Bathroom mishaps are a common occurrence yearly, with at least 235,000 Americans visiting the emergency room due to an accident in the bathroom. Bathroom floors are usually made with hard surfaces, slick floors, and pointed countertop corners, all making the bathroom a potentially hazardous and dangerous place for older adults. Here are some essential bathroom safety tips for the elderly.
Install Grab Bars in the Shower or Bathtub
Most elderly rely on the towel bars to maintain balance while getting in and out of the shower or bathtub, but they aren’t designed to hold a person’s body weight and can increase the risk of accidents. Instead, you should install a grab bar for your loved ones. They are a useful and inexpensive accessory to help your loved ones move around the bathroom safely.
Don’t install grab bars that come with suction cups since they can easily come loose from the wall and increase the likelihood of injuries. Use wall-mounted grab bars to ensure sturdiness and safety for your loved ones.
Reduce Clutter
As bathrooms are already small and cramped spaces, it’s important to keep the bathroom tidy. Additional clutter will make manoeuvering about even more challenging, especially for older adults. Ensure that the bathroom floors don’t have clothing or anything that can potentially cause your loved ones to trip and fall. Bathroom décor items might also be a hazard, countertops should be clutter-free as well.
Add Non-slip Strips to Shower or Bathtub
In most bathmats, the suction cup at the bottom can become loose and slide about the shower floor, making it extremely easy to cause your loved ones to lose balance. Replace these bulky mats with bath mats that come with non-slip textured strips at the bottom of the shower or bathtub. The strips can hold fast to the floor and provide additional grip for your loved ones during a wash.
Invest in a Shower or Bath Chair
Installing a shower or bath chair can provide your loved ones with extra stability and safety during a bath as it can get slippery. There are many varieties to accommodate different specific needs, you should consult with a healthcare provider or a doctor to ascertain the right type for your loved ones.
Keep Necessities Accessible
Accessibility to items is as crucial as clearing clutter. Ensure your loved ones can reach the required items with ease without needing to bend or stretch as it might increase the risks of accidents. If existing drawers or shelves are inaccessible, consider getting other storage alternatives like a shower caddy to hold all the soap bottles or even a wall-mounted dispenser.
Get Professional and Safe Care at Rittenhouse Village At Lehigh Valley
If your loved one requires assistance with daily activities, our personal care program is an ideal solution. Depending on their needs, we offer residents a personalized lifestyle option that can allow them to live their fullest lives and get the care they need. We also have an array of senior-specific amenities such as walk-in showers with grab bars, emergency call and panic alarm systems, on-site medical services, and 24-hour nursing care to ensure the safety and well-being of your loved ones.
