Statistics show that more than one half of all accidents occur in our homes. Most of the accidents are due to falls. While the stairs pose their own difficulties, the bathroom is the room that accounts for the greatest number for falls in the home.
Data indicates that one of every three senior citizens in the United States will fall annually. Of that number, at least half will fall again within the same year. Eighty-seven percent of all fractures in people over the age of sixty-five years old are caused by a fall. Accidental falls account for at least twenty percent of injury related deaths in this age group.
These falls result in loss of independence and dignity. Perhaps most tragic is the loss of the person’s mobility and sense of well-being. A fall can leave an elderly person in chronic pain, with permanent disabilities, and limit their physical activities. Once the physical activities have been limited, a person looses muscle strength and flexibility. It then becomes a struggle for the person to recover.
With most of these accidents occurring in the bathroom it becomes of vital importance to make this room safer. Any area where water may spill or accumulate on the floor should have low-pile, absorbent rugs with a non-skid rubber backing. These should be placed around tubs, sinks, and the toilet.
Light bulbs should be changed from bright lights to frosted bulbs to reduce the glare. This will enable a person to see water or other liquids that are spilled on the floor more easily.
Grab bars must be installed in and near bath tubs and toilets. These bars must be placed at the correct height specific to the user. If placed too low there is little leverage gained and if placed too high there is the risk of a person loosing their grip.
The grab bars should not be made of a slick finish, but should be textured. The premium grab bars have a rubber coating that provides a more secure grasp.
Bath tubs and shower floors should have high-quality, slip-resistant adhesive strips installed to prevent falls in the tub. The floors and other surfaces should been cleaned frequently to prevent the build-up of slippery substances such as soap scum, shampoo and bath gels.
A quality shower chair should be placed in the tub or shower so that a person can bathe in a seated position or for anyone who may not have the physical strength to stand for over a few minutes.
With minor preventative measures the bathroom can offer peace of mind for our aging family members and can keep them physically active and independent for a much longer time.