burns from scalding.)
7.Install a “barrier-free” shower. If you are planning to change the shower anyway, this really is one alternative you might want to take. What does “barrier-free” mean? The floor of the shower has a threshold that's less than ½” from the finished floor. This permits people with walkers, or people who can’t climb steps, to enter effortlessly. (But if you're considering a genuinely wheelchair accessible shower, remember that this is typically much bigger compared to the average shower. This one will almost certainly mean a significant 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 is 31”-36”.
9.Clamp-On Grab Bars. If your financial budget is very limited, this is sometimes a life-saving choice. These tall handles mount quickly, without having installing of any hardware, around the rim of the average bathtub, meaning that individuals with limited mobility can grab onto them with out bending, and use them as a support while climbing in and out of the tub. (If you have a built-in shower unit, you can replace the whole insert entirely 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 beautiful thing about Bath Chairs or Bath Stools, and Clamp-On Grab Bars - you are able to normally find them very inexpensively at Assisted Living stores (usually under “Medical Supplies” in the Yellow Pages.)
Also, when there is a volunteer-run “Loan Cupboard” in your town, products are frequently found there - in great condition. (Some donated by those people who are lucky enough to only need assistive devices temporarily.)
Remember - even one of these precautions could simply save a life.
These are effective points we wrote in our post, but it isn't the only place to find this subject. We have found other articles like this one about bathroom safety that you may find useful too. If you liked the post please share it with your pals on Twitter.
