Bathrooms are a place to relax and unwind. But despite being a peaceful haven, bathrooms have a few hazards we must watch out for. Floors and bathtubs can become wet and slippery, and accidents can happen.
A room that typically features hard styles of flooring, such as tiles, and a bathroom is a place where slips and falls can easily occur, especially if surfaces are wet and slippery.
According to the National Institute on Ageing, more than one in four people over the age of 65 falls each year and almost 80% of falls in the home occur in the bathroom. It isn’t just older people who need to be mindful of bathroom safety; as a room that features more hard surfaces than most, we all should be aware of the potential for injury in this area.
Fortunately, there are a few steps and modifications that you can take to reduce the risk of bathroom hazards for both seniors and other adults or children in your home.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss our top tips for improving your bathroom health and safety, so you can relax knowing that your bathroom is a safe space for your family.
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- Installing grab bars
- Use non-slip mats, and rugs
- Install flooring with non-slip surfaces
- Install a shower bench or chair
- Install an elevated toilet seat
- Install a walk-in shower or bathtub
- Remove clutter and keep essential items within reach
- Add easy turn taps
1. Installing grab bars
Grab bars are one of the simplest and most effective ways to make a bathroom safer, especially for seniors or anyone with disability bathing needs. Grab bars are bars that provide support and stability in the bathroom.
Grab rail positions are important and can be placed in different areas of your bathroom, such as in your shower or bath or beside your toilet, to help get up and down safely and in a controlled manner.
There is a range of different grab bars available with different finishes. You can choose a design that not only meets your practical needs but also fits with the design of your bathroom. You can also choose the level of grip you require with your grab bar.
Grab bars are a great safety feature as you can place them in the area you need them most, so you or your family member will have extra stability in those tougher to navigate areas. Find out more about grab bars.
2. Use non-slip mats, and rugs
Slips and falls are much more likely to happen on wet surfaces (Health and Safety Executive). This is why using non-slip rugs and mats in your bathroom is so important. Having a bathroom mat in locations such as beside your shower and bath, and near your toilet can help prevent excess water from causing your floor to become slippery.
Try to choose mats and rugs with an anti-slip backing or consider a mat with suction cups on the underside. This will help grip your bathroom floor more securely, so you’ll have a mat you can dry your feet on after showering and one that will stay securely in place.
You can also get rubberised mats for inside your shower and bath. These mats are designed to be waterproof, and they help prevent accidents by adding a grip to the base of your shower and bathtub.
3. Install flooring with non-slip surfaces
The type of flooring you use in your bathroom can also improve your safety. To reduce the risk of falls, you should opt for flooring with a non-slip finish. There are many different options for bathroom flooring that provide extra grip and stability, such as vinyl or rubber flooring.
These materials are designed to be more robust and water-resistant than other forms of flooring, so they can help prevent accidents and make your bathroom a safer environment.
4. Install a shower bench or chair
Standing for extended periods can be difficult for elderly people, or those who have difficulty with mobility, especially in a shower or wet room. You can provide a safe, comfortable place to sit while showering by installing a shower bench or chair.
Choose a sturdy chair or bench that suits the user’s weight and needs. Choosing a model with a backrest and armrest can also provide additional stability and support for the user.
5. Install an elevated toilet seat
Sitting down and standing up from a low toilet can cause issues for seniors or people with mobility issues.
High toilet seats can help make the process of getting on and off the toilet by reducing the distance you need to lower yourself. There is a range of options, so you can choose the one that best suits the user’s needs.
6. Install a walk-in shower or bathtub
Refurbishing your bathroom can be a great way to bring your bath and shower up to standard to meet you or your loved one’s changing needs. Walk-in showers and bathtubs are designed to provide a comfortable and safe experience when bathing.
Walk-in showers come with a wide door, allowing users to walk in easily. They also have non-slip surfaces, and some have a built-in seat for extra support.
Walk-in baths are also becoming increasingly popular as they make bathing easier to manage for those with mobility issues; they feature a door to allow easy access to the bath and a raised seat to make getting in and out as easy as possible.
7. Remove clutter and keep essential items within reach
This tip is simple yet effective. Clutter can make it harder to move around the bathroom and increase the risk of tripping. Removing unnecessary items from the bathroom on a regular basis or adding additional storage to ensure the bathroom is always clean and tidy can help reduce risk.
Solutions such as additional shelving can ensure that essentials like soap, shampoo and conditioner are always within reach, so no bending down or stretching is required to get these items. Additionally, keeping floors and surfaces clean can ensure that there is no residue from bathing products left over, which could cause slips or falls.
8. Add easy turn taps
Taps with long levers and smooth actions are a great modification to make use easier for seniors or anyone with conditions such as arthritis that could affect mobility. Easy turn taps can give you more control and make turning on and off the tap smoother, allowing for easier control of temperature and water flow
These are just a few of the modifications you can make to your bathroom to ensure it is as safe and comfortable as possible. Taking extra care when designing or renovating your bathroom will give you peace of mind knowing that you or your loved one’s safety is taken care of.
With these tips at hand, your bathroom can be a safe place where you can bathe and wash without the worry of potential slips and falls. These features offer safety and security and thanks to the wide range available, you can tailor your bathroom modifications to meet individual needs and even choose options that are not only practical but look fantastic too.