Eliminate the Risk of Falling in the Shower
As you age, your ability to stay safe in the shower may be significantly reduced. That is because a person’s physical condition naturally deteriorates as he grows older, but the environment in your bathroom usually stays the same. The best way to ensure your continued safety is to make some modifications in your bathroom so as to make it more senior-friendly. Here are examples of useful modifications:
1. Install the appropriate type of shower chair. Older people often tire easily and have less control over their motor functions. To prevent them from slipping and falling in the shower, it is best to have them use a shower chair. In case you have a tub in the bathroom, it is also wise to install a transfer bench. And when an elderly member of your family already needs assistance in moving around the house, a shower commode chair may be the best choice.
2. Install toilet frames so that the elderly can support their weak knees as they sit on or get up from the toilet. It is also wise to install grab bars in the shower or tub area.
3. Install carpeting on the bathroom floors and add non-slip strips on the shower or tub floors.
4. If you have glass shower doors, then it is best to remove them. While this action will not prevent a fall, it will eliminate the risk of injuries that may be caused by broken glass.
Physical disability, whether temporary or permanent, may also contribute to the possibility of falling in the shower. A disabled person has special bathroom needs that depend on the nature and extent of his disability. For example, a person suffering from pelvic injury won’t be able to use a regular transfer bench because he cannot slide his hips from one end to the other. The act of trying to maneuver on a regular shower transfer bench may even result in further injury. In this case, it would be wise to choose a transfer bench that slides and rotates, so that the injured person won’t have to maneuver himself inside the tub, thus avoiding further mishaps and injuries.
Another example is a person who is suffering from a simple sprain. In this case, the injured person doesn’t need any sophisticated equipment. The only requirement is that he is able to stay off of his feet, so a portable shower chair should be just fine. As a final example, a person who suffers from total paralysis will have to use a shower commode chair. A family member or professional caregiver can secure him to the chair so that he doesn’t fall off while he is being given a bath.
Learning how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe in the shower isn’t that difficult, but it does take some careful thought. And it is best to study your options now, before you or any other family member gets hurt by falling in the shower. Adding shower chairs and other safety features to your bathroom shouldn’t be too much, considering that it is your family’s safety that’s at stake.
Ed Delaney is a UK resident who has used shower chairs to help him shower in safety. http://ShowerChairsuk.co.uk
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