According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every three individuals aged 65 or older will fall at least each year. Unfortunately, this can lead to broken bones, head trauma and other injuries. While a fall can occur anywhere within a home, they commonly occur in bathrooms. This is because it can be hard to get in and out of a bathtub, a floor can be slippery when wet, or their legs give out after sitting on the toilet. It can be nerve wracking to have an elderly parent living on their own. However, there are things that can be done to make the bathroom safer for them. Here are three ways a bathroom can be made safer for your elderly parent or parents who live on their own.
Grab Bars
Grab bars are safety devices that are typically installed in a shower or bathtub. The grab bar serves two different purposes. First, it gives your elderly parent something to hold onto while they are showering, helping them to steady themselves. Secondly, the bar can be used to help an elderly person lift themselves up from the bathtub and to stable themselves as they step over the edge of the bathtub.
Bath Benches
If your loved one has trouble standing, a bath bench may be another product that can keep them safe. A bath or shower bench is a seat or bench that can be installed in either a bath/shower combo or a separate shower. Instead of standing, your elderly parent can sit on the bench while they get clean. This reduces the risk of slipping and falling significantly.
Toilet Safety Rails
You may not have any trouble standing up after using the bathroom. However, an elderly person may have a lot of trouble doing so. They may not have the upper body strength or leg strength to push themselves upward, or their legs may fall asleep quickly due to poor circulation, causing them to have trouble standing after sitting. Toilet safety rails can be installed on both sides of a toilet, giving your loved one something sturdy they can use to pull themselves upward with and steady themselves until they are ready to walk out of the bathroom.
If you are looking to make the bathroom in your elderly parents' home safer in Minneapolis, MN, contact Home Freedom. We will work with you to come up wit a plan that will make the space safer for your elderly loved one, depending on what their needs are. Give us a call today at (612) 801-3442 to schedule an appointment for a free estimate.