Because it can be such a treacherous place, it’s important to know how to prevent falls in the bathroom. The key is minimizing exposure to water and wet surfaces, adding places to hold onto, and making bathing and toileting safer. Here are 9 specific recommendations.
Look for shower shoes that have lightweight materials, non-slip but flexible soles, fit snugly, and drain easily. Stay away from items that are made of fabric or foam, fit loosely, or are overly expensive.
The right shower head can make showering easier and safer. The best shower heads for the elderly have long hoses that don’t kink up, easy to operate switches and buttons on the head itself, variable spray patterns, and are also lightweight.
Look for a safe bath or shower mat that securely sticks to the tub surface, has a textured surface to reduce slipping, drains well, fits your tub or shower, and is antibacterial and machine washable for easy cleaning. Even better, choose a mat that also is BPA-free! Avoid soft, fabric mats and any bathroom rugs.
Bathtub lifts, aka bath lifts, tub lifts, or bath lift chairs, are battery-powered devices that lower you into your tub and raise you out again. The best bath lifts for seniors are rustproof, with floating hand controls, safety lockouts, suction cupped feet for stability, and transfer flaps.
Shower transfer benches, aka shower benches and tub transfer benches, help you get in and out of the tub easier because you don’t have to step over the tub wall. Instead, you sit on the bench outside the tub, then scoot or slide into the shower area. The best bath transfer benches have sliding bath seats with arms and backrests for support and safety.
Before buying this type of equipment, think about what your needs are. Are you having trouble using the toilet? Are showers becoming more difficult? Do you miss taking a bath? Are arthritis and weakness affecting your ability to care for yourself? You should discuss your needs and choices with your doctor too.
It’s not a secret: the bathroom can be a dangerous place for seniors. Here are some important bathroom accessories for seniors to make the bathroom a safer place.
Seniors may not want to bathe often because of a fear for falling or even embarrassment over needing help. Here are some practical tips to learn why they may not want to bathe and ways to encourage them too.