How Can You Make Bathrooms Safe for the Elderly?

For the elderly, the bathroom may just be the most dangerous part of the house. Just think of the things that one usually finds in the washroom or shower area: water, tight spaces, hard surfaces, and lots of corners and edges. Looking at this combination alone, there’s no need to wonder any further as to why availing of senior care in New Jersey can benefit aging adults who suffer from accidental falls or slips while in the bathroom.

The Most Commonly Cited Bathroom Accidents and How to Prevent Them

1. Slipping and falling:

The most important thing to keep in mind when designing a bathroom for the elderly is that they are less agile and have slower reflexes than younger adults. To help mitigate the risk of falls, use low-pile carpeting in washrooms. Avoid patterns or colors that might cause a person with poor eyesight to trip over them, which can lead to falls

2. Bathtub slip and fall:

Install grab bars wherever they will be most helpful. For example, if you want to help the elderly person safely climb into and out of the tub, make sure that there is a grab bar within easy reach on the bathtub wall at a height that will allow for an easy transfer. Use slip-resistant mats and remember to replace them when they get worn or torn. In addition, consider installing a shower safety frame.

3. Incontinence accidents:

Increase the available space in your bathroom by asking for a larger shower stall and adding a medicine cabinet. This will provide an easy-to-reach place to put clean fresh rags or tissues so that the person can, if necessary, discreetly wipe their private areas when necessary during the day.

4. Bathtub toilet accidents:

Safety straps and “oops kits” are useful tools to keep around as they can help prevent accidents from happening in bathrooms where there is no tub. These kits have a strap that can be threaded between the toilet seat and tank. When the elderly person needs to go to the bathroom but cannot get up on their own, they can pull on the strap and a caregiver will be alerted.

5. Electrical hazards:

The elderly are especially vulnerable to electrical hazards in the bathroom because their reflexes may not always respond as quickly as they once did. To reduce the risk of electric shock, never put electrical outlets where a person could touch them while standing on a wet or damp bath mat.

6. Water accidents:

Since elderly people often tend to have more dry skin, some conditions such as eczema and atopic dermatitis can cause them to be especially vulnerable to water accidents. These include slipping and falling in the shower and bathtub, slipping on wet floors easily damaged by water, or accidentally knocking over a glass and spilling its contents. It is important to keep the floor dry and free of anything that could cause a person to slip. Also, avoid using abrasive cleaning products because they can leave the bathtub and shower floor rough.

7. Shaving in the bathtub:

If you want to help your elderly loved one avoid cuts and bruises while shaving, install nonslip rugs and strips in the tub/shower area and keep them clean.

We at Serenity Senior Care have formulated some ways to help you keep your loved ones safe even while they age in place:

• Add slip-prevention flooring (e.g., no-slip tub mats, shower strips) throughout the bathroom area for added traction. Be careful to buy only sturdy products.
• Install well-placed grab bars to give your loved ones a better grip. Use vertical, U-shaped, or angle bars and make sure to place them in the tub, shower, and toilet areas.
• Get your loved ones a shower or tub chair with a back and has sturdy, rubber feet. Handheld shower nozzles may also help.
• If your loved ones have chronic illnesses and injuries that may hinder them from performing their personal grooming routines, hire a caregiver to assist them. Caregivers who provide nursing care in New Jersey can help ensure that they will be immediately taken care of.

Why Should You Keep Bathroom Safe For the Elderly?

1. It’s hard for the elderly to keep their balance when using a restroom.
2. Elderly people may be in need of assistance while using a bathroom–so someone should always be nearby.
3. Seniors often have a hard time finding the courage to use public restrooms because they are usually so busy and noisy.
4. Most public restrooms aren’t designed for the elderly.
5. These public restrooms aren’t very clean and may pose a health risk to old people who tend to have bacterial diseases.
6. If a senior citizen needs assistance when using the bathroom, then there should always be someone nearby at all times, for their safety as well as others’ safety.
7. The bathroom can be very dangerous for the elderly who often have physical disabilities and lack coordination.
8. Seniors should avoid public restrooms at all times because they take too much time to use, causing them to feel rushed before they’re finished.
9. Seniors may have a hard time with the locks in public restrooms, so they are likely to go to the hospital or nurse’s office if they need to use the restroom.
10. Seniors have a hard time sitting down and standing up from the toilet and need assistance with both tasks.

If you are considering home care services in Bloomfield, New Jersey to keep your loved ones safe even while at home, please do not hesitate to contact our qualified and experienced caregivers today. We provide exceptional and reliable services at your convenience.