The majority of seniors want to continue living in their own homes as they get older. This is totally understandable – our homes are where we are most comfortable. However, for lots of senior citizens, living independently can pose a few safety risks. Medical alert systems can help older people stay safe and live confidently at home. However, the bathroom can be particularly hazardous with its slippery surfaces and hard, tiled floor. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at bathroom safety for seniors in today’s article. Here are three easy tips to keep your seniors safe in the bathroom.
1. Grab Bars
If you are worried about bathroom safety for your older adult, you might assume that the bathroom needs remodelling completely, but this may not be the case. Simple modifications can make an enormous difference. Grab bars and safety railings can improve bathroom safety for seniors without costing an arm and a leg.
You should install grab bars by the toilet, shower, and bathtub to help seniors move around safely. Grab bars are inexpensive, easy to install, and widely available. Be sure to mount them into studs to make them as secure as possible. The bar should be able to bear the user’s body weight in case they fall. When fitted correctly, safety rails and grab bars can help an older person keep their balance and avoid falling.
2. Raised Toilet Seat
Many seniors have difficulty sitting down and standing up from the toilet. In many cases, this is because the seat is too low. Adding a raised toilet seat is an easy way to improve bathroom safety for seniors. Many of these seats come with a supportive frame that surrounds the toilet, offering armrests to help the user push themselves back up.
This reduces the chances of a fall and gives an older person the support and independence they need to continue living safely at home.
3. Non-Slip Mats
The bathroom poses a high risk of falls for older people due to the combination of slippery surfaces and water. Therefore, it’s important to remove any trip and slip hazards to keep seniors safe. If there are mats beside the bathtub or shower, make sure they are properly secured with gripping tape. Otherwise, the corners and can easily pose a fall risk. Similarly, make sure there are non-slip mats on the floor of the shower and bathtub to improve grip when climbing in and out.
More Safety Advice for Seniors
We hope these simple bathroom safety tips for seniors have been useful. To improve senior safety throughout the rest of the home, we recommend installing our medical alert alarm systems. For more information, click here or get in touch with our friendly team online.