When aging adults reach a point where they have accessibility concerns, it is time to consider remodeling their bathrooms to keep them safe. A bathroom not designed for aging adults has many slip hazards, and a simple fall could be more painful and debilitating for an aging adult. Next Day Access offers many solutions to make the bathroom as safe as possible for aging adults. Here are a few tips to keep your aging loved one safe in their bathroom.
Install Grab Bars, Shower Handles, or a Tension Mounted Pole
Aging adults with poor balance will try to steady themselves by grabbing a towel rack or wall-mounted sink. Neither is designed to hold a person’s body weight. Invest in sturdy grab bars, and safety poles. Install the grab bars on the wall around the toilet and in the shower with the shower handles. Make sure they are firmly bolted to the wall and are grip resistant.
A newer concept for aging adults is the tension-mounted pole. It can be placed anywhere in the house where your aging loved one needs help with balance, but it is especially helpful in a bathroom, alongside grab bars and shower handles. The tension pole is a floor-to-ceiling metal rod with an “S” shape bar in the middle of the rod so your aging loved one can use a hand-over-hand technique to pull themselves up without injury.
Consider Investing in a Walk-In Tub or Quick Tub Conversion Kit
One of the most challenging moves for an aging adult with accessibility concerns is stepping over the tub to shower or take a bath. At Next Day Access, we offer walk-in tubs. The walk-in tubs have an outward swinging door that allows your loved one to walk straight into the tub. Many also have a tall seat in the tub, so your loved one does not have to bend down when bathing, or if they prefer to shower, the bench acts as a shower seat.
The quick tub conversion kit supplies you with everything you need to turn your existing bathtub into a step-in shower while still maintaining a fully functional bathtub. It is similar to the walk-in tub, but it does not include a bench.
Ensure the Bathroom has Slip Resistant Rugs and Mats
It is inevitable that while showering or bathing, the bathroom floors will end up wet. Make sure to place slip-resistant pads down in the shower and ensure any rugs outside the tub or shower are also slip-resistant.
Install a Bio Bidet
To ensure your loved one gets as clean as possible and for even more ease in the bathroom, you could install a Bio Bidet. We recommend the extremely popular Bio Bidet because it offers both comfort and the functionality of a heavy-duty commode. The Bio Bidet also offers a cleansing method that many people have claimed is far superior to other bidets.
Everything that Next Day Access sells we also install. Our experienced installation team will ensure that each bathroom product is secured correctly. Our goal at Next Day Access is for aging adults to be able to age in place. We provide several products that ensure the home is safe and comfortable for them. If you need help remodeling a bathroom to keep your aging loved one safe, do not hesitate to reach out to your nearest Next Day Access. We also offer in-home consultations to ensure the entire home is secure.