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Bathroom
Safety
Bathroom Safety is very important. The bathroom is a very dangerous room in the house and bathroom safety precautions should be taken. Below are some bathroom safety makeover ideas that can be used to make this room safe.
Bathroom Safety
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(ARA) -
The bathroom may seem innocent enough, but it can be more of an obstacle than a
convenience for some elderly folk. What can you do to make the bath a safer,
easier place to visit?
A lot, according to Lisa Bauer of the Medline Industries Interiors Division,
which employs a team of designers who work with a number of long-term care
facilities every day to make them more functional, safer and aesthetically
appealing.
“Think of it as ‘Extreme Makeover: Senior Safety Edition,’” says Bauer. “By
considering the needs of the elderly, you can easily make a few changes that can
dramatically affect the ease-of-use and safety for loved ones.”
Bauer points to a report in the journal ”Nursing Home” for
some tips consumers should follow if they are remodeling with an older relative
in mind.
| Consider a color other than white -
“A sparkling, white bathroom may make you think of cleanliness, but white can be
a problematic color for some seniors. As we age, our eyes lose their ability to
discriminate color well,” says Bauer.
Some older folks might have trouble locating a white toilet seat if the flooring
is also light or white. Men might have trouble voiding into a toilet while
standing if they have difficulty identifying where the toilet stops and the
flooring begins.
Provide something for them to hold onto - Toilets
should have plenty of space around them, so that an aide
could stand on either side and assist an older person.
Angled grab bars are preferable to standard horizontal
grab bars, which are typically shorter and require the
user to have more upper body strength. With angled grab
bars, seniors can grasp the bar at a lower position and
then move up the bar, which can also increase transfer
independence.
Create traction where it might get wet - The
National Institute on Aging suggests placing non-skid
mats, strips or carpet on all bathroom surfaces that
could possibly get wet. Don’t skimp in this area --
environmental hazards, such as wet floors, account for
16 to 27 percent of falls in nursing homes, according to
the National Center for Health Statistics.
Raise the seat - OSHA recommends nursing
homes use toilet seat risers for independent seniors as
well as partially weight-bearing residents who are
cooperative, can sit up unaided, have upper body
strength and are able to bend their hips, knees and
ankles.
Bath boards and benches - “Older folks with
mobility issues often have trouble getting in and out of
the shower. Bath boards and benches can help,” says
Bauer.
Placing clothing or material between the user’s skin and
the board can help reduce friction and skin tears, OSHA
suggests. For added comfort, choose models with padded
seats or back support.
Universally accessible sinks - Making
bathroom sinks accessible to all helps older people
remain independent in their grooming. Wheelchair users
can easily access sinks that have space under the bowl
or that are accessible from the side. While you’re at
it, you might want to take a look at the faucets on your
sinks.
“Single-control faucets can prove problematic for elders
with poor grasping ability. Instead, choose blade
handles,” comments Bauer. “Adjustments should also be
made so that people in wheelchairs can see the mirrors
placed above bathroom sinks.”
Doors - “Barn-style” doors with exterior
tracks or “pocket doors” that slide into wall pockets
are becoming increasingly popular in long-term care
facilities. If it’s in the budget, you can incorporate
them into your home bath to make the room easier to
access. These types of doors frequently have hardware
that is easier to use for people with poor grasping
ability. Another reason to consider these styles of
doors is that having two or more traditional doors
swinging into a single space has been shown to increase
falls.
To learn more about equipment and accessories that can
help make the bathroom safer for seniors, visit
www.medline.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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