When considering fall prevention, it’s important to remember a vast majority of senior falls happen in the bathroom. Bathrooms have notoriously slippery, wet surfaces. In fact, if we had to give a label to the the room that poses the biggest threat to the overall health of seniors, it’d be the bathroom.
So, how can you prevent falls in the most dangerous room in your home? We’ll break it down for you.
The Shower
- Get non-slip mats for the shower floor and the floor directly outside the shower/tub.
- Make sure you have REAL grab bars. Often, people think a towel rack will act as a grab bar, but the truth is most towel racks aren’t made to support human weight and can easily pull out of the wall as you fall. Grab bars are a must-have for shower fall prevention.
- Put soap, shampoo, and other shower necessities within arm’s reach. Bending over or reaching up for items drastically increases your fall risk.
- Add a shower bench/seat and a handheld showerhead.
- Consider replacing your tub with a walk-in shower.
The Toilet
- Install grab bars near the toilet to aid getting on and off.
- Consider installing a toilet lift like this one: Toilet Lift Option
Lighting
- Install motion sensing light switches so late night bathroom visits are safer. Here’s an example: Motion Sensing Light Switch Option
OR...Remodel Your Entire Bathroom
It’s not in everyone’s budget, but the best way to guarantee you have an accessible bathroom that you love is to start from scratch. Using Universal Design, all of the important safety features can be seamlessly built into your bathroom’s design so that it’s usable by everyone.
You can find examples of universal design bathrooms here, but these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to options.
