Seeking Eldercare Resources in Gilford, NH That Can Keep Your Aging Loved One Safe in the Bathroom?

In our younger years, a trip or a fall often means a Band-Aid or bruised ego. As we age, our physical ability to heal is one of many aspects of physical health that will change, so it becomes even more important to prevent injury and identify fall hazards. If you are caring for an aging loved one who lives alone, the eldercare resources you access to ensure their safety can have an immediate and long-term positive impact.

How Visiting Angels of Gilford’s Eldercare Resources Can Help Prevent Falls in the Bathroom

At Visiting Angels of Gilford, our goal is to provide the eldercare resources your loved one needs to live a healthy, happy, comfortable life. That means we will help with everything from meal preparation to mobility assistance to medication reminders. It also means that we will work with you and your family to identify ways to make your loved one’s home safer for them.

The aging process impacts everyone differently, but it often results in physical changes in vision, balance, reflexes, and mobility. That means that what was safe for your loved one earlier in their life may no longer be safe for them now. It is important to take the time to look over your loved one’s home:

• Is it crowded?
• Are there poorly lit areas?
• Where might they be more likely to stumble or slip?

Hazards in the bathroom result in more than 230,000 injuries per year, according to the Center for Disease Control. With a senior’s higher likelihood of injury, families should focus on improvements in the bathroom as an immediate way to increase their loved one’s safety. Try:

• Removing loose rugs or flooring. Areas that are uneven, and loose rug edges that can lift, are tripping hazards.
• Installing non-slip pads. Non-slip pads and grips are usually plastic or rubber, and can have an adhesive on the back that makes them easy to apply to tub floors, shower walls, and any other area that can be dangerously slippery.
• Installing grab bars. Part of why the bathroom is a likely spot for accidents is that bending, sitting, standing, stretching, and leaning all occur in that small space. Grab bars next to toilets, showers, and tubs can increase your loved one’s ability to avoid trips or falls.
• Brightening up the space. Inadequate lighting can increase the chance of a trip or stumble, especially in hallways, doorways, and bathrooms.

Need Help Preventing Unnecessary Falls?

Visiting Angels of Gilford’s living assistance offers comprehensive eldercare resources that can keep your loved one healthy at home for longer. If you are helping to care for a loved one who lives alone, call Visiting Angels of Gilford today to learn more about our eldercare resources.