How to Prevent Falls in the Bathroom

A bathroom accident can happen to anyone. Individuals over 65 and those with limited mobility or poor balance are at a higher risk. However, your bathroom does not have to be a hazardous environment.

Simple adaptations like installing grab bars, removing clutter and improving lighting can dramatically reduce your chances of tripping or falling in the bathroom. Of course, taking care of your overall health is also helpful. 

A typical bathroom is riddled with fall risks. In addition, getting in and out of the bath or shower poses a risk of losing balance. Fortunately, there are essential things you can do to prevent falls in the bathroom.

How to Reduce Falls in the Bathroom

Though seniors are more at risk of falling, the bathroom is particularly hazardous. The following modifications  can help in reducing falls in the bathroom. 

Install an Elevated Toilet Seat

Difficulty sitting and getting up from the toilet is a common cause of bathroom injuries. An elevated toilet seat makes using the toilet considerably easier and decreases the danger of injury associated with limited mobility. Install a toilet seat, which raises the seat height by 3 to 4 inches to lessen the effort required to sit and stand while using the toilet.

Improve Lighting 

Due to reduced visibility caused by darkness and, in most cases, impaired eyesight, there is a considerable danger of falling while walking to the bathroom at night. To guarantee that you have enough light for late-night toilet visits, use a nightlight or motion-sensor illumination. Install a nightlight in any hallway leading from the bedroom or living space to the bathroom.

Install a Walk-In Bathtub

A significant hazard is tripping over the bathtub’s high edges. A walk-in bathtub features a small door for entering and exiting the tub, as well as a seat so that you do not have to stand for long periods. Installing a walk-in tub isn’t too difficult. It may take some time, effort, and money, but it’s worth it to secure you or a loved one’s safety.

Maintain a Clean and Dry Bathroom

Whenever someone takes a bath or uses the restroom, they must make sure it is clean and dry. You can keep the bathroom dry by wiping away all the water using a wiper. You can even use a shower curtain to keep the water from the shower from running into the toilet or sink. 

Surfaces can become slick due to soap scum and moisture build-up. To prevent a slippery residue build-up, scrub baths, showers, grab bars, and mats regularly.

Use Non-Slip Mats

Non-slip mats are a must-have in any bathroom to avoid falls, especially for the elderly. A mat outside the tub can assist you to prevent slipping as you depart the shower or bath, and a non-slip rubber mat on the shower floor can help you avoid falling while bathing.

Put Toiletries in Easy-to-Reach Places

Reaching up or bending down to get shampoo or soap while showering poses a severe risk of slipping and getting an injury. Placing shelves at eye level in the bathroom eliminates the need to reach up into a bathroom cabinet or lean down to look inside a vanity. Another strategy to avoid slipping is to put a soap dispenser next to your shower head.

Get Rid of Clutter

One of the simplest methods to avoid bathroom falls is to clear all the clutter. Instead of unessential objects that enhance the risk of falling, the bathroom should only include the necessities. 

Do not, for example, stack magazines in the bathroom or buy extra decorations and furnishings that will overcrowd the space. Maintain a clean bathroom, especially the entryway, because many falls occur while entering and exiting the restroom.

How to Prevent Falls in the Shower

Though the procedures outlined above help in reducing falls in the bathroom, another precaution must be taken: avoiding falls in the shower. However, you can do some basic things to make your shower space safer.

Install Grab Bars

Falls are frequent when getting in and out of the tub or shower or standing up after using the restroom. When entering and exiting a slippery shower, use a grab bar for added stability, especially if you have to climb into a shower space. Grab bars can help lessen the severity of a fall by providing something to grab on the way down.

Note that towel bars are not designed to support a person’s weight and can break, causing significant harm. Instead, choose a reliable grab bar that fits your shower set-up and décor because grab bars come in various sizes and types. Make sure you choose the best bathroom grab bar for your unique situation.

Make your Surfaces Slip