When: January
The idea is to bring awareness to the potential hazards that are in all of our bathrooms and the dangers they present to everyone but especially to children and seniors.
Preventing accidents and injuries in the bathroom is important to the elderly. Using the bathroom and bathing or showering on their own is a treasured part of staying independent.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics say that one in four seniors over the age of 65 will have at least one fall per year. Over half of those falls happen in the bathroom.
More than three million elderly people will be treated for injuries in the emergency room each year and that number just keeps growing every year.
So, avoid being part of those statistics and take some time this January to help to make your bathroom a safer place in your home.
11 Tips On How To Make The Bathroom Safer
There are many things that you can do to make your bathroom safer for yourself and for senior loved ones.
1) Install Sensor Lights
A motion sensor light is a great way to keep the room lit for older adults especially if they tend to need to use the bathroom throughout the night.
Also, if they are using a walker – a motion sensor light can provide a well lit area without them having to let go of the walker to turn the light on.
- Upgraded Motion Sensor Under Cabinet Lights: Setting the under cabinet lights on motion sensor mode, they auto-on when human motion is detected within 120°and 10ft in a dark or low light environment, and auto-off after about 20 seconds of no motion detected. No longer have to worry about tripping on the step in the dark trying to turn on the switch
- Always-on Mode: The under counter lights for kitchen can be also be set to be always-on, or off. The always-on feature allows you use the motion sensor lights on daytime for a long time task. It can be used in reading, camping and as a flashlight
- Upgraded Dimmable Closet Lights: The cabinet lights are bright and eye-protection, thanks to 40pcs energy-saving LEDs and a non-glare frosted cover. In addition, unlike fixed brightness of others’, our motion sensor light indoor has 5 levels of brightness. So the dimmable under cabinet lighting allows you to brighten them for task like meal preparation and dim them for a motion sensor night light without waking other people up at midnight
2) Install A Timer On The Exhaust Fan
It’s easy to forget to turn off the exhaust fan in your bathroom, especially if you have trouble hearing.
So, using a timer on the bathroom fan will help you to prevent possible fire hazard from leaving the fan on overnight or for too long.
3) Add Grab Bars Throughout The Bathroom
Grab bars are usually the first thing that many older adults think of when it comes to making their bathroom safer.
And many put the grab bars in their shower / tub / toilet. But the truth is, grab bars can be installed throughout the bathroom.
Read our article, Where To Put Grab Bars In A Bathroom (And How To Install Them), for more information.
4) Add an Emergency Call Button
We’re all aware of the Life Alert type of wearables and buttons that can help the user to call for help.
These emergency buttons are wonderful but many seniors remove them when they need to bathe, wash their face, etc. So, they don’t often make it to the bathroom.
No need to worry – Life Alert does offer a shower HELP button that can be used.
But you can also an Alexa device in your bathroom and use the Buddy Alert skill or simply call for 911 by saying “Alexa, call 911”
5) Use Non-Slip Mats, Shower/Bathtub Treads
We generally recommend to remove throw rugs throughout the house but the bathroom is one room where a mat is most often needed.
So, the recommendation then is to use one that is non slip.
- 198 SUCTION CUPS Ultra Grip: 198 high-density suction cups lock this non-slip bathtub mat to tub and shower floors, eliminating slips even when wet. Ideal for shower mats for inside shower safety
- FLEXIBLE TPE Comfort & Durability: Soft yet long-lasting TPE material flexes like a bath mat for tub, with raised nodules for gentle massage underfoot. Designed as a reliable anti-slip shower mat
- 360 DRAIN HOLES Rapid Waterflow: 360 precision-angled drainage holes (vs 250 on standard mats) accelerate water removal from this shower floor mat, maintaining dry surfaces in bath mats for bathroom tub
6) Add a Shower Seat / Bathtub Bench
Seating in the shower / bathtub is very important, especially as you get older.
It turns from a convenient feature to a safety one as you age in place.
