Creating a safe environment for seniors is always important and there are a variety of different ways to do this. When seniors want to age in place, focusing on critical areas in the house is the best plan. One of the rooms that needs special attention is the bathroom. Personal care at home is one of the ways to help seniors feel safer in the bathroom, but other solutions involve decluttering and organizing the bathroom properly.
Clutter and Bathrooms
Clutter is a problem anywhere in the house, but bathrooms tend to be smaller spaces that can be difficult to navigate if there is too much in the room. Removing unnecessary items from the bathroom, particularly in storage spaces, enables seniors to keep necessary items in drawers and cabinets, reducing clutter. Getting rid of clutter makes it easier to access the bathroom and also reduces fall risks.
Remove Unnecessary Items
Determining what items are unnecessary might be different for each senior. If over-the-counter medications or toiletries are expired, they definitely need to go. Lots of people tend to collect half-empty bottles and containers, too. These can easily go. Items that seniors don’t use or that are completely decorative as well as in the way may be other easy items to declutter.
Keep the Essentials Organized
Once the space is a little more cleared away, the necessary items need to be organized well. Home care providers can help seniors to set up the bathroom in a way that works well for their needs. When they’re also helping seniors to bathe and get ready for the day, they may start to get a good feel for how to organize bathroom items in a way that offers a good flow.
Make Use of Storage
In some bathrooms, seniors have many items that are necessary, like incontinence products or other items they need every day. What matters the most at that point is that any storage areas and solutions are used as wisely as possible. Keeping items off the floor and tucked away helps to reduce the risk of tripping. Using baskets can keep like items contained, for instance.
Improve Lighting
Good lighting makes a huge difference for safety, especially in the bathroom. Swapping out dim light bulbs for the brightest ones the light fixture can support is a good idea. In some cases, there just isn’t enough light in the bathroom. Adding a lamp might be the perfect answer.
Add Safety Features
There are so many different safety devices that make a difference for aging adults in the bathroom. Grab bars, shower chairs, extended hoses on shower heads, and non-slip mats are just the beginning of the list. Personal care at home can help family caregivers understand which safety devices are going to offer the most help to their seniors.
Decluttering the bathroom is an excellent start for helping seniors to be safer at home. Afterward, there are other ways that personal care at home can boost safety for aging adults while helping them with essential personal care tasks.
If you or an aging loved one are considering personal care at home in Dunwoody, GA, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands – Serving Forsyth and North Fulton County today at (770) 744-3928.
Assisting Hands – Serving Forsyth and North Fulton County provides exceptional home care in Buckhead, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Cumming, Gainesville, Suwanee and the surrounding areas in Georgia.
