The bathroom can often be the busiest room in the household. This is especially true if you live with a large family. In fact, many a family squabble has broken out over bathroom use. One family member using it for too long can cause quite the fight. Bathrooms are notorious for other problems too. Among the worst is the risk of slips and falls. If you live with an older adult or person with disabilities, this should be a major concern of yours.
When you safeguard the bathroom, you protect your entire family. Let’s take a look at few important steps to take in order to keep your bathroom a safe place.
Remove all tripping hazards.
It may sound like a no-brainer to suggest picking things up off the floor. Naturally, no one wants to trip over anything in the bathroom. However, many of us do place objects on our bathroom floors. We’re talking about bath mats, for example. Yes, their rightful place is in front of the bathtub or the sink. But because bath mats aren’t fastened to the floor, they can cause slips and falls. Your best bet is to clear the bathroom floors of everything except non-slip mats.
“If you really want to keep a bath rug on the floor, try to stick to low-pile mats as they are less likely to cause a fall,” advises Vancouver’s Home2stay, “Also ensure they have a non-slip plastic on the underside and considering securing them with waterproof tape to minimize the chance of them slipping out beneath you.”
Make sure everything is within reach.
If you live with an individual who may be prone to losing his/her balance, it is imperative you make everything in the bathroom easy to access. Are the shelves or cabinets installed a little too high for your elderly parent? Is the cupboard under the sink hard to navigate through because of all of the cleaners, chemicals and other products it contains? Make some changes to the bathroom so that all necessities are around eye level and easy to pick up and use.
By keeping everything in reach, you’ll significantly minimize the chances of a mishap. “Towels, toilet paper, extra toilet paper, washcloths, toothbrush and toothpaste: Do they have everything they need within reach?” asks the Kansas-based Mount Hope Nursing Center, “If anything requires the use of a step stool or straining to grab, find a new place for it within easier reach.”
Set up some grab bars.
This is definitely not the first time we’ve touted grab bars as effective safety mechanisms. And it certainly won’t be the last! If you live with a senior or family member with disabilities, grab bars are practical must-haves. By installing them, you ensure that no one who uses your bathroom is without any assistance in the balance department. Adding these strong and sturdy bars gives bathroom users something to grab onto. Slips and falls are a lot less likely to happen when there are grab bars in the bathroom.
“Wall-mounted or floor-to-ceiling metal grab bars can be easily installed that provide secure support for seniors when they are getting into and out of a tub,” affirms Massachusetts-based Cranberry Home Care, “Grab bars are also highly-recommended next to a senior’s toilet.”
Grab bars are just one of the many bathroom accessibility devices offered by Advantage Home Health Solutions. To learn more about them, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 403-460-5438. You may also email us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
