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Helpful Tips and Equipment to Improve Bathroom Safety for Seniors

The bathroom may be the smallest room in your home, but it can be the most dangerous place, especially for older adults.

bathroom safety for seniors

Usually, bathrooms feature hard surfaces, lots of edges and corners, and small spaces, which increase the risks of falls and accidents. Most seniors have balance issues, frailty, weakness, and cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s disease that can make a simple activity difficult and even risky.

Bathroom safety is a major issue for older adults. With simple modifications and tips, you can make going to the bathroom easier, safer, and less tiring.

8 Helpful Equipment for Bathroom Safety for Seniors

1. Back Lotion Applicator

best back lotion applicator
back lotion applicator

Cream and lotion application is one of the simple tasks that we do on a day-to-day basis and give little attention to. However, it is good to mention that it can be a chore for seniors and individuals with mobility issues.

A back lotion applicator is a simple device that is purposely designed to help you apply lotion in any areas that are hard to reach for any individual regardless of age and mobility. Therefore, a back lotion applicator helps seniors and other individuals to apply a moisturizer on their back effortlessly. This helps the elderly maintain their independence as it eliminates the need for the services of a caregiver.

Applying a moisturizer on the back of seniors offers a variety of benefits to them. It helps soothe irritated skin, relax their entire body, which are common conditions to the elderly.

2. Bidet

bidet for elderly and handicapped
bidet

Bidets are widely used in most countries across the world but are not commonly available in some countries, including the U.S.

Bidets provide better cleaning and personal hygiene than dry toilet papers as it provides water to remove any residue that is left.

Moreover, a good bidet seat is really intellegent, allowing seniors with mobility issues do their own business without the help of caregivers.

3. Bathtub Transfer Bench

transfer shower bench for elderly
tub transfer bench

A transfer bench is a shower safety mobility device that helps the user to get into a bathtub easily and safely. Usually, the user sits on it that straddles the side of the bathtub and slides gradually to the inside of the tub.

Usually, it features a non-slip, textured surface on the back and seat and an adjustable seat height. It also includes slip-resistant tips for enhanced stability.

This helps eliminate the need for the services of the caregiver while allowing the seniors to maintain their independence.

4. Handicap Toilet Seat with Handles

handicap toilet seat with handles
handicap toilet with handles

A handicap toilet with handles is helpful in improving bathroom safety for seniors and other individuals with limited mobility as it offers extra support.

Usually, most accessible toilet seats with handles are equipped with an easy-to-use locking mechanism that attaches the elongated toilet seat to the bowl.

It also includes the padded armrests that offer additional comfort by adding five inches in height. With the soft handles, it is extremely easy for seniors and individuals with back or joint problems to bend and stand easily.

5. Shower Chairs

handicap shower chair for elderly and disabled
shower chair

Handicap shower chairs are helpful to people with mobility issues and the elderly as it helps them to get into the shower safely and easily.

A good shower chairs should be waterproof, sturdy and durable while providing solidity and comfort to individuals that need it the most.

Usually, most industry guidelines provide that a shower chair or bench should be 17 to 19 inches off the shower floor. This will offer enough space for the movement of the seniors when getting in and out of the shower chair.

For people with severe mobility issues, you can try a shower wheelchair as well.

6. Toilet Safety Rails

best toilet safety rails for elderly
toilet safety rails

Toilet safety rails are bathroom devices usually installed around the toilet for enhanced safety for seniors.

They are purposely designed to offers assistance to individuals who are in need of assistance in using the toilet.

Most of the best safety frames are easy to put on the toilet and most importantly easy to adjust to a comfortable height. Usually, many users like the stability of the safety frames as it provides them with a great feeling of security, especially if they do not have a caregiver around them.

7. High Toilet

high toilets for elderly
high toilet

A high toilet is an elongated toilet that adds extra inches to its height to ensure that tall seniors or individuals with joint issues use the toilet comfortably. It allows you to use it comfortably while resting your feet flat on the floor.

Apart from making it incredibly easy for users to use, these toilets help relieve stress from the joints while maintaining the capabilities and functionality of traditional ones.

8. Transfer Pole

transfer pole for elderly
transfer pole

A transfer pole is essential for seniors as it is a practical and handy assister for people with mobility impairments.

It helps them sit down and stand up or move around in the bathroom without risks of unexpected accidents.

5 Helpful Tips for Bathroom Safety for Seniors

As mentioned earlier, a bathroom is one of the dangerous places for the elderly in your home. However, the following helpful tips you can significantly reduce the risks of unforeseen accidents. Here are the safety tips for seniors:

1. Use the grab bars

Grab bars around the bathroom are the most essential and commonly used equipment for the bathroom. It is advisable for the elderly or individuals with mobility issues to grab them when getting in or out of the bathtub. Grabbing the bars allows the seniors to steady themselves as they transition on or off the toilet as well as in or out of the tub.

2. Eliminate throw rugs

It is also advisable to get rid of any throw rug in the bathroom. Stepping on a throw rug while getting in or out of the toilet, tub or sink can easily cause you to slide from underneath the feet.

3. Use non-slip mats

Usually, falls in the bathroom result from slippery surface. Therefore, you can utilize non-slip mats to prevent unexpected slips when stepping outside of the shower or bathtub.

4.  Items accessible

Most seniors are involved in bathroom accidents while trying to reach for bathing items while on the bathtub or shower. This means that making all items such as towels, and clothing accessible is one of the most effective bathroom safety tips.

5. Always test water temperature

Finally, it is advisable for seniors or caregivers to check the water temperature in the shower or bath before a senior individual takes a shower. This helps reduce sudden movements that could potentially lead to accidents.

Final Thoughts

Overall, a bathroom is a dangerous place for the elderly. With the helpful tips discussed here and bathroom safety equipment for seniors above, it is possible to prevent unforeseen accidents.

Cherry is the editor-in-chief of Mobility With Love. She obtained a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and a master's degree in Adapted Physical Activity. Her expertise includes biomechanics, biochemistry, nutrition, disability studies, and so on.

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