- 400lbs Durable Shower Chair: HOMLAND bath chair made with reinforced aluminum alloy frames, provided max strength up to 400lbs. Recommended user weight 300lbs. Bath bench dimensions: Width: 16.3 Inches x Length: 10.5 Inches
- Ideal for Small Spaces: Featuring a compact and space-saving structure, this shower chair fits perfectly in narrow bathtubs, compact shower stalls and all types of small bathroom layouts, making it an ideal daily bathing solution for limited-space homes. Equipped with wide non-slip rubber feet, it delivers firm, stable grip on smooth tub and shower floors to prevent sliding and ensure safe bathing for elderly users
- Height Adjustable: Adjustable seat height with 1” increments to ensure that it is adaptable and fit in any bathrooms. With a seat range from 14 inches to 19 inches, users of all sizes can enjoy optimal comfort and accessibility
7) Install A Handheld Shower Head
Hand held shower heads are just one of the most inexpensive and easiest ways to enjoy your shower and stay safe all at the same time.
Make sure to get one that you can mount anywhere in the tub/shower and that also has a pause switch on the handle.
- MORE WATER PRESSURE, LESS CLEANING – Revolutionary AquaCare hand shower features advanced 8-setting 5-zone Powerhead with Self-clean Anti-clog Nozzles that prevent accumulation of grime inside. So while other showerheads clog and lose water pressure over time, AquaCare nozzles remain clean and clog-free for years of flawless performance. Designed in USA by top American shower experts. Removable Flow Regulator.
- PURE-CLEAN PROTECTION – Studies show that ordinary shower heads are often infested with grime that rapidly grows overnight, then gets flushed out in your face with the morning shower. That’s why keeping your showerhead clean is essential for good shower hygiene. AquaCare nozzles are made with special revolutionary material that works 24/7 on molecular level to protect from degradation. This protection is 100% safe and effective for the life of the product and can never wear off.
- BUILT-IN 2-MODE TUB & TILE POWER WASH – Tired of that disgusting soap scum and dried hair left behind after each shower? Clean it all in seconds from up to 6 feet away, without setting a foot in your shower. Simply flip the AquaCare handle and turn it into a High-pressure Power Wash! Use Wide Fan to quickly rinse off large areas, or switch to Point Jet and instantly blast away that stubborn grime! Patented.
8) Install a Taller Toilet or Raised Toilet Seat
It may seem silly at first, but when you start having trouble getting up off a toilet – you’ll recognize how important a properly sized toilet can be for you or a senior loved one.
You do have the option of course of replacing your toilet with a taller one but a less expensive alternative is to replace your toilet seat with a raised one.
- 💡EXTRA TALL TOILET: 21 inch high toilet is the perfect solution for those who need comfort height. Designed specifically for seniors, disabled and tall users, the 21-inch design of this extra tall toilet does not require you to install an additional lift.
- ✅COMFORT & CONVENIENCE: Experience maximum comfort with our chair height toilet. The elongated toilet structure ensures a comfortable seating position, allowing all users to sit and stand with ease.
- 🔇SOFT CLOSE SEAT: Tall toilet comes with a silent drop down lid for a quiet and comfortable bathroom environment.The 21-inch tall toilet lid is easily removable for thorough cleaning.
9) Remodel The Shower To A Walk In Shower
Barrier free showers are something that I’m seeing more and more of in the new homes being built around me.
This is excellent because if you plan on aging in place, you want a shower stall that has no threshold to step over.
Yes, this takes some construction work but if you plan to stay in the home for the next 10 years or more – I would highly recommend it.
10) Use a Bathtub Lift or Install a Walk-In-Tub
If bathing is your thing, you don’t have to give it up.
You can install a walk-in-tub (which I know can be expensive but luxurious).
Or you can also use a bathtub lift to help you get in and out of your bathtub safely.
- Lift Assist for Seniors: Electric lift chair gently raises elderly from floor to standing height with one-button remote control, enabling independent mobility without caregiver help. Important: Side panels must rest on flat, stable surfaces for proper support
- Safe and Waterproof: IPX8 waterproof rated for bathtub use with six suction cups securing to smooth floors, emergency stop button, and 308 lbs weight capacity for reliable support
- Remote Control Operation: One-button remote lifts and lowers gently, with safety stop for emergency halts, 2.5-hour charge supports 10 continuous lift cycles
11) Change Doorway Threshold
Doorway thresholds can present a problem for seniors using a cane, a walker or a wheelchair.
You can eliminate this obstacle by replace it with a thin transition strip.
All of these changes can help to make your bathroom a safe place for you or a senior loved one!
So go ahead, celebrate National Bath Safety Month by implementing at least one of these tips in your home.
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