What You Need To Know About Bathroom Safety As You Age
Have you ever stopped to consider the number of tasks you perform every day that you don’t even think about? Eat breakfast, brush your teeth, shower, dress – the list goes on and on. You might say we take our ability to accomplish daily living for granted, it certainly isn’t an intentional act that requires extra consideration on our parts, we’re just doing life. For the elderly population and those living with disabilities, life becomes infinitely harder when limited physical abilities hinder them from performing such tasks.
For those folks, an emphasized focus on safety must take center stage. While typically small in size, the bathroom is one area where the risk of falls and injuries increase and where normal functions become harder. So, with that in mind, we’ve put together a few tips on how to improve safety and mobility in bathrooms.
Most Common Safety Hazard: Not Enough Space
Bathrooms can be hard to navigate under normal circumstances but when you add a wheelchair or walker to the mix, the level of difficulty is magnified. By widening doors and creating a wider, clearer path devoid of rugs and other hindrances, washing hands at the bathroom sink or just closing the door becomes easier.
Upgrade Lights For Better Visibility
Bathroom lighting (and really lighting throughout the whole house) is a critical component of keeping an elderly or disabled individual safe. Poor lighting increases fall risks and makes it difficult to complete normal bathroom functions. Better overhead lighting and automatic lighting controlled by sensors are a couple of ways to improve safety in the bathroom.
Add Grab Bars For Safety
According to the CDC, over 300,000 older people (that’s individuals 65 and older) are hospitalized for hip fractures each year. Of that number, more than 95% are caused by falling. Installing grab bars in the shower and next to the toilet allows the elderly and disabled to steady themselves in areas where falls are likely to occur.
Install A Taller Toilet
When you have a taller toilet in the bathroom, less energy is exerted when getting on and off the seat, and reduces the risk of falls. For those who have back, leg, knee, or joint problems or have other conditions that make sitting and standing harder, the less space they have to cover the better. Replacing the standard size toilet with a taller one is a great and simple way to improve safety conditions and make life easier.
Greater Birmingham Aging In Place Services
Here at Serve One Construction, we specialize in aging in place modifications. Whether you need help with ADA compliant installations, could use a hand widening doors, or remodeling a whole bathroom to make it safer for a loved one, we can help! In business for more than 10 years, our locally owned and family operated home improvement company offers safety and aging in place services in Helena, Mountain Brook, and throughout our Greater Birmingham service area.
