It’s a new year. But, of course, there are some things that will never change. Among those things is the fact that safety must always be a top priority in a household where an individual with mobility issues dwells. Of course, safety should be a top priority for all residents of a household, whether they have mobility issues or not. And the room of the household that continues to deserve extra special attention is the bathroom.
As the “Savvy Senior”, Jim T. Miller reminds us in his contribution to The Huffington Post, more accidents take place in the bathroom than any other room in the house. As a result, it’s important to modify the bathroom in order to accommodate individuals with disabilities and seniors who would prefer to age in place.
What modifications are necessary to make a bathroom safer?
Non-slip mats are definitely an excellent first step. To minimize the chances of slipping and falling, it’s best to do away with any rugs or mats (especially throw rugs) and replace them with non-skid bathmats that can be suctioned to the floor. As Miller points out, it’s wise to place these mats on both the bathroom floors and inside bathtubs and showers. Naturally, they help to make those incredibly slippery surfaces a lot less slippery.
“To avoid slipping, a simple fix is to get non-skid bath rugs for the floors. Or if you want to put in a new floor get slip-resistant tiles, rubber or vinyl flooring,” he suggests, “To make bathing safer, purchase a rubber suction-grip mat, or put down adhesive nonskid tape on the tub/shower floor. And have a carpenter install grab bars in and around the tub/shower for support.”
The importance of grab bars.
Grab bars often top the lists of bathroom modifications that are recommended to those who live with elderly individuals and those with disabilities. Their function, of course, is to give bathroom users something to grab on to in order to help with balance and stability. Grab bars are known to work wonders in the world of preventing slips and falls.
ConsumerReports.org further explains the importance of grab bars. “When someone loses his balance in the bathroom, he instinctively grabs the closest thing to steady himself,” says the site, “The results can be catastrophic if it’s something that’s not properly attached to the wall. To support weight, a grab bar needs to be attached to the studs. Most building codes require grab bars that support at least 250 pounds.”
At Advantage Home Health Solutions, we understand that safety and peace of mind are of the upmost importance to you and your family. As a result, we proudly offer a variety of accessibility devices for bathrooms to ensure your safety. Our extensive list of accessibility devices include bathroom super poles, bath chairs, bath lifts, transfer benches and, of course, grab bars for both the bathroom and shower.
For more information about the bathroom accessibility devices offered by Advantage Home Health Solutions, 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!
