DIY Saturday #69 How to Make your Bathroom Safe for Aging Adults (Video)

Guest Blog #190, Entry #674, September 24, 2011

Happy DIY Saturday! Over the past years the need for homeowners to adapt their homes for the elderly has become commonplace. Whether it’s adapt a home for a family member, or to make your home safer and easier to get around.  Universal design, ADA guidelines, and safety for the elderly are important, especially in the bathroom of your home.

Bathroom ideas for the elderly

Image courtesy of Safety within Reach

Today, my Guest Blogger gives tips for adapting your bathroom for safety for the aging and watch a You Tube video on how to make the bathroom safe for the elderly in your bathroom.

You Tube Video – How to Make the Bathroom Safer for your Elderly Parent

Guest Blogger – Safety for Seniors in the Bathroom

As we get older, places in our homes that previous seemed harmless can become increasingly challenging to negotiate. Muscular weakness, back stiffness and slower reflexes can result in damaging falls in any room of the house. Some statistics suggest that every year, at least one three people over the age of 65 have a fall. True, not all of these mishaps result in anything more than wounded feelings and small bruises, but how well you come off is often down to chance.

Among all the rooms in the house, the most dangerous is probably the bathroom. But we still need to bathe and if we are to remain in our own homes and retain a level of personal autonomy, we need to be able to use the bathroom as well as we have ever done. Nevertheless, we should never be afraid to ask for help in making these changes to our home: many installations require proper installation to ensure our safety!

Basics

Water is clearly a hazard, and when mixed with whatever soaps and cleaning chemicals we have, things can get extra slippery. It is recommended to have relatively new bathmats wherever there is an appliance: next to bath-tubs, shower enclosures, basins and toilets. Opt for mats with a decent non-skid underside, and don’t hesitate to replace these when the coating fails after years of washing.

Consider shower enclosures for easy accessibility

Image courtesy of QA Home Products

Installing a Rail

It is not uncommon for older people to hold onto something when entering or exiting the bath. In fact, most of us have fixtures and fittings that can be used for support in the general vicinity, and this is where the danger lies. Towel racks, shelving and other fixtures are not built to withstand the strength and weight of a person pulling themselves into place. And it’s the falls that we never see coming that hurt us the most.

Rails can be purchased at most bathroom suppliers, but should always be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that they have been installed correctly. Rails are useful for baths and toilets. U-shaped, horizontal, vertical and diagonal bars help you in and out of baths and toilets of varying heights and positions. Where a bath rail can even be placed should be done having consulted a professional, since many things must be considered when finding somewhere that is comfortable and safe to place the rail.

Toilet Seat Height

It can also be beneficial to alter toilet seat height, sometimes by as much as 5-7 inches. Wall-hung toilets can achieve this greater height, but it may suit your household arrangements to have a removable seat. There are also permanent seat options if you’re don’t want to invest in a new toilet.

Walk in bathtubs are a good alternative for seniors

Image courtesy of Senug

Walk In Bathtubs

Baths are actually incredibly un-ergonomic when you think about it: you must first hurdle over the side and then you have to lower yourself down into the tub to begin bathing. Easy enough when you’re young, but when backpain starts up and your joints aren’t quite as easy to shift as they once were, the bathtub can become a rather daunting prospect. Showers provide something of an answer, but it’s all too easy to find yourself having to reach around on the floor for a dropped sponge.

Walk in bathtubs are a fairly straightforward answer, providing an easy-swing door that seals when the taps come on. Many models also provide seats for easy-seated bathing!

This article was written on behalf of Splash Direct by Steph Wood. Splash can provide many of the above fixtures as well as Bath Screens and other accessories.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.