If you have elderly loved ones, you may become concerned about their safety in the bathroom. Discuss with them how safe they are when using the toilet or the shower. You may discover that bathroom assistance for the elderly has become a priority for your loved one.
Talk to one of the local bathroom contractors for estimates about changes your elderly loved one may need. There are many bathtub aids for seniors your loved one may require, including grab bars in the shower and a shower seat. They may also need a raised toilet seat if their knees cannot properly bend to use the toilet safely. You may discover that your elderly loved ones need protective bathmats to prevent falling.
Bathroom remodeling contractors often receive requests for bathroom support for elderly clients. For example, they may be asked to install a walk-in shower for elderly and disabled clients. Old-fashioned shower spaces often have a significant step to climb before getting into the shower, and that may be a challenge for some elderly and disabled clients. Although your loved one may resist these changes, you can let them know your concern is intended to show your love.
There are numerous challenges to growing older, including reduced mobility, decreased stability and weakening bones. However, many of these difficulties can be met. Instead, the true problem is often maintaining independence in spite of these factors. This is rarely ever truer than when it comes to using the bathroom, which is packed with slippery surfaces, unsuspected obstacles, and a lack of supportive elements. Fortunately, there are a number of steps that can be taken to promote bathroom safety for seniors. If you or a loved one is worried about aging and safety, following these tips can prevent injury and put worried minds at ease.
Firstly, Consider Your Bathtub or Shower
While stepping over the side of a bathtub is a simple task for most people, it can be difficult and perilous for the elderly due to the slippery surface, as well as a gradual loss of balance. For the same reason, various of types of shower stalls may not have enough supports to allow an older user to stand for long periods of time. For this reason, many families choose to install walk in bathtubs or handicapped showers. Walk in tubs have doors that open either inward or outward, forming a watertight seal. Removes the need to step over an obstacle onto a slippery surface. Likewise, walk in showers usually contain grab bars, a floor with a textured surface, and other helpful features. These bathtubs and showers can help people who have previously been unable to bathe on their own do so comfortably, safely and without assistance.
Secondly, Think About Your Lighting
After a certain age, sleeping through the night becomes impossible. However, these late night trips to the bathroom can be potentially dangerous if you or a family member can’t see where they are going. Simply adding a night light or installing energy efficient lights to be left on overnight can be a simple, helpful and cost-effective way of preventing bumps, bruises, falls and more.
Thirdly, Add Support Bars
When it comes to bathroom safety for seniors, grab and support bars are an easy and useful way to make every task easier. Most commonly used by people with reduced mobility, difficulty balancing, and other problems that make standing, shifting positions and other movements difficult, support bars can decrease falls and help many people feel more secure. They are typically installed around toilets and inside showers.
Finally, Plan for an Emergency
As important as independence is to the quality of a person’s life, every family and individual needs a back up plan in case of an accident. For this reason, it is often recommended that a bathroom be fitted with a door that locks from both the inside and outside. In other cases, some will choose to install a Jack and Jill door, which has two separate entrances. If an elderly person falls or experiences another medical problem, these features can be used to allow another person to easily enter the bathroom to assist them. The result is good bathroom safety for seniors without the loss of their autonomy.