If senior citizens live with you or frequently visit your home, you want to ensure their safety at all times. The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous places for anyone, especially the elderly. Fortunately, if you’re worried that your loved ones are vulnerable to injuries, there are many ways to make the bathroom safer.
Shower/Tub Seat
The shower can be a dangerous place for seniors. A shower seat can make showering safe and comfortable and alleviate the worry of a fall. Freestanding benches, built-ins, and folding benches are the basic type of shower seats available. Another option is a transfer bench, a type of seat that straddles both sides of the tub, making getting in and out extremely easy.
Convert Your Tub
In addition to shower seats, you may want to convert your bathtub into either a walk-in or a shower. Showers are safer for seniors because they don’t require stepping over anything to get in. If you want to keep the option of bathing, consider a walk-in tub. They are made with doors on the side and have come a long way in the last few years, offering convenient size options, seats, and fancy features like whirlpool massage.
Grab Bars
Getting in and out of the shower or up and down from the toilet can be particularly hard for the elderly because it requires excellent balance. Grab bars provide a nice sturdy, comfortable grip for moving about the bathroom. These bars are designed to hold a person’s weight, unlike a towel rack which can detach from the wall. It’s helpful to install the bars where your elders are already used to putting their hands for support so that the transition is simple for them. You should also choose a color that will stand out from your wall so it’s easy to see.
High Rise Toilet Seat
Sitting down onto a toilet seat can be very hard for seniors, so an elevated seat can take some of the strain off the body. Even the few extra inches can make bending down easier. Adding grab bars around the raised seat is another way to increase safety.
Change Rugs to Anti-Slip Pads
Bathroom rugs may be pretty and make your feet feel nice, but they’re a hazard to the elderly, as they can easily slip on them. Although some cloth rugs claim to be non-slip, plastic is a better option since it’s less likely to develop hazardous folds. You should also make sure there are non-slip mats in the shower, right outside the tub, and near the sink and toilet for added security.
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