According to the National Council on Aging, the risk of falling is greatly influenced by your physical environment. Poorly designed rooms, stairs, furniture, and other items can pose a fall risk, especially for individuals with mobility limitations. Among all the rooms in a home, the bathroom is particularly prone to falls.
Slippery surfaces in the bathroom can be hazardous for seniors, as even a minor balance issue can result in a slip-and-fall accident. The good news is that there are preventive measures you can take to reduce the risk of falling in the bathroom.
While towel bars may seem convenient for support when entering or exiting the shower, they are not designed to bear weight or provide proper bathroom accessibility. To enhance bathroom accessibility, it is advisable to install grab bars instead and reserve towel bars for their intended purpose.
A Safer Solution to Bathroom Accessibility
Grab bars should be the first bathroom addition made if you have limited mobility or are worried about slipping. They can be professionally installed inside or outside the shower, by the toilet, and other areas in the bathroom.
If you ever lose your balance or don’t have confidence in your balance, you can rely on grab bars to be strong enough to stop you from falling. The sense of security and peace of mind you can have in the bathroom with grab bars is worth the bathroom addition.
Simple Accessibility Tips
In addition to installing grab bars, there are plenty of simple tips you can take to make your bathroom more accessible. Take inventory of the rugs and items on the floor and make any changes if you deem them to increase the risk of falling.
In addition, appropriate lighting is important in a bathroom so you can see if you’re going to be walking on a slippery surface. Lastly, if you have a hard time getting in and out of the shower or bathtub, consider a portable shower to reduce the amount of effort required.
Improve Accessibility
One out of every four Americans aged 65 or older fall every year, according to the National Council on Aging.
Next Day Access is dedicated to reducing this number by offering bathroom accessibility products and solutions. Our goal is to improve the sense of security and stability for seniors living at home. We provide the highest quality products and professional installation services so you have peace of mind knowing you have a reliable product.
If you’re ready to improve the accessibility in your bathroom and throughout your home, contact us today to schedule a free home assessment.
