5 Bathroom Safety Recommendations for Seniors
Author: Dr. Claire Leegard
Senior Care in Wheaton, Naperville, IL and Surrounding Areas
Many seniors with physical and mental health conditions often need assistance with personal care. This includes basic aspects of personal hygiene including dressing, toileting, and bathing, where caregivers provide the necessary support to help manage proper personal care and prevent accidents in the bathroom.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bathroom falls account for approximately 235,000 emergency rooms every year, and 80% of senior falls happen in the bathroom due to slippery floors and surfaces. Since January is Bath Safety Month, I felt it was worth exploring 5 bathroom safety recommendations for seniors, courtesy of Rebath, to help the elderly avoid bathroom accidents and injuries.
- Add Mobility Support
“As we age, our muscles weaken, and our range of mobility becomes increasingly limited. To avoid injury, it’s important to add mobility support throughout your bathroom,” explains Rebath. These include:
Grab bars should be installed in your shower, by the commode, and along the main walls of the bathroom for stability. Grab bars can be disguised as towel racks so they are barely noticeable, but they will be there to provide extra support when seniors need it.
Elevated toilet seats are between 17 and 19 inches high, as opposed to standard toilets which are between 15 and 16 inches high. A higher toilet seat makes it easier for seniors to sit down on and stand up from the toilet.
Non-slip flooring is critical for the floor, tub, and shower to prevent slips and falls.
Bath and shower benches provide more stability and remove the need to balance on one foot. They are also helpful in the shower to limit time standing which can prevent slipping risks.
2. Install Bright Lighting
Additional lighting can brighten dark corners and highlight potential tripping hazards in the bathroom. Bathrooms in senior homes should include overhead lighting, vanity lighting, and a light over the bath and shower. If you are living in a multi-generational home, consider installing dimmer switches to accommodate everyone.
3. Update Bathroom Handles and Hardware
Lever handles are a better option for older individuals than twist handles or knobs. For those with arthritis or limited dexterity in their hands, levers are easier to grip, push, or pull. Consider updating the following hardware for increased accessibility:
- Bathroom door handles
- Sink faucet handles
- Shower and/or bath faucet handles
- Vanity drawers, which should be accessible with firm metal handles, rather than knobs or pull tabs
4. Widen Bathroom Doorways
Doorways should be a minimum of 32 inches to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs. If you are an adventurous DIYer, this upgrade can be completed in a weekend, but due to the complications that could arise, it is recommended you hire a contractor.
5. Convert to a Walk-in Bath or Shower
Modern walk-in bathtubs offer comfort and safety. Look for options that incorporate heating pads, jets, quick-flow drains and grab bars for extra support and comfort. Walk-in showers also eliminate the need to step over a tub side wall and can include grab bars, benches, slip-resistant floors, and hand-held shower heads for added safety.
Keeping bathrooms safe can prevent falls from occurring and provide aging loved ones with peace of mind.
The compassionate caregivers at Home Helpers are highly trained to look for and address safety hazards in bathrooms and manage personal care and light housekeeping services to make life easier and personal hygiene safer for seniors.
I gladly offer a FREE Assessment to discuss specific ways Home Helpers can be of service. After my assessment of needs, I will create a customized care plan and choose the perfect caregiver to provide the necessary support.
Our team is honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice, and the Employer of Choice Awards 2024; as well as the 2024 Caring Super Star Award from Caring.com.
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