The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house, according to studies by the Centers for Disease Control.
It’s not hard to understand why. Wet floors and bare feet are the biggest culprits.
Avoid getting hurt by improving the safety of your bathroom with a few simple changes.
Avoid falls:
Grab bars give you something to hold onto when you lose your balance. Better yet, you can avoid losing your balance in the first place by holding on to one. When you think of grab bars you’re probably thinking of industrial looking bars like the kind you find in handicapped bathrooms, but recently several manufacturers have finally started coming out with downright attractive grab bars. Some plastic grab bars attach with suction cups. Most require attachment to your wall with screws. Shop for grab bars on Amazon.
The least you should do: The idea of installing grab bars might be a little overwhelming. Finding the studs behind the wall, drilling into tile, maybe having to hire a contractor to do the work… The quick solution is to buy and try a grab bar that sticks on with suction cups. These are cheap (some are less than $20) and install quickly. They’re meant for helping you balance, not taking your whole weight. Once you’ve got one of these installed you can start looking for a real grab bar solution.
Make bathing safer and more comfortable:
There are many products to make bathing safer and more comfortable. Problems here range from the difficulty of balancing while showering (see grab bars above), to seats to sit on while showering, to transfer benches to help you get over the tub side, to sophisticated bath lift chairs that can actually lower you into the water.
Shower chairs make bathing safer by providing a safe seat while showering. Click for our shower chairs buying guide page.
Here’s a video example of a shower chair with a bar that swings against the wall when you don’t need it.
See all models of the Dependa-Bar.
Increase comfort:
Raised toilet seats make using the toilet much easier, reducing stress on joints and preventing loss of balance at an awkward moment. Shop for raised toilet seats on Amazon.
Grab bars are also great near the toilet, as is the Dependa-Bar.
Other good ideas
- Remove any small throw rugs or other tripping hazards
- Improve the lighting if the room is dark. Consider good nightlights to help make the room easier to navigate in the dark.
- Use a non-skid tub treatment or no-slip mats in the tub.
- A safety pole can also help with tub entry and exit, and with using the toilet.
Go back to the main elder home safety page.
