For seniors, the bathroom can be a very dangerous place. Seniors can face different risks, even without serious mobility issues, from slipping in the shower or trying to get out of the bathtub to falling while getting up from the toilet seat.
These nine tips on improving bathroom safety for seniors will help you make it possible for an elderly loved one to preserve their independence.
1. Make it easier for them to get in and out of the bathtub
There are different ways you could make it easier for a senior to safely get in and out of the bathtub. You could get them a tub transfer bench to sit on while slowly entering their bathtub. They can also sit on the bench while they take a shower.
Alternatively, you could recommend replacing their current bathtub with a walk-in bathtub. Walk in bathtubs feature a door that can be opened so seniors can easily get in and out without any risk of slipping and falling.
2. Make it easier for them to use the toilet with a raised seat
If your aging loved one has trouble sitting on or rising from the toilet, you could make the bathroom safer by installing a raised toilet seat. It only takes a few minutes and will make a huge difference.
The height of some models can be adjusted, and some feature nonslip grab bars, making them even more convenient.
3. Add an extra seat to the bathroom
If a senior gets tired from standing up for an extended period, either while brushing their teeth or getting dressed in the morning, you could simply add an extra seat to their bathroom.
Any comfortable chair could do the trick, but you could also get a chair made specifically for use in a bathroom. Since these are waterproof, they will not get damaged by humidity or water spills.
4. Install grab bars in strategic places
Grab bars can give a senior some extra support in different situations. Ask your aging loved one where they think they might need something sturdy to hold on to and install grab bars for them.
Inside the shower or bathtub and near the toilet can be good spots for a grab bar, but they might need more support than that.
Be sure the bars can support their weight and that you anchor them properly to the walls.
5. Prevent falls with nonslip rugs and mats
You can prevent accidents with nonslip rugs and mats. Most bath rugs have a rubber backing so they don’t move around the bathroom floor, even when wet, but you should make sure their current rug has one.
Adding skid-proof decals to the bottom of the tub or shower is a good idea, but to be even safer, you could get an anti-slip mat that will cover its entire surface.
6. Make sure everything is easily accessible
A simple tip for improving bathroom safety for seniors is to ensure everything they need is easily accessible. That includes shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and anything else they might need to use daily or regularly.
You don’t want them to have to bend down or search all around the bathroom just to find something. Simplify things for them.
7. Replace a fixed showerhead with a handheld one
If your loved one prefers sitting on a shower chair while showering, replacing their current showerhead with a handheld one would make sense.
Be sure you choose one that’s easy to hold and manipulate, especially if they suffer from arthritis or have limited dexterity. The handle should ideally have a safety strap.
Also, the handheld showerhead should have an adjustable flow to make it even safer to use.
8. Lower the temperature of the water heater
You don’t want the shower of a senior to have too much pressure. But you also want to ensure they won’t risk burning themselves with water that gets too hot.
Consider setting the temperature of their water heater to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, or 48 degrees Celsius.
9. Improve bathroom safety with nightlights
Finally, if your elderly loved one often has to go to the bathroom at night, ensure they don’t risk tripping on something while walking in the dark. Since turning on a bright light during the night can feel disorienting, think about nightlights.
Install a few nightlights to illuminate the way from their bedroom to the bathroom, and ensure one is in the bathroom.
Ideally, they should be motion-activated nightlights. This way, they will only turn on when they’re needed, which will help save energy.
