According to a survey conducted by AARP, 87 percent of seniors aged 65 and older want to remain in their own homes as they get older. However, remaining in their current home can be difficult if the home isn’t set up properly for their abilities. In addition, without some modifications, remaining at home can be unsafe. One room of the house that often needs safety modifications is the bathroom. For one thing, it’s a room that everyone uses frequently. Also, the surfaces in bathrooms are typically slippery and made worse by the presence of water. If you’re uncertain what kinds of modifications your older family member’s bathroom may need, here are 5 suggestions.
#1: Get a Walk-In Bathtub
Stepping over the side of a bathtub can result in a fall for older adults with balance or mobility problems. Changing the bathtub to a walk-in tub eliminates the need for them to step up and over the side. Another option is to install a curbless shower that has nothing for them to step over.
#2: Add Grab Bars and Rails
Installing grab bars and rails is both inexpensive and easy to do. They should be placed near the toilet and the bathtub or shower. They give the senior something to hold on to when they are standing up or sitting down, giving them some extra support.
Home Care in St. Petersburg FL: 5 Ways to Make Bathrooms Safer for Seniors
#3: Use Non-Skid Mats or Stickers
Putting non-skid mats or stickers in the bottom of the tub or shower makes them less slippery even when they are wet. You can purchase mats or stickers at most hardware and home improvement stores.
#4: Install Lever Faucets
Water faucets with twist-on knobs can be hard for seniors to work if they have arthritic hands or a weakened grip. Other options include faucets that turn on and off with a foot lever, one touch faucets, and faucets with a motion sensor.
#5: Phone in the Bathroom
Having a phone in the bathroom might seem odd, but it provides a way for older adults to get help if they fall. Don’t rely on a cell phone since the older adult may forget to bring it into the bathroom with them.
In addition to making changes to the house, home care can also make it safer and easier for your aging relative to remain at home. Home care providers can assist the senior to get in and out of the bath or shower so they do not fall. And, if your loved one needs help dressing after bathing, home care can help with that, too. Home care can also make sure that water on the floor gets dried up promptly to prevent slipping.
Sources
https://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/focus-on-bathroom-safety/
https://www.theseniorlist.com/2013/12/7-ways-to-make-your-bathroom-more-accessible-for-the-elderly/
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/livable-communities-facts-and-figures.html
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Home Care in St. Petersburg, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
