Thank you so much for subscribing!
This is what you will get with your email subscription to Seniors Flourish!
- Free Stuff! You’ll get resources, education, senior related coupons and deals!
- Information Tailored to YOUR Needs. Over time, I can help answer your questions and help with your specific day-to-day challenges. I love being able to address the needs of my readers!
- No junk. Just REAL information that’s meant to make a difference. 🙂
On to the checklist…
The #1 place where seniors fall is the bathroom and mostly when getting up to go to the bathroom at night or when getting in and out of the shower.
Things to consider:
- Have adequate lighting? Nightlights are a necessity! People feel that they are familiar with their homes and don’t need it, but as we age, our eye sight gets worse and lighting can help avoid tripping.
- How many times are you getting up to go to the bathroom at night? This is something people are surprised at and never even consider when thinking about bathroom safety. If it is more than once, I recommend a [easyazon_link identifier=”B005G6KM42″ locale=”US” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n”]bedside commode[/easyazon_link] or [easyazon_link identifier=”B003U3CJWQ” locale=”US” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n”]urinal[/easyazon_link] to avoid having to walk to the bathroom, especially if you have balance issues and have to use a walker or cane.
- Are you dizzy when you sit up or get up to go to the bathroom? Again, I recommend the[easyazon_link identifier=”B005G6KM42″ locale=”US” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n”]bedside commode[/easyazon_link] or[easyazon_link identifier=”B003U3CJWQ” locale=”US” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n”]urinal[/easyazon_link] if this is an issue.
- Are your throw rugs picked up off the floor? Not only should throw rugs not be on the floor in the bedroom, but also in the bathroom. There should be no toilet mat or shower rug.
- Are you using your walker or cane in the bathroom? Many people do not bring their walker or cane in the bathroom because there isn’t much room or people feel like they have towel racks or sinks to steady themselves. I can say from experience, these will not hold you up in a fall. I recommend bringing your assistive device everywhere! Make adaptations to the bathroom to make it easier to get into like removing doors or taking out any unnecessary items on the floor such as waste baskets or decorative shelving.
Equipment:
- Bath Bench or Shower Chair: If you are using a tub/shower combination, I always recommend a [easyazon_link identifier=”B000ITCYLQ” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”senioflour-20″]tub bench[/easyazon_link] if you have the room. It is extremely stable and you can sit on the side of it and swing your legs in, over the tub edge, avoiding having to step over. A [easyazon_link identifier=”B003P8S6VY” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n”]shower chair[/easyazon_link] is great to have if you have a walk in shower to sit while washing up.
- Hand Held Shower with On/Off Switch: If you are sitting during bathing or showering, a [easyazon_link identifier=”B00VIPRF4A” locale=”US” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n”]hand held shower with an on/off switch [/easyazon_link] makes it so much easier. This avoids having to stand up to angle the water flow and the on/off switch really helps when you have to put it down to wash your hair.
- Bath Safety Tape: I always recommend[easyazon_link identifier=”B007W2DW5O” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]bath safety tape[/easyazon_link] vs a shower mat. I feel it is safer, more stable and definitely won’t slip. People tend to take bath mats in and out of the tub for cleaning purposes and they get slippery with soap in the tub.
- Grab Bars: You can’t have a bathroom safety checklist without grab bars on the list! Grab bars come in all styles but the most important thing to consider is that you are actually buying a grab bar – not a towel rack. [easyazon_link identifier=”B001ASF63W” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]Grab bars are more stable[/easyazon_link] and will not be pulled out of the wall if you were to fall. I recommend, at minimum, one bar at the edge of the tub to help you get in and out, as well as one on the back of the wall. I do not recommend the style that suction to the wall or attach to the tub.
- Raised Toilet Seat: I prefer the [easyazon_link identifier=”B002VWK0UK” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]raised toilet seat [/easyazon_link] style that attaches to the toilet vs the ones that sit on top. The only thing to be cautious of when buying a riser is that you are not able to adjust the height. If you are short or very tall, I recommend using a [easyazon_link identifier=”B001XURHCA” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]3-in-one bedside commode instead [/easyazon_link], which can be easily adjusted to your height and fits right over the toilet. They all come with a [easyazon_link identifier=”B000ILS8LY” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]”splash guard”[/easyazon_link]so you don’t have to worry about making a mess.
- Medical Alert: If people have a fall in the shower or bathroom, getting to a phone is extremely difficult. I recommend a [easyazon_link identifier=”B002IMW8O4″ locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n” popups=”n”]medical alert[/easyazon_link] system that can be worn in the shower. Most can get wet, but cannot be submerged, like in a bathtub.
Some people are adamant about continuing to take a bath and I really like [easyazon_link identifier=”B002VWKOHY” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”senioflour-20″ cart=”n” popups=”y”]bathlifts, especially the Bellavita Bathlift[/easyazon_link]. They are safe, comfortable and easy to use. Check out Senior Flourish’s review of the top Bath Tub Lifts here.
Feel free to contact me with any questions about bathroom safety or any tricks of the trade that have worked for you!
[contact-form to=’otconnectionllc@gmail.com’ subject=’comment about bath safety checklist’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]