Would you be shocked to hear that the bathroom is one of the most dangerous places in a home for an elderly person?
It may be one of the smallest and most utilitarian rooms in a home, but with its unforgiving hard floors and countertops, the potential for slick spots, and balance-challenging components such as the shower or toilet, the bathroom ranks as one of the riskiest places for seniors.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that “each year, 235,000 Americans make an unexpected trip to the emergency room because of a mishap in the bathroom. More than two-thirds of these injuries take place in or near the bathtub or shower.”
Break down those numbers by age group and the CDC estimates “more than one-in-four elderly people fall each year.”
With January being National Bath Safety Month, we thought it would be an appropriate time to review some ways that family members and loved ones can keep their seniors safer in the bathroom.
Reduce All Clutter
Bathrooms may be small but they often have lots of little items on countertops, in shower stalls, and on shelves near toilets. From lotions and toothpaste to shampoo and toilet paper rolls, the bathroom can sometimes be a crowded place.
Safety experts recommend clearing all clutter from the bathroom. The more items out on countertops, the higher the likelihood that something will fall on the floor and become a tripping hazard or become a problem when reaching to retrieve said item.
We suggest having a storage place for all items and keeping the floors cleared of items like wet towels, soiled laundry, and throw rugs that could also become a tripping hazard.
Update Lighting
Updating the lighting may consist of revamping the lighting situation to illuminate the bathroom better or simply increasing the wattage in the existing light fixturess to allow for a better view of the room, especially at night when many seniors make a trip, or two, to the bathroom.
Install Grab Bars and Safety Rails
As we age our balance and mobility decline. For many seniors joints become less limber and getting in and out of the tub or shower and up and down from the toilet becomes markedly more challenging.
Adding grab bars in strategic locations both in the shower stall and near the toilet and sink can give seniors a place to hold on in case balance becomes a problem or they are merely looking for more stability.
Wall-mounted grab bars that are secured to studs are the best option as suction cup bars can easily become dislodged and inadvertently cause a fall.
Consider Mobility Devices
The medical device industry is quickly evolving by manufacturing many devices that can help seniors in the bathroom.
Some that your family may want to consider include raised toilet seats, shower seats, zero-threshold showers, walk-in shower stalls, and hand-held shower heads for easy access while sitting on a transfer bench or shower chair.
How Senior Helpers Can Assist
Many families take the suggestions above and pair them with the addition of a Senior Helper who can assist with hygiene tasks such as showering, bathing, toileting, or simply getting dressed every morning.
Talk to our team about how Senior Helpers can help give you peace of mind.