Making the Bathroom Safer for Seniors: Often Overlooked Hazards and How to Fix Them

Bathrooms can be one of the most dangerous areas of the home for seniors. Slippery floors, rugs, loose tiles, and stepping in and out of the tub or shower can lead to a dangerous injury.

If you have a loved one living alone or in your home and you’re concerned about their safety, there are crucial steps you should take to make the bathroom safer. Here is a look at some overlooked bathroom hazards that can affect senior safety, and how to fix them.

Slippery Floors

Many types of flooring are much more slippery when they are wet. Ceramic or porcelain tile, brick, natural stone, and concrete flooring can be very dangerous in a bathroom. These also are hard surfaces, and a fall could cause even greater injuries to an elderly loved one.

To make the bathroom safer and reduce the risk of a fall, consider installing non-slip mats that have a rubber backing on areas of the floor that are most likely to get wet, such as right outside the shower or tub, around the toilet, and in front of the sink.

You can also install non-slip decals that create better traction on the flooring even when it is wet.

Damaged Flooring or Rugs

Cracked or peeling tiles are another major bathroom hazard. They increase the risk of an elderly person stubbing their toe or tripping, and make it less safe for your loved one to get on and off the toilet or into and out of the shower or bathtub.

Repair damaged flooring and replace loose or fraying bathroom rugs to lower the risk of trips and injuries. Consider upgrading to a safer, non-slip flooring like textured laminate tile.

Showers or Bathtubs With High Edges or Lips

Both showers and bathtubs are major hazards for the elderly – especially if they have a high edge or lip to step over. If your loved one is going from a wet shower or tub floor to a slippery bathroom floor, they should not have to also step over a high edge.

Doing so could increase their risk of tripping and suffering a severe injury. Consider converting from a bathtub to a walk-in shower to reduce the risk of injury.

If you already have a shower, talk to a contractor or handyman about reducing the height of the ledge or lip of the shower.

Poor Lighting or Lights That Are Hard to Reach

Poor lighting will make it harder for your loved one to see if there are any obstacles in their path. Lights that are hard to reach and require straining or bending can increase the chance of a fall.

Install bright lighting that turns on automatically on a timer so that your loved one doesn’t have to fumble for the light switch if they go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

You might also consider smart lights, which can be activated and controlled using your voice, a smart phone app, or a remote. Motion sensor lights and room occupancy sensors can also help, as the lights will turn on automatically when they sense that a person has entered the bathroom.

Short Toilets

Your loved one’s balance, dexterity, and overall mobility lessen as they age. It may become harder for them to get on and off the toilet, especially if it is short or low to the ground.

This increases their risk of a fall and injury, and if no one is home, they may not be able to get to the phone to call for help. You can install a raised, locking toilet seat to make it easier.

These toilet seats have bars on each side that make it easier for your loved one to lower themselves onto the toilet and stand up again.

Slippery Tub or Shower Floors

Like the bathroom floor, the tub or shower floor can also be very slippery when wet. You can put in a non-slip mat or textured decals that lower the chance of an accident.

You might also consider installing a shower seat and a detachable shower head, which will make it easier for your loved one to bathe safely and comfortably.

Navigating Narrow Spaces, Especially With a Mobility Aid

Bathrooms are typically small, narrow spaces that are hard to navigate with the use of a mobility aid. Many elderly people end up leaving their walker, cane, or other assistive devices outside the bathroom door, which can make a slip or fall more likely.

Installing grab bars near the toilet and in the shower or tub can lower the chances of your loved one falling, even if they don’t have their mobility aid with them.

Falling From Step Stools

If personal hygiene objects aren’t in easy reach, your loved one may try to get to them by using a step stool. This could cause a dangerous fall and major injuries.

Rearrange the bathroom so that daily use items are in easy reach. Store bathroom towels, toilet paper, paper towels, soap, cleaning products, hygiene products, and other necessities on shelves or in storage containers at eye level so that your loved one knows where they are and can reach them easily.

No Way to Call for Help

If your loved one is injured in the bathroom and doesn’t have a cell phone with them, they may have no way to call for help. Consider installing a panic button in the bathroom and paying for a subscription monitoring service.

If your loved one becomes ill or injured, they can press the button to notify law enforcement or emergency assistance. You can also install a landline telephone next to the toilet or shower.

Trouble Getting To and From the Bathroom

If your loved one has a chronic illness or injury or uses a mobility aid, they may have trouble getting to and from the bathroom safely. If you work outside the home or if they live alone, you can hire an in-home caregiver.

A caregiver can assist with personal care and household tasks, including toileting, bathing, dressing, and grooming. They may even offer assistance with light housework, meal preparation, medication reminders, and transportation to doctor’s appointments.

Best of all, they will ensure your loved one remains safe, comfortable, and cared for while you are out of the house.

Call Placita In Home Care for Caregiving Services for Your Loved One

Placita In Home Care offers compassionate, customizable in-home care services for the elderly. We can provide respite care or daily or regularly scheduled home care services.

Our skilled, experienced caregivers provide assistance with the tasks of daily living as well as companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation, and more.

We also offer home safety evaluations and can help you identify safety risks in your bathroom and other areas of your home. To schedule a consultation for in-home care in the Tucson or Phoenix metro area, call us today or fill out our contact form online.