Bath and Shower Safety

Looking at recent accident statistics will tell you that most of the accidents that happen to people occur in their homes, and that the bathroom is one of the more dangerous places for these things to occur. It should be no surprise since bathrooms are used frequently throughout the day and getting in and out of showers and tubs is quite often a tricky maneuver.

There are some other factors here that make these statistics even more important to our current population. Consider for instance that the population is getting older and that as human beings live longer, more consideration must be given to making bathrooms safer and more accommodating.  Still the fact remains that many bathrooms need adaptations to accommodate the restricted mobility of a particular family member.  There's certain guidelines that are common to all these accessible bathrooms.

One of the first of these are the installation of grab bars. They should be mounted to either the floor or the wall, and they should be close enough to help with movement in and around the toilets, bathtubs and shower stalls. Grab bars in and next to the bathtub are especially important in helping family members maintain balance both in an out.  It's also very important when you install wall-mounted grab bars that the screws that hold them in are firmly anchored to the wall studs or framing.

Those with a need in their family should also consider a tub seat used in the shower stall or bathtub. A flexible hose with a showerhead is a good idea to eliminate the need for immersion in the water. Of course there are other options that you might want to consider, but some of these are larger remodeling jobs that might involve the need for a contractor.

Walk in tubs and roll in showers are two examples of this. Both of these are designed to eliminate the need for the user to climb into and out of the tub. Some of the Roll-in showers are even wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. As well, it's a good idea to look for nonskid tiles and replace the existing bathroom floor if necessary. Nonskid mats and no-slip decals on the bottoms of tubs and shower stalls are also good ideas.

However, some of the renovations that you can make to accommodate a changing lifestyle don’t need to be as dramatic as some of the ones described. For example, a single lever faucet that allows for temperature control from one lever is a good idea for a family member with decreased mobility.      

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