If you have an elderly or an ageing person at your place, you know the amount of care and precautions that go into making the entire home a little friendlier for them. Making it convenient for the elderly doesn’t cost a bomb but the difference that it brings is enormous. Whenever you plan to revamp your space to make it more elderly-friendly, always pay extra attention to the bathrooms.
They are a very important part of the entire house and are used very frequently. Moreover, a lot of accidents that occur in homes happen in the bathroom due to slipping. Irrespective of age, bathrooms need to be very carefully designed so that they don’t cause any accidents. If the bathroom floor is not properly crafted and installed, there can be many accidents due to slippery flooring.
In this blog, we’ll talk about several ways in which you can create an elderly-friendly bathroom. Let’s dive straight into some useful tips.
1. Install Grab Bars And Rails
Seniors frequently have issues with balancing their bodies. They try to grab something within easy reach that is made for display but cannot support a person’s weight. Install grab bars in critical spots such as the shower area, near the wash basin area, and near the bathtub to assist them in having a secure bath time. These grip bars could be permanent or could be installed for a short period of time. However, be certain that these bars are securely fastened to the wall. Suction cup bars should not be installed since they are not meant to support human weight. To construct senior-friendly bathrooms, choose grab bars made of durable material.
2. Proper Flooring
Flooring is an integral part of the bathroom decor and something that you can’t miss paying attention to while developing an elderly-friendly bathroom. The biggest factor when it comes to bathroom flooring is that it should be anti-slip or anti-skid. It should be anything but slippery. Having a slippery floor causes problems, not only for elderly people but for everyone. To prevent accidents due to a slippery floor, one should install anti-skid tiles on the flooring.
You can always do your research when it comes to anti-skid tiles. The anti-skid tiles, with them, are available in two sizes, 300x300mm and 295x295mm. The anti-skid tiles have a specific coating that provides a greater grip and prevents slippage on the tile surface. They are available in various colours, designs and patterns. They make a very good case for themselves when it comes to safe flooring for the elderly or for that matter, safe flooring in general.
3. Relatively Higher Toilets
The elderly have reduced muscular tones. A higher toilet might make sitting and especially getting up easier. As a result, it is recommended that toilets be raised slightly above the standard height, which can be accomplished by “wedging” the existing toilet. They should reach a height of about 46 cm. They should, of course, be securely fastened to the floor or the wall.
Another variation that can be done to the toilet seats is having them raised. Raised toilet seats are ideal for elderly people who have trouble sitting on toilet seats. With a higher toilet seat, transitioning from a standing position will be easier. However, don’t raise them so high that they have trouble getting off it.
4. Bath Seating
Showering should be cold and pleasant, so take a seat in the tub and wash away your worries. Bath sitting in the shower or tub is a great way to keep the elders in the house safe. It enables the senior to sit safely and enjoy his or her bathing experience. There are also a variety of styles to suit the needs and desires of any senior.
5. Upgrading The Shower And Tub
There are a few ways in which you can ease the bathing experience for the elderly in your family. Some of them are:
A walk-in tub: As it can be a little difficult to lift your legs and enter the tub and the process may also increase the chances of tripping, one should consider having a walk-in tub system in place. A walk-in tub has a door that allows those with restricted mobility to securely enter and exit the tub.
Handheld shower: A handheld shower head can help elders be worry-free while bathing while sitting down or remaining as motionless as possible.
6. Elderly Bathroom Alert System
Even with all of these measures in place, it’s always a good idea to plan for the worst-case situation, such as an accident. In the event that an old person needs to signal a concern, doorbells, alarms, and emergency buttons are essential to be installed in the bathroom. They are frequently connected to telecare providers, which will analyse what safeguards should be taken. It’s critical to keep this item close to the ground so that it may be used even if there’s no way to get up.
From the age of nine to 99, we all use the restroom on a daily basis but the elderly are more prone to accidents in the bathroom. According to the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), roughly one-third of all senior folks fall each year, and about 80% of these falls occur in the restroom.
The least we can do for our elderly ladies and gentlemen is that we create a safe environment for them. Having a safe bathroom is very important, irrespective of who lives in the house, but if you have an elder living with you, it becomes even more critical.
Following the aforementioned steps, one can achieve a safe bathroom setup for them. Moreover, none of these measures will cost too much. You can always talk to an expert before making these upgrades to get accurate guidance.
