We've learned from the covid pandemic that being aware of our surroundings is essential. It has become commonplace to distance ourselves from social interactions, and with that comes an understanding of the need to be safe in our everyday lives. A global pandemic can only be positive because it can teach people to take better care of the things they can control, thereby improving their physical and mental health.
In mobility impairments, taking care of the immediate surroundings is not unusual. Everyday life becomes increasingly complicated as safety products and protocols become essential to physical and mental health.
According to the National Institute on Aging, 80% of all falls happen in the bathroom. The bathroom is scary for people with mobility problems because it has potential hazards. Water, slippery surfaces, and many challenging porcelain fixtures can represent a dangerous environment for those with mobility or balance issues. Nearly 200,000 Americans are treated at emergency rooms for bathroom-related injuries each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The National Council on Aging reports that every 19 minutes, a senior dies following a fall, which occurs to one-fourth of older Americans.
A bathroom is the first room you should update if you or someone you love has mobility issues. Several bathroom hazards can cause mobility issues, including slippery shower stalls, slippery bathtubs, slippery floors; low toilet seats; insufficiently secured towel racks and grab bars; and nonslip shower chairs. Let's explore what to have in your home as bathroom safety equipment.
Shower and Tub Safety Precautions
Grab Bars and Safety Poles: Sky Medical supplies a wide selection of wall bars to ease the burden on those with mobility problems. Installing grab bars allows you to access and exit your bathtub more safely. It will support you to grab onto them when you are on your tub or wall. It is necessary to install wall bars inside and outside your shower and next to your toilet, where safety is critical. The installation is completed on fiberglass, sheetrock, wood, cement, and tile. Consider a safety pole instead of grab bars if your bathtub or shower does not have grab bars. You can hold something while bathing to balance and support yourself with the safety pole. You can also install safety poles near the toilet to help people get on and off the toilet.
Bathing Aids: Sky Medical Supplies offers a wide range of toilet medical equipment for those with mobility issues. Bathing accessories that make bathing easier range from bathtub bars, stools, and ceiling poles to bath steps. These items enable their users to complete bathroom tasks with confidence and stability. Providing a safer and easier way to traverse the bathtub and shower area, our aids include bathtub mats, shower stips, long-handled bath brushes, and portable bath steps.
Bath Bench and Shower Chairs: Bath benches and shower chairs are essential in a bathroom safety system. Shower chairs and bath benches provide stability to those with balance issues. They also allow those who struggle to stand for long periods to rest in the tub. Bench and seat baths provide a place where bathers can sit comfortably, safely, and securely. Rubber or suction tips are on each bench to help prevent any possibility of it moving or sliding. Drainage holes prevent water accumulation in most seats. Wheeled shower chairs/commodes are perfect for people with special needs who would like to move about quickly, including the ability to roll over the toilet and into the shower area.
Apart from the Bath Bench, other transfer benches are available for shower and bath use.
Transfer benches facilitate stepping over the bathtub wall for people with limited mobility. This frame is rust-resistant, lightweight, and made out of anodized aluminum. Transfer benches have saved many people from nasty falls due to stepping in and out of the bath on difficult days.
Toilet Seat Frames and Riser: The typical toilet bowl is 15 inches high, making it relatively difficult for older adults and individuals with mobility problems to get on and off the toilet. Sky Medical Supplies carries toilet seat risers of various heights. Quickly increase the size of your toilet seat from 2" to 6", with various handle arrangements available for elongated or standard toilet bowls.
Combining toilet seat risers and toilet safety frames gives users an enhanced sense of safety and security around the toilet while gaining the confidence necessary to manage the activity independently. Toilet frames are designed to increase safety during toileting and support. Waterfall armrests provided an excellent gripping surface and added comfort.
Tips for safely using the bathroom
Here are three tips for safely using the bathroom for people with mobility issues and all these safety products.
- Keep Your Necessities Close
When you know you won't have to get in and out of the bathtub, you'll be able to relax without worrying about getting in and out of the tub. Maintaining plenty of bathing accessories, such as body wash, soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream, towels, and loofas, will allow you to take relaxing showers without much stress. Keep bath items neatly arranged on shelves within reach of the tub or firmly placed around its edges if you take baths.
- Keep the Bathroom Floor Area Clear
Maintain the cleanliness of your bathroom floor if you or someone you care about has mobility issues so that they do not step on something that could lead to a fall. It is good to hang towels on racks and hooks and store other practical items such as brushes, hairdryers, and clothing so they do not clutter your walking space.
- Check the Water Temperature Before Entering the Shower or Bath
Before entering a shower or bath, mobility-impaired individuals should know how hot or cold the water is. It would be better to avoid being startled, leading to slipping. You also do not want your skin to get burned. By checking the water temperature, you can avoid bending down or exiting the shower or tub before you are done.
Sky medical supplies Carry a Wide Variety of Bathroom Safety Equipment.
As mentioned above, the bathroom can pose a safety risk to those with mobility impairments. Slipping and falling in the bathtub or shower is likely due to water combined with the toilet, sink, and sink. Using safety equipment in the bathroom can make it less stressful for people with mobility issues and let them complete tasks much more quickly. Get your desired mobility toilet aids from sky medical supplies.