For everyone in the house especially for the elderly, the bathroom has been the most hazardous area in everyone’s home. Unexpected scenarios like accidental slips and falls always happen in the bathroom, and this can’t only cause a difficult time for every member of the household, but also sometimes, an embarrassing moment for the older adults. Because of the countless possibilities of accidents, it is important to acknowledge the awareness about this matter and also, to take a further look about the current status of everyone’s bathroom, especially for its safety issues. In order to make a safe and comfortable bathroom for every household, all it needs is being aware of the bathroom’s current condition, and from there, create some changes and establish new habits.

THE SHOWER AREA:

• To support the adult’s full weight, put some strong grab bars to the shower area. This can help them to have something to grab when entering and exiting in the shower. Also, there are movable safety handles that have super durable suction cups that can be applied and removed easily.
• To ensure a healthy balance upon stepping in the shower, using a shower chair that can be put up easily can be an option.
• Using a shower wand that is stretchy, handheld, and with power on and off switch is a lesser hassle to use than the usual shower head. This device works better and more useful with the shower chairs for elderly family members.
• Consider putting up waterproof medical alert buttons in the shower. This will be a great help especially in case of emergencies or accidents.

THE BATHTUB:

• If the bathtub is unused, replacing it with a walk-in shower can be done. The usual bathtub can be not comfortable for the elderly member of the household, as this can be too high for them to step over and too low to sit.
• When using a water heater, always check the settings on temperature. Water temperature ranging from 120 degrees F or more can be hotter for an elder person as they already have thinner skin, which can cause blisters on their skin. For another level of protection, using specialized faucets or regulators with no scalding features can be installed.
• Having a walk-in tub with a spa-like design can be an alternative. It will be a great help for the senior members of the household when the bathroom has a walk-in bathtub or a shower with a built-in seat since it can help them to manage their bathing independently. Currently, there are many bathtubs with lots of special features to choose from, like those that are easy to fix and are made to fit the space of a usual bathtub.

THE FLOOR:

• For a safer floor area, put some nonskid tape or mats.
• Make sure that the rugs and mats on the floor are not slippery and will not cause tripping.
• Always ensure that the floor is clear and free from fragments that can be hazardous for elderly seniors or can cause accidents.
• Keep the floor always dry.

THE TOILET:

• To minimize the chances of encountering accidents like falls, toilets can be changed with higher and ADA-approved raised-height models. Also, the raised-height seats can be put on the present toilets.
• Consider using toilets that are quite higher to lessen the stress that can be caused by the elderly’s body whenever they sit down and get back. The usual toilets have a bowl height measuring about 15 inches, but toilet manufacturers are already introducing toilets that measuring about an inch and a half higher.
• Installing additional switches for medical alert purposes on the toilet is also a great idea so they can call for help easier and faster. 

THE SINK:

• Faucet handles can be replaced with something that is compliant with ADA which is designed for easier accessibility for the seniors. Some standard faucet handles find it hard to use especially for those with arthritis and having difficulty in gripping and turning.
• In addition, an ADA-compliant faucet handle has a changeable hot limiter to aid in minimizing the incidence of scalding.

OTHER STUFF:

• Consider having reachable storage to keep some of the bathroom things. To minimize the trips falls and other accidents that may happen with elderly members, keep the bathing accessories out of the hazardous areas like the floor. Always aim for convenience and usefulness when it comes to choosing the storage area in the bathroom.
• You can have vanities since it can store bathroom stuff like bath products, towels, and hair products. Moreover, having vanities can create a more orderly look to the whole bathroom area, making it look larger.
• Make it hassle-free on the eyes. For better perceptibility, use matte finished paints instead of glossy paints and floorings because this can produce discomfort to the sight. When it comes to colors of the walls and floors, choose those that contrast to each other to create a more spacey perception. This can also create additional confidence to the elderly members of the family as they roam around the bathroom.