If you are a senior, there are certain precautions that you need to take to ensure bathroom safety for seniors. There is a lot of misinformation out there about safety and security in the bathroom, so we’ve created a guide for seniors to learn more about how to stay safe and secure.
Because of a mishap in the restroom, 235,000 Americans take an unexpected trip to the emergency room each year. More than two-thirds of these injuries are created by the tub or shower. Keeping yourself safe in the bathroom is of utmost importance. There are many hazards that can cause harm to you when you are alone, including slipping and falling, dirty water and toilets, and bathrooms without grab bars. However, you can take bathroom safety tips to ensure your safety while using the bathroom.
Seniors are at a higher risk of falling on the bathroom floor or while showering because they have the fewer muscle strength and balance issues. By aging, the bathroom can be a dangerous place. The water, electricity, and clutter are all present hazards. But don’t worry; there are several safety tips you can take to ensure that your bathroom stays safe for seniors in their golden years.
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What are some common problems that seniors face when using the bathroom?
There are many common problems that seniors face when using the bathroom. These problems can include:
• Incontinence.
• Poor bowel function.
• Difficulty walking or standing due to an enlarged prostate or other medical conditions.
• The bathroom is too hot or too cold.
Keeping seniors safe in the bathroom will help them feel more comfortable, perform everyday activities better, and unleash their full potential to live a happy life at home without limitations.
How can I help my aging parents maintain good bathroom habits and prevent accidents?
There are a few things that you can do to help your aging parents maintain good bathroom habits and prevent accidents.
First, make sure that they know the importance of good bathroom hygiene. You can also talk to them about the dangers of not washing their hands properly and the importance of flushing the toilet regularly.
You can also install a sensor for bathroom safety for seniors so that it will turn on when they go to the bathroom and turn off after they leave. This will help them stay more vigilant about their bathroom habits and prevent accidents from happening. There are also toilet seat covers that you can get to help prevent accidents and nagging, painful rashes on your aging parents’ legs.
The biggest issue with decaying bathroom fixtures is flooring issues, as sitting directly on the floor causes bacteria from bathroom surfaces to stick onto their chair rollers, leading them down a slippery slope of health issues associated with urine burns. To avoid this issue, snag one of our easily-to-work toilet seals.
What other ways can I help them remain safe in their homes?
You can take precautions to ensure your home kitchen safety for the older adult as well.
There are a few things that you can do to make your kitchen safe for elders.
First, make sure that all the appliances are properly installed and functioning. Make sure that there is no water leaking from the faucet or dishwasher, and that there is no ice build-up on the freezer door.
Second, be sure to keep all the countertops and cabinets clean. Clean up spills immediately so they don’t accumulate and cause accidents. Keep knives sharp by keeping them in a sheath or sharpener when not in use.
Third, always use caution when cooking with hot liquids or pots of boiling water. Always wear oven mitts when handling hot pans or dishes. And finally, always call 911 if an elder falls or has a seizure in your home.
Some Extras you can do as well:
1. Keep a safe distance from the stovetop.
2. Always use oven mitts when handling hot pots and pans.
3. Be sure to keep an eye on your food while it’s cooking, especially if you’re using a stovetop or oven.
4. Use caution when dealing with knives and other sharp objects in the kitchen.
5. Store food properly to avoid bacteria growth and spoilage.
So back to our topic here is a list of tips to ensure bathroom safety for seniors:
1. Make it Clutter-free:
having things tidy is one of the most simple – and most important – steps you can make to assist seniors in avoiding bathroom falls. Most bathrooms are already relatively cramped spaces, and the addition of additional clutter creates navigating this space even more difficult.
The restroom floor must be clear of clothing or other objects that could lead a senior to trip. Even some bathroom décor items may pose a threat. Countertops should be clean as well, with any unused items put away.
Clutter makes the bathroom a challenging place to navigate. When navigating in and out of the shower, seniors should keep their arms close to their bodies and avoid reaching for objects on top of cabinets or door frames. Even if they do not trip, falling into bathtub traps is a recipe for disaster.
2. Clear the path to the Bathroom:
You should always try to clear a path from the bathroom door to the toilet for easier mobility. If there is no emergency exit available, create one by pushing furniture out of the way and placing grab bars at both sides of the bathtub or shower.
3. Good Lighting for day and night:
Whenever possible, install bathroom safety lights so seniors can see clearly. In addition to the Bathroom safety seniors issues of falling in tubs and showers, older people often saw much better without the aid of artificial lighting (i.e., house lights).
4. Accessibility to Necessities:
While it is crucial to clean out clutter, access to information must also be a priority. Older adult should be able to reach items they need such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc, and place them away without needing to stretch or bend. There are many affordable and versatile storage alternatives available online if existing shelves or drawers are inaccessible.
People who live alone or with a single caregiver may not always be able to find the items they need in their bathroom. Extra toiletries and other items should be kept within easy reach.
Don’t forget about medications, especially if your loved one is elderly, or has dementia.
Also, you may need to supply pet medication as well. Ditto for toiletries such as a bar of soap and toilet tissue should be within reach. This is especially important during inclement weather if aging people want to grab a shower!
