How to Reduce Fall Risks for Seniors in The Bathroom

Install some basic safety measures in your bathroom to reduce fall risks for seniors.

As people age, mobility and coordination often decrease, and day-to-day activities can put elderly individuals at risk of falling. If you are a home caregiver for an elderly parent or if you would simply like to make sure your elderly parents are safe in their own home, consider employing some basic safety measures in the bathroom. Wet floors and a lack of handholds can lead to fall risks in bathrooms. Help prevent injuries by performing some basic renovations to improve safety.

Things You'll Need

• Accessible toilet or toilet attachment
• Stainless steel grab bars
• Barrier-free shower
• Shower seat
• Hand-held shower head
• Lever-controlled tap
• Non-slip rubber bath mat
• Floor mats
• Wall-mounted sink

Instructions

1. Replace your standard toilet with an accessible toilet to make it easier for seniors to use. Standard toilets typically sit 14 inches off the ground, but an accessible toilet is 3 inches higher, which makes it easier for seniors to lower themselves or transfer from a wheelchair. If you would prefer not to replace your toilet entirely, consult a professional at a home improvement store about toilet attachments to raise the existing seat.

2. Install a grab bar next to the toilet to assist individuals in lifting and lowering themselves. Institutional-grade stainless steel safety bars are sturdy and, though they can be expensive, it is not safe to substitute towel rods or other devices as an alternative. Vertical or U-shaped grab bars should be installed on the wall behind the toilet and on the wall next to it. If there are no nearby walls, install a free-standing or floor-mounted grab bar.

3. Install a barrier-free shower. Walk-in style showers make it simple for seniors to gain access without having to lift their legs over tub walls. If you cannot afford a new shower, install grab bars inside and outside your existing shower or tub to enhance safety.

4. Place a seat inside your shower or tub and install a hand-held shower head to reduce fall risks in the shower. Ensure that any chair or seat you use has non-slip rubber feet and that it strong enough to support a person's entire weight.

5. Switch out dual controls in the shower or tub for single lever-controlled taps. Single-handed faucets can be easier to use for seniors who have limited mobility.

6. Place a non-slip rubber mat inside the shower or tub and position floor mats outside the shower and around the toilet and sink. Floor mats will help to keep seniors from slipping on wet floor tiles, and all mats should be rubber-backed to prevent them from sliding.

7. Replace your vanity with a wall-mounted sink to provide wheelchair-bound seniors with easy access. If you cannot replace your sink entirely, ensure that there is adequate space in front of and to the side of the existing sink to allow for wheelchair access.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are planning to remodel your bathroom entirely in order to make it safer for seniors, keep in mind that a wheelchair needs at least 60 inches to make a turn. In order to accommodate a wheelchair, your new bathroom should provide at least 36-by-48 inches of clear space in front of fixtures.

• Do not place grab bars diagonally.

References

• University of Missouri Extension; Bathroom Safety for Older People; Anna Cathryn Yost, et al.
• Accessibility Professionals; Bathroom Safety for Seniors; 2009