Taking care of one's immediate environment is nothing new for the elderly and those with mobility problems. Safety items and processes, particularly in the bath room, are becoming increasingly important to maintain physical and mental wellness.
Anyone who has mobility issues or is experiencing physical problems that make them weak and unbalanced should have assistive equipment in the bathroom. The sink, toilet, shower, and tub all have their own set of obstacles that may be handled with the right tools.
This article will discuss the most common types of bathroom safety equipment and how they might be beneficial.
Most Common Shower and Bath Safety Devices:
Your older adult's self-esteem and mood will improve if they have the confidence to safely do personal duties such as using the toilet or showering. Increased safety also means reduced anxiety for you. Safety is the reason we have gathered these shower and bath safety devices for you to make your life easier and worry-free:
Toilet Grab Bars
Safety bars are a type of mobility device that can help you stay safe and independent throughout your life. Installing a grab bar correctly can make bathing and using the bathroom safer for elders.
Toilet grab bars can keep one's balance and reduce tiredness while standing. They keep elders, persons with disabilities, and those recovering from an injury or disease that impairs balance or mobility safe in the bathroom.
Grab bars, such as those on the shower or bath walls, can help prevent sliding and falling. A grab bar next to the toilet can help you sit and stand, and a grab bar close to the sink or vanity can provide additional stability.
Transfer Benches
These are for bathtubs and have a stretched edge with four legs, a seat within the shower, an extended end that spreads over the top of the tub, and two legs outside the tub.
These are designed for people who use wheelchairs or scooters to go around their houses and are unable to stand in the tub. They can move immediately into the bench's edge and then into the tub space across the seat. It is both safe and practical. This makes it easier for caretakers to transfer older adults into the tub or shower.
Raised Toilet Seats
They're made of plastic, with metal or plastic armrests for further support and transition. When necessary, the armrests can be removed. These are great for anyone who needs assistance getting on and off the toilet.
Using a raised toilet seat for people with mobility limitations is a simple, practical, and economical solution to promote toilet independence. Most toilet seats are too short for older people to get off of easily. These are also beneficial for those who suffer from joint pain, such as arthritis.
Shower Chairs
There are few objects more useful than shower seats for bathroom safety equipment. Shower chairs help persons who have trouble standing for lengthy periods to rest while bathing and provide support for those with balance issues.
While bathing, bath benches and seats provide a safe, comfortable, and stable sitting area. Each bar is fitted with rubber or suction points to help prevent the court from slipping or shifting. Most seats have drainage holes to prevent water build-up.
For countless days, stepping into and out of the bath is too much for people with mobility challenges, and transfer benches and shower chairs have rescued many people from dangerous falls.
Half Bed Rails
Half bed rails are used in hospitals, nursing homes, and homecare to protect patients from falling and let them exit or enter the bed securely with a steady hand or hold. Medical bed rails can be used for safety, convenience, or security. Side rails are not only for handicapped bed rails; they are also useful for individuals prone to falling out of bed and those who have difficulty getting out of bed.
They come in several sizes; the most common one is the full bed rail that covers the bed from top to bottom, while the other is half bed rail, and as the name suggests, it covers the half part of the bed so that the person can easily get in and out of bed while holding on to it.
The best half-bed rail is the one that fits all types of beds and reduces the risk of falls and entrapment. Before buying the half-bed rail, keep this in mind, and get yourself a decent product.
Other Bathroom Safety Tips:
Evaluate the unique needs of elderly bathroom users and make plans to replace or remodel any places that pose a risk. Replace old bathmats with non-slip alternatives, consider textured tiling in and around the shower, add lighting, build easy-to-reach storage, or even install a walk-in shower. A few modest bathroom modifications can make daily life easier for the elderly, lower the chance of injury, and give the entire family peace of mind.
Ensuring that all supplies and objects needed during a restroom visit are conveniently available is probably the quickest and easiest approach to making a bathroom safer. Shampoos, soaps, conditioners, and other toiletry goods should be moved from high, difficult-to-reach locations to body level.
Talking Points - What Are the Most Common Shower & Bath Safety Devices
That's it, and these are essential products to keep you and your loved ones safe, confident, and independent in the bathroom.
Be it half bed rail, toilet grab bars or shower chairs, you shouldn't compromise on the bathroom and toilet safety, especially when you have the elderly in your house or a history of a bathroom fall.
Thanks for reading this article, do let us know how you keep your bathroom safe and what equipment you have installed or are planning to install.