Create a Safe Place in the Bathroom With These Four Tips
Falls are a serious cause for concern in the lives of seniors. The National Council on Aging estimates that one in four older adults over 65 falls in America each year. For those who are lucky, a fall can result in bumps, bruises, and a few days of pain. Other older adults who are not as fortunate could experience head trauma, broken bones, or fatal injury.
Not only are there physical repercussions due to a fall, but nearly half of seniors who fall will also suffer psychological effects as well. Fear of experiencing a repeated fall limits their social and physical activities, resulting in more isolation and feelings of loneliness. It’s evident that fall prevention strategies are critical to the physical and emotional well-being of older adults.
According to the National Institute of Aging, nearly 80% of senior falls occur in the bathroom. So often, the bathroom is overlooked when it comes to fall prevention. That’s why January is National Bath Safety Month. Take time this month to create a safe place in the bathroom with these four tips.
Install Grab Bars
It can be challenging for some older adults to navigate the bathroom. Decreased mobility and gait speed can make it difficult for them to get and off the toilet seat. Diminished vision, spatial awareness, and endurance can cause older adults to fall while getting in and out of the bathtub. Create a safe place in the bathroom by installing grab bars at appropriate heights. Grab bars should be secure and within reach; you should never have to overreach to utilize the grab bar. Install bars around the toilet and both inside and outside of the bathtub or shower.
Check the Water Temperature
Another area of concern in the bathroom is the water temperature. While a hot shower can feel relaxing at the end of the day, water that is too hot poses a risk for older adults. Thinning skin, decreased reaction time, and memory deficits can result in a severe burn. It takes only a few seconds for hot water to scald an older adult. Create a safe place in the bathroom by setting the water heater thermostat to about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, monitor the water temperature before stepping into the shower or bath. Give water time to heat up before turning on the shower. Ask others in the household to refrain from flushing toilets, washing laundry, running the dishwasher, or using tap water while you bathe to prevent a hot water spike.
Purchase a Bath Chair
Although most older adults experience a fall in the bathroom when they get in and out of the shower, it’s easy for older adults to lose their balance in the shower. Wet surfaces only add to the risk. While you’re installing grab bars, consider purchasing a bath chair that you can leave in the shower at all times. This provides older adults with a place to sit down immediately should they start to feel dizzy or disoriented. If you are concerned about the transfer in and out of the tub or shower, purchase a tub transfer bench that allows you to sit and slide over the tub.
Ensure Adequate Lighting
Finally, it’s common for many older adults to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Yet, walking in the middle of the night while still in a daze puts older adults at risk for falling. Create a safe place in the bathroom by ensuring that the bathroom is adequately lit. Install motion-sensor night lights that will illuminate the bathroom and the pathway to the bathroom. Remove clutter and other tripping hazards along the pathway as well. Ensure there’s proper eyewear at the bedside table that you can quickly put on to help you see as you walk to the bathroom. You might even consider leaving a spare set of eyeglasses on the bathroom counter in case you forget or don’t have time to grab your glasses.
As you consider ways to create a safe place in your bathroom this month, perhaps it’s time that you consider other ways to stay safe and independent in the comfort of your own home. If you’re an older adult who needs assistance, Visiting Angels Sarasota is here to help. We can give you peace of mind by providing referrals to local caregiving professionals. Our referred caregivers can offer hourly care, 24-hour care, and companion care so that no matter your need, they are there to help. To learn more about the home care referrals we provide, please contact us today by calling 941-952-5800.