How To Make A Bathroom Safe For Seniors

By Zandrea Durham | June 20, 2023 | Comments Off on How To Make A Bathroom Safe For Seniors

One of the most common concerns that families have when they have a senior loved one that wants to age in place is safety. And since many seniors experience falls in the bathroom and shower seniors and their families have a lot of concerns about bathroom safety in particular. Personal care at home services are strongly recommended for seniors because when seniors have personal care at home they will have someone with them that is trained to help seniors with delicate tasks like bathing, using the bathroom, and daily hygiene tasks like brushing their teeth.

Having personal care at home services helps seniors avoid falls in the bathroom. Other things that can be done to make the bathroom a safe space for seniors are:

Install Grab Bars

Personal Care at Home Eastman GA - How To Make A Bathroom Safe For Seniors
Personal Care at Home Eastman GA – How To Make A Bathroom Safe For Seniors

Grab bars are something every bathroom needs if a senior lives in the house. There should be grab bars by the toilet, by the sink, and in and around the shower. Any place where your senior parent might need to support themselves should have a grab bar. When installing grab bars think about your senior parent’s height and make sure that each bar is placed at a height where they will be able to grab it without much strain or reaching. You can also have an expert in senior safety come and do a home assessment to suggest where you should put grab bars.

Put Non-Slip Coating On The Floor

Slippery bathroom floors are one of the most common causes of falls in the home. There are anti-slip coatings and tiles that you can apply to the existing bathroom floor to make them less slippery. It’s also a good idea for seniors to wear sturdy shower shoes to help them avoid slipping and falling. But if your senior parent doesn’t want to wear shower shoes the anti-slip coating will help them avoid falls in the bathroom, especially when they have just come out of the shower.

Install A Shower Bench

Shower chairs that are portable will work for seniors, but it’s even better to have a permanent shower bench installed. That way your senior parent will have a very stable space to sit in the shower without having to worry that it’s going to slide or tip over. A shower bench will help seniors feel more secure. And it will make it easier for seniors to shower whether they have personal care at home or not.

Install Soap Dispensers

Another very common cause of falls in the shower for seniors is slippery bottles of shampoo or soap. Seniors reach for a slippery bottle that slips out of their hands, spilling soap on the floor, and then seniors fall trying to pick up the bottle or slip and fall because of the soap. Installing soap dispensers that hang on the wall make it much easier and safer for seniors to get soap, shampoo, and conditioner. They can just press a knob and get as much soap as they need.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Personal Care at Home Services in Eastman GA please contact the caring staff at Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services, Inc. today at 478-745-5111

Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Macon, Warner Robins, Perry, Gray, Milledgeville, Forsyth, Cochran, Jeffersonville, Eastman, Fort Valley, and the surrounding areas.

Zandrea Durham
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