How to Improve Bathroom Safety
More danger lurks in the bathroom than most people think.
Stop for a moment and envision you’re in your bathroom – the shower is running but part of the shower curtain isn’t in the tub and water is pooling where you get out of the shower. You turn, and you notice the toilet is low to the ground so you know you’re going to struggle getting up, causing strain to your body. As you get into the shower, you slip on the slick surface and there’s nothing to safely grab a hold of. After regaining your stability, you find yourself getting fatigued in the shower. You reach for your shampoo and soaps, but there’s no handy or easily accessible place to store them. While the first thing that comes to mind may not be “danger”, that’s what these scenarios can potentially turn into.
If you’re ready to step up your bathroom safety game, consider these levels of safety to implement in your own home.
Level 1:
Add a walk-in shower or ditch the shower curtain and opt for a door. If it’s a struggle to climb in and out of the tub or you’re always fretting over the shower curtain, it may be time to add a walk in shower or replace the shower curtain with a shatterproof glass door. This solution can keep water from pooling where you get out and eliminate one of the lurking dangers in the bathroom.
Level 2:
Add a TILT® Toilet Incline Lift. People over 85 years old sustain more than 50 percent of their injuries near the toilet. It’s no surprise that a toilet can be a source of danger when getting on and off can be a strain. Adding a TILT to your toilet helps alleviate the struggle of getting up and down, providing a sense of security for the user.
Level 3:
Add grab bars or other stability increasing measures. Bathtubs and showers come with various dangers and slipping accounts for almost 20 percent of bathroom injuries. Adding grab bars in and around the bathtub can help provide balance and stability to those who need it.
Level 4:
Add an EZ-ACCESSORIES® Universal Bather to your bath chair. Being in the shower can be fatiguing and having your shower chair or bench available will provide a place to rest but sometimes getting up and down to retrieve your shampoo can be even more of a struggle. Adding the EZ-ACCESSORIES Universal Bather allows you to have all of your bathing items within a safe reach.
Don’t let your bathroom become or remain a danger zone. By making a few modifications and installing a few helpful tools you can reduce the risks that lurk in your bathroom. Step out of the danger zone and step into a life of safety and security. For more information on bathroom safety visit our website.