Bath and Shower Safety for Seniors
It is no secret that seniors are at risk for falls. It only takes one misstep, slip or momentary loss of balance to lead to a nasty fall that results in a broken bone. If you have an aging parent, grandparent or other relative, don’t overlook the importance of bath and shower safety. Your aging loved one needs bath and shower equipment along with guidance to remain clean, safe and healthy. Implement the optimal bath and shower safety equipment for your aging relative and you just might prevent a trip to the emergency room or even prevent a slip and fall that leads to an early death.
Bathroom Dangers for Seniors
Most seniors spend the majority of the day seated in their favorite chair. Some seniors have enough energy to putter around the house. However, every senior faces challenges when using the bathroom. Some seniors find it difficult to safely transition to the bathroom to use the toilet, shower or brush their teeth.
A trip and fall when entering or exiting the shower or a slip and fall when in the shower can lead to one or several broken bones. The sad truth is falls in the bathroom occur at a high frequency simply because these rooms are laden with moisture and require agility and balance in a comparably small space.
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Safety Measures
You can do your part to keep your aging loved one safe in the bathroom by implementing the optimal safety measures. Even something as simple as reducing the amount of clutter in the bathroom will help prevent a trip and fall. Keep in mind, bathrooms are small so the more clutter there is, the more likely your loved one is to stumble and fall. Remove clutter in the bathroom, choosing to focus on necessities.
The soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, shampoo and other necessities should be positioned in parts of the bathroom that can be reached without bending over. Even slight bending has the potential to cause pain or lead to a loss of balance that culminates in a painful fall.
Ideally, you will place all showering necessities in a shower for elderly caddy for easy access. Some looking to improve bathroom safety for elderly even go as far as adding dispensers to the wall so seniors can press a button to trigger a stream of soap and shampoo.
In The Shower
Every senior citizen’s shower should have slip and fall in bathtub grab bars. These bars should be added to the parts of the shower that are easy to reach, providing the senior with something sturdy to hold on to. A tension pole that stretches from the ceiling to the floor can also be added to boost balance while in the shower.
Seniors caretakers wondering how to give an elderly person a shower are also encouraged to add a shower chair so they can sit in comfort as the water flows over them rather than standing and running the risk of losing their balance and falling. The best shower chairs have non-slip rubber bottoms for added stability. Non-slip surfaces featuring specialized tape and mats should also be added to the shower to prevent a slip and fall.
Every senior should have a handheld shower head that he or she can move as desired for a thorough cleaning. Above all, a walk in shower with seat for elderly is necessary, especially for those with poor balance. A walk in shower for elderly is an essential component of shower safety as it facilitates easy entry into and out of this space that has the potential to be quite slippery.
In The Bathtub
A transfer bench that eases the transition from the space outside of senior bathtub to the tub ensures seniors who struggle to step over the tub wall can still clean themselves. A nonslip rug or mat should be positioned next to the bathtub so the senior you love so much does not run the risk of suffering a slip, trip and fall when emerging from the tub.
In The Bathroom
Let’s shift our attention to bathtub safety products for the elderly. A raised toilet approved by the ADA will make it that much easier to stand after relieving oneself. If you don’t want to install a completely new toilet, consider adding a riser to the toilet to establish the optimal height. Grab bars should be added to the sides of the toilet in addition to the sides of the walls in the shower to facilitate a seamless transition off of the toilet seat.
Consider adding new faucets to the bathroom that make it that much easier to turn the flow of water on and off. New faucets designed for seniors with arthritic hands as well as full ADA compliance really are that much easier for elderly individuals to lose. Some such ADA-complaint faucets even decrease the risk of a senior citizen losing his or her balance when attempting to gain leverage.
Turn on the water from the shower and bathroom faucets at the home of your parent or grandparent to check water temperature. If the water heats up faster than expected or to a temperature higher than expected, reduce the thermostat temperature on the water heater to decrease the chances of scalding.
Bathroom safety for seniors is enhanced all the more with the proper lighting, tiles and paints. Paint that has the right gloss combined with strategic lighting will reduce glare, ultimately making it that much easier for your aging loved one to see in the bathroom. Even adding contrasting floor and wall patterns and colors will make it easier to navigate the bathroom. Be sure to add a night light or two near and inside the bathroom to facilitate safe nighttime trips to the commode.
You can also help in the context of bathroom assistance for the elderly by strategically adding nonskid mats and/or tape. The addition of such materials improves the traction, making it that much easier for the senior you love to maintain balance and remain upright while transitioning to and from the toilet and shower.