Unfortunately, the bathroom is a risky room for seniors. It’s a room where they should feel safe and relaxed. However, they can easily slip, fall, and get seriously injured. Making your bathroom safer is crucial. Improving bathroom safety can lower the risk of injuries. This includes adding grab bars, using non-slip mats, and improving lighting.
Learn these tips to improve bathroom safety in your home and prevent accidents and injuries.
Prevent slips on non-skid surfaces
Wet bathroom floors can be slippery and dangerous. If you are considering remodelling your bathroom, consider installing a slip-resistant floor. Vinyl flooring or textured ceramic tiles are good options.
If you can’t change your bathroom floor right now, you can still make it less dangerous. Ensure your bathmat has a rubber slip-proof back to stay in place whenever you step on it. You can apply non-skid decals to your bathtub and shower floor or cover them with cushioned rubber mats.
Install grab bars in strategic places
Installing grab bars is an easy way to improve bathroom safety in your home. Place them near the bathtub and shower to make getting in and out easier and near the toilet. You should also install one wherever you think extra support is needed.
Grab bars give you something to hold onto when you think you are about to fall. Therefore, you must ensure they are installed properly and sturdy enough to support your weight.
Install a walk-in bathtub and a curbless shower
Bathtubs and showers can cause slip-and-fall accidents. To improve bathroom safety in your home, consider installing a walk-in bathtub and a curbless shower.
Walk in bathtubs feature a door, so you can enter without stepping over a high tub edge. This allows for a much safer and more enjoyable bathing experience. If your household prefers taking showers, you could install a curbless shower in your bathroom.
Curbless showers have no threshold, so walking in and out is easy. Since you want your entire bathroom floor to stay dry when you shower, have it installed by a professional contractor.
Add some seating options
If you need help standing up for a long time or if a senior you share your bathroom with is unsteady on their feet, add seating options to make your bathroom safer. A comfortable chair to sit in while brushing your teeth or getting dressed in the morning will prevent accidents.
A sturdy shower chair allows you to shower comfortably while reducing fall risk. Of course, you must choose one designed to withstand water and humidity and strong enough to support your weight.
Get a raised toilet seat
Sitting on the toilet can be challenging for someone with knee, hip, and joint pain. Getting up is even harder. To solve this problem, replacing a traditional toilet with a higher one is possible. However, a raised toilet seat is a simple and inexpensive option.
A raised toilet seat elevates it by a few inches, making it easier to sit on without straining. Some models feature safety rails you can grab while sitting down or getting up.
Adjust the temperature of your water heater
To improve bathroom safety in your home, you should also adjust your water heater temperature to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help prevent burns by ensuring the water from the faucet or the shower head is not scalding hot.
To adjust the temperature of your water heater, first shut off its power from your home’s central circuit breaker. Then, using a screwdriver, open the water heater’s access panel and pull out the insulation.
Use your flat screwdriver to lower the temperature setting. When you are done, put the insulation and the panel cover back in place, switch the power back on, and test the temperature of your hot water.
Light the way with nightlights
Finally, you can make your bathroom safer by placing nightlights in the bathroom and the hallway. This simple precaution will prevent you from tripping and falling when you go to the bathroom at night. Plus, being guided by a nightlight is much more pleasant than turning on bright lights in the middle of the night when you just got out of bed.
Also Read: How to Find the Best Bathroom Tiles?
