Older adults and people with medical problems are at risk of falling or tripping. This can result in broken bones or more serious injuries. The bathroom is a place in the home where falls often happen. Making changes in your bathroom helps lower your risk of falling
What is the most dangerous area in your home?
You may think it’s the kitchen, with its sharp knives, searing stovetops, and boiling water. Or the garage where all the power tools, fertilizers, and sharp cutting tools reside.
It’s the bathroom, and it affects people of all ages. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in 2011 showed that nearly 235,000 people aged 15 and older visit the emergency room every year with injuries from bathroom accidents. Fourteen percent or 32,900 people were hospitalized.
How can my bathtub or shower be dangerous?
Bathtub and shower-related injuries, whether getting into or out of or during the act of bathing or showering, accounted for over two-thirds of the accidents in the CDC’s study. So what makes the bath and shower so dangerous?
Both a bathtub and shower can be very slick when wet. This increases the chance of a slip and puts a premium on the balance.
You also need balance as you shift your weight when you get into or out of the shower. Good balance is also required while moving around while showering.
Who is most at risk?
The hard, slick surfaces of a shower or bathtub increase the need for strength, mobility, flexibility, balance, and coordination. That makes it risky for some people to use the bathtub or shower unassisted, including:
Seniors– it’s not a secret that strength and flexibility decrease with age. Those age 65 and older were the groups that had the most bathroom accidents in the CDC’s study.
People with certain medical conditions- various ailments sap strength and can result in altered balance and coordination.
People on certain medications- a lack of balance or coordination is a side effect of many common medications. This can be dangerous when mixed with moving around on hard, slick surfaces.
10 ways to prevent slips, trips, and falls
Most slip and fall accidents that occur in the home happen in the bathroom. With so many slicks, hard surfaces combined with moisture can make for some dangerous conditions.
However, with a few preventative measures, you can drastically lower you and your family's risk of slipping and falling in the bathroom.
- Ditch The Throw Rug
- Prevent Tub Slippage
- Keep It Clean
- Keep It Dry
- Install Grab Bars Or Rails and Anti Slip Discs or Strips
- Light It Up
- Raise Up Your Toilet Seat
- Grab A Bath Or Shower Seat
- Install A Handheld Or Adjustable Shower Head
- Never Rush
3 benefits of a safe bath environment
- Lower the risk of serious injuries
- Creates more independence for you or your aging parents
- It gives both you and your loved one's peace of mind that they can be safer and more independent when bathing or showering.
Find the bath safety product that fits your need by browsing shower chairs & benches, transfer benches, grab bars & tub rails, handheld showers, shower accessories, and bath seat lifters. Add your bath safety equipment to your cart for quick and easy online checkout.
For further information on any of our products please visit our website Ausnew Home Care or you can reach us via email or call (02) 9159 6183 our friendly staff who are happy to help.