Bath time is extremely important for practically every individual on this planet, and this is especially the case for senior adults! As one gets on in age, it will likely get increasingly difficult to engage in the tasks of daily living and to make sure that they are done well. Therefore, it is very important that senior adults are provided with all of the help and guidance that they can get in order to carry out these tasks, especially bathing.
One of the very first things that must be taken care of is the issue of safety in the process of bathing. The first step is making sure that bathing is safe for a senior adult by taking precautionary measures that will prevent or mitigate potential accidents in the bathroom. We at Discovery Village At The West End understand the importance of this very well, and so we would like to give you some very useful advice on bathtub safety for elderly individuals.
Installing Grab Bars
A grab bar would be one of the most helpful tools to use in the bathroom. A senior adult would generally tend to have less physical strength to move around, and so it is very important that their movement is assisted with tools that provide stability.
A grab bar would help to prevent a senior adult from falling, and even if they do fall, the impact of their fall would be mitigated by the grab bar. A grab bar would be both a preventative measure and a mitigative measure in this respect.
Weighted Shower Curtains
One very important thing that we all have to remember is that keeping the bathroom floor dry during bath time is crucial for safety. It goes without saying that one of the biggest risks of a wet floor is that one may slip, fall, and sustain a serious injury.
To prevent this, install weighted shower curtains so that bathwater is much less likely to splash out of the bathtub and onto the bathroom floor.
Eliminate Clutter in the Bathroom
We highly recommend that the bathroom is kept well organized, clean and clutter free. It would be very beneficial to install bathroom cabinets for storage, so that bottles of shower gel or shampoo may be stored when they are not in use. This will assist in keeping the bath area free of clutter that can cause an individual to trip and fall.
Keep Objects within Reach
To add to our previous suggestion about eliminating clutter in the bathroom, shower caddies or baskets can really come in handy during bath times. One will be able to put all of their bath items in one place, so that the area will be more organized and easier to navigate.
Enlisting the Help of a Caregiver
For bath safety to be maintained, enlisting the help of a caregiver is an excellent idea. Having another human being around can take a great deal of weight off a senior adult’s back in the bathroom. A caregiver would be able to help a senior move around, organize the bath spaces, and prevent and mitigate any accidents that may occur.