Clear bathroom countertops are also useful in any bathroom that contains medicine bottles or other medications that older people require at home but forget about when they leave the safety of their home environment to grab a quick shower or bathtub.
5. Install Grab Bars in the Bathtub or Shower:
When a senior’s bathroom has no other safety hazards, installing grab bars is an effective way to maintain bathroom safety for seniors These bars are designed to assist people in bathing and showering without having to bend over or touch the floor.
One of the most important safety hazards that people living alone can face is falling over in the tub or shower. A grab bar will help prevent fall and breakneck injuries.
Those who utilize bathtubs as well are eligible for the elderly bathroom safety tips related to bathing facilities.: When bathing an older adult, always make certain steps are taken, such as adding grab bars within reach of tub seats or installing them between tubs if possible.
Many seniors need towel bars to keep their balance while going into and out of the bathtub or shower. However, these bars are designed for hanging a towel to dry, and they are not expected to hold more than a few kilograms. A disaster waiting to happen is using them as support in a slick bathroom.
Older adults can now navigate in and around the shower or bathtub with the help of grasping bars, which are an excellent and economical option. They can also be used near the toilet to assist with leverage and balance.
Grab bars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but any version that uses suction cups to adhere to the wall should be dodged. These break loose on a regular basis and fall down the shower wall, raising the risk of injury. Wall-mountable grab bars are a much more safe and secure option.
Before installing, make sure to notice where your senior cared one is placing their hands for support as they enter or exit the shower. This will be where you need to install these fresh fixtures.
6. Raised Toilet Seat:
Some elderly people are not able to reach the toilet seat when it is lowered. Raising the seat for bathroom safety for seniors can help them access it without putting strain on their arms or back. It also allows them to sit comfortably and maintain a good posture as they use the toilet.
In order to raise toilet seats, grab a barstool and set it next to the seat of your choice. Then grab some safety pins or similar materials and begin making holes into which you can thread a seat-lifting strap as needed on each side of the chair.
Use enough hooks so that they will not slip off easily but also secure with care for their heads to lift up once empty (or down when full). Raise both sides of the seat up at the same time and make a slip gate to lock in place so that it will stay where you set it.
The toilet safety bar is used with an adult-sized toilet seat on rolling chairs or mobility scooters. It bites into sagging toilet seats by pushing down quickly from underneath, which eliminates swaying caused by the aging of wood bathroom floors. Instead of using heavy grab bars, caretakers can raise toilet safety bars to give their aging seniors greater independence.
Another toilet seat safety bar for bathroom stories has the added feature of a water-tight seal, making it perfect for older people who may have limited bathroom access issues due to mobility impairments or other reasons.
It provides support when lowering and raising the toilet seat by biting into gaps between moving toilet seats and tub spouts etc which is usually an issue with toilets without safety bars. The locking mechanism which allows a parent to lift the toilet seat without having to fully remove their child from the bathroom is especially beneficial for older people who can’t easily come and go as they wish.
7. Addition of Non-slip Strips to Shower or Tub:
If your senior loved one is having difficulty walking in and out of the shower or tub, it’s time to add non-slip strips. These are inexpensive and easy to install. They can be cut to fit around the bathtub or shower tub, tile floor, or grab bar. One person can install them in a matter of minutes and no contractor is needed to do the installation which makes it easy for you to keep your bathroom clean at the same time.
8. Lever Handles:
Many older people have arthritis or limited mobility issues that make installing safety bars very difficult on toilet seats so bathroom countertops are critical when living space is limited for seniors who may be navigating with bathroom safety bars.
It is critical to install lever handles for bathroom accessibility in bathrooms across the home. Lever handlebar height can easily be changed by a caregiver without having to replace the entire toilet seat or tub top as well as making bathtub installation easy and convenient for aging adult residents of your senior care facility who find it difficult using safety toilet seat grab bars such as raised flat bar, non-slip mat flooring, etc., in order to help them bathtub safety bar, toilet seat grab bars with safety bar and bathroom shower grab bars.
9. Invest in a Bath or Shower Chair:
Older adults need the stability they require for secure bathing in an area that can be quite slippery! Shower and bath chairs provision them! There remain many options for how to accommodate special needs. Some are simple stools, which can be an excellent option for older adults who are still able to move in and out of the tub or shower independently.
Other versions are stretched on one side to allow seniors to move to the tub more easily. It’s probably best to speak with a doctor or healthcare provider before determining which version of your senior loved one needs.
10. Hire A Caregiver:
If you are unable to provide your senior loved ones with the assistance they need in the bathroom, consider hiring a caregiver to help them with these tasks.
A caregiver’s assistance can be crucial in order to secure senior bathroom safety. Some Organizations USA provides in-home care services that can provide you with peace of mind when it takes to keep your senior loved one safe from unexpected slips and falls. Please call your closest locations today to hear more about these services and how they can assist.
Conclusion:
A bathroom is a place where older adults should feel safe and comfortable. By following these tips, you can help ensure that your senior loved one has a bathroom that is both functional and safe.
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