Did you know that the bathroom is known for being the most hazardous room in the house when it comes to household accidents? In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) report in 2008, 234,000 people suffered injuries inflicted in the bathroom. The CDC also reports that falls are the number one cause of death resulting from injury in seniors.
If you are a caregiver for a loved one offering Alzheimer’s help, you may be interested in learning some safety tips for the bathroom to help your loved one avoid becoming a statistic.
Place a shower mat or tub mat in places where water stands such as in the tub or shower, standing water on the bathroom floor is a major safety hazard, be sure to check for wet spots and keep the bathroom floor dry.
Have your loved one use slippers with a slip-proof backing after getting out of the tub or shower to prevent sliding on wet or slippery floors.
Check into purchasing tile with a slip proof coating designed specifically to make the bathroom safer.
Use a rubber backed slip proof rug to cover the floor in the spot where your loved one steps out of the tub or shower, be sure to tack down any loose rugs anywhere in the house or purchase rugs with non-slip backing.
Check faucets and fixtures for pointed edges and cover with soft edging designed for safety. Cover faucets with safety covering-such as the inflatable covers available for baby proofing a bathroom.
Implement grab bars on the side of showers, tubs and the toilet to prevent slipping when getting into or out of the bathtub or shower. Be certain that flimsy towel bars that could potentially break off are not being substituted for grab bars.
Consider installing a bathtub chair or bench for use in the shower to promote safety and prevent falls.
Leave doors slightly ajar and unlocked just in case of an accident so your loved one can easily be heard if an accident does happen to occur.
Use a liquid soap container (preferable attached to the wall) to prevent the need for bending over to pick up soap bars which increases the chance of falling in the shower.
Toilet grab bars are also a necessity for bathroom safety, particularly if your loved one has difficulty moving from a sitting to standing position-consider a raised toilet seat as well. A bedside commode may also be a good option for those who are having a lot of trouble moving around.
Last but not least, strengthening muscles can assist a person in moving and balancing safely. Implement a daily exercise routine, with your physician’s approval of course.
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