The elderly can be made safe in the bathrooms with these very simple tools. So let’s just look into these bathroom design tips and install them today.
As we get older, our bodies slow down. Low coordination, poor muscle strength, and declining vision are just a few of the problems that affect our parents and grandparents. How often have we heard of some elderly person slipping in the bathroom at night or losing their balance while getting up? Older people may find themselves uncomfortable accessing the bathroom, sitting and standing in the toilet, using the shower, and cleaning.
A bathroom is a space whose floors are constantly used and often wet. So, this is an essential step in making your loved one’s bathroom more senior-friendly. With a simple change, you can provide a safe and adequate bath time for the elderly. If you have an aging parent or grandparent who is having trouble getting around their home safely and efficiently, consider these bathroom design tips for making a safer environment:
1. Slip-free Bathroom Mats
Slip-free bath mats are an easy way to avoid accidents in the bathroom. Place these mats in strategic locations around bathrooms helps seniors stay stable and maintain their balance.
A good option is to put rugs in the front of a sink, shower and around the toilet to reduce slipping and tripping in the bathroom. Bathroom mats are inexpensive, readily available, comfortable, and add some welcome colour and style.
2. Adding Grab Bars and Rails
Grab bars and handrails are one of the supportive and most cost-effective ways to make your bathroom more senior-friendly. It makes the life of a senior person very easy and comfortable. Just imagine how relaxing and pleasurable it is to hold onto something while getting up from the toilet, bath or shower bench.
First, make sure these bars are firmly attached to the wall. Then, if your parent still needs more support, choose floor-to-ceiling tension poles. Then, choose a sturdy material grab bar to create a senior-friendly bathroom. They may seem like an obvious addition to your bathroom, but most homeowners end up ignoring this simple effective idea.
3. Manage Lighting
As people get older, their vision changes making it essential to have appropriate lighting. Wall-mounted light fixtures provide a similar allocation of light. Having a well-lit area from the bed to the bathroom makes it easier for seniors to safely find their way to the bathroom in the middle of the night or the morning. So why not install lights for viewing essential areas such as the shower, toilet seat, washbasin, or grab bar. Take care that the light should not be so bright as to hurt the eye nor should it be too dim. You can read more about creating a functional bathroom.
4. Fold-able shower Seat
As we get older, immobility and weakness can make simple tasks more challenging, especially when using the bathroom, where most accidents occur. Shower chairs for the elderly are a key element of any senior safe bathroom. Older people cannot stand for long. The shower chair for the elderly is specially designed to eliminate injuries and accidents in the bathroom. The rubber on the legs prevents the shower chairs from slipping; its lightweight durability allows seniors to shower independently without assistance. You can also get a foldable seat that can be tucked into the wall when not required.
5. Raised Toilet Seat
It is a fact that a standard toilet seat height is often too low for ease of use by many seniors. In addition, it will be problematic if our parents or grandparents have back, hip or knee problems. Instead, select a seat with a bracket or a seat with a locking mechanism attached firmly to the toilet rim. Installing an elevated toilet seat can be inexpensive and convenient and make toilets accessible to seniors. Seat risers come in various sizes and models, so be sure to find one that fits your needs.
These simple modifications will surely reduce the chances of accidents and give peace of mind to the elderly. Most importantly, these bathroom design tips will help our seniors to live independently and confidently at home! hire an Interior Designer or a Contractor to help you with the bathroom interior designs and fixes.
