19 August 2021
 Categories: , Blog

If you're like many retirees, you're in no hurry to move into a retirement community or otherwise leave your current home. If so, you're hardly alone — the trend toward aging in place continues to grow all across the country as seniors opt to remain in their own homes and neighborhoods. Whether you'll be remaining in the home you raised your family in or have downsized to a smaller place, it's likely that the home will require some modifications in order to be as comfortable and safe as possible.  As people grow older, their risk of slip-and-fall accidents increases — and most of these occur in the home. Bathrooms can be particularly treacherous for older persons because of issues such as wet, slippery surfaces and low visibility due to steam. Fortunately, there are ways to make your bathroom safer. The following are six of them. 

Add a Small Seating Area

Although this may seem more like a luxury than a safety feature, a small seating area in the bathroom provides seniors with a place to rest and relax before or after bathing as well as a stable surface in which to towel off. Even a small, sturdy chair will do if you've got limited space in your bathroom.

Raise the Toilet

Raising the toilet about three inches over the standard height provides an excellent extra layer of protection when it comes to minimizing slip-and-fall mishaps in the bathroom. Even if someone doesn't have significant mobile limitations, a taller toilet means that users expend less effort in getting on and off the seat, which makes accidents less likely. For maximum benefit, consider adding safety bars on either side of the toilet. The height should be the same as a comfortable dining room chair that's easy for you to get in and out of. 

Install Nonslip Flooring

Bathroom floors are slippery, and many people deal with this by using nonslip bathmats next to showers and tubs. While these provide a degree of prevention when it comes to slip-and-fall accidents in the bathroom, nonslip flooring dials the safety factor up several notches. Popular nonslip flooring options include treated vinyl, natural stone, bamboo, and cork. Anti-slip treatments for existing flooring are also an option. Any bath mats or area rugs you use in the bathroom should be of the nonslip variety. 

Install Bright Ambient Lighting

Bright lighting and ambient lighting aren't necessarily the same thing, so be sure the main lighting in your bathroom meets the standards for both designations. The brightest lighting, for instance, will still pose a safety hazard if it casts shadows, and ambient lighting that's dull and dim won't provide enough light to allow you to safely navigate your bathroom. The most important thing about lighting is that the main fixture is placed on the ceiling in the center of the room — this positioning prevents shadows from being cast. You can always add lights above the mirror if you prefer a bright focus while you shave or put on makeup.

Get a Sprayer Attachment for the Shower

This is one of the simplest yet most effective ways of helping to ensure optimal safety in the bathroom. A spray attachment for the shower makes showering really easy, and if standing for a period of time is an issue for you, you can make it even easier by using a shower chair.

Install a Walk-in Tub

Although traditional grab bars placed next to tubs as well as inside them help prevent many slip-and-fall accidents, walk-in tubs bring a whole new dimension to safety in the bathroom. Besides easy access, walk-in tubs are also generally outfitted with a variety of other safety features, such as nonslip flooring, handrails, contoured seating, scald-prevention valves, and overall ADA-compliant designs. Walk-in tubs are also available with wide doors to make them easier to use for those in wheelchairs.   

To get help with a residential bathtub remodel, talk to a contractor near you.