By Thomas H. and Nurse Kim
The bathroom is an essential room in any home, but for seniors it can also present dangers. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 80% of senior falls happen in the bathroom, and as many as 200,000 seniors are treated each year for bathroom-related injuries. [SOURCE: Ohio Department of Aging] The good news is that it doesn’t take much to make a bathroom considerably safer. As we recognize January as National Bath Safety Month, JCAH’s Nurse Kim offers the following tips:
- Keep the bathroom floor clean and dry.
- Install non-slip mats or strips in the bottom of the bathtub/shower
- Install reachable safety handles or “grab bars.”
- Next to the tub/shower to help with entry/exit
- Next to the toilet to help with lowering/raising.
- Make sure they are securely attached to the wall.
- Keep a non-slip rug or mat on the floor at the entry/exit of the tub/shower
- Beware of sharp edges:
- Use a rubber cover for the faucet head
- Drape a towel over metal rails for shower doors
- Make sure any glass shower doors are made of shatterproof glass
- If possible, keep a portable or mobile phone in the bathroom in case of emergencies
- Leave a light on in the bathroom at night.
If you assist a loved one or client with bathing, take the following precautions to prevent injuries from water that is too hot:
- Wait until the tub is finished filling up to make sure the temperature is safe.
- Similarly, allow showers to run for a few minutes and test the water temperature before allowing someone to step in.
- To lower the risk of scalding. set water heaters to deliver water no hotter than 120 degrees.
- If you don’t have control over the water heater, buy an anti-scald device that attaches to the faucet or shower.
Taking these steps can greatly reduce the risk of bathroom injuries and make your senior’s home a safer place to live and thrive.
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