The bathroom has always been recognized as a dangerous room, but for seniors there are some specific hazards that can cause serious problems. Safety modifications and personal care at home are two of the biggest ways for family caregivers to keep seniors safe at home, especially in their bathrooms.
Low Lighting
Inadequate lighting makes it tough for seniors to move around in their bathrooms safely. As their vision continues to change, lighting may need to adjusting to keep up with those differences. Poor lighting can cause seniors to trip and fall because they don’t see obstacles in their way. Solutions like nightlights and motion-sensing lights can also be helpful.
Slippery Surfaces
Slippery surfaces aren’t exactly a surprise in the bathroom, but they are a big hazard. Small amounts of water can be enough to create a problem, especially if seniors don’t have great balance to begin with. When home care providers help seniors with personal care tasks, they can ensure that water is cleaned up promptly and that seniors have assistance while in the bathroom.
Tough-to-reach Fixtures and Settings
Often seniors have lived in a house for a long time. Fixtures like faucets, shower heads, toilet paper holders, and more worked for their needs for a long time. As mobility changes and as seniors have other issues, these fixtures may need adjusting to continue to be safe for them to use.
Unstable Bathing Equipment
Bathtubs and showers that don’t have proper support can be seriously risky for seniors to use. Tubs without grab bars mean that seniors can be vulnerable when they’re taking a bath or shower. Using shower chairs, bath benches, and other types of supportive bathing tools can be tremendously helpful keeping seniors safe as they bathe.
Sharp Edges and Corners
Sometimes bathroom fixtures, like the counter or vanity, have sharp edges or corners that pose a safety hazard to seniors. Adding corner protectors or removing furnishings from the bathroom that are sharp or dangerous may be a good solution. Personal care at home can watch for these types of issues, helping seniors to have a safe environment while in the bathroom.
Clutter and Obstructions
Clutter is a problem in every room of the house, but often bathrooms are way too small to tolerate a lot of clutter. Anything that isn’t necessary should be removed, creating space that seniors may need for mobility tools and extra help in the bathroom.
Temperature Issues
One problem that is easy to overlook is the temperature of the hot water heater. In the past, this might not have been a concern. But as seniors age it’s much easier for them to accidentally scald themselves with hot water. Turning down the hot water heater or adding an anti-scald device to showers and tubs can help a lot.
Personal care at home focuses on keeping seniors safe and healthy. They do this by offering seniors assistance with personal care tasks and watching for safety hazards in the bathroom and in other areas of the house.
If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Larkspur, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Parker. 303-953-9924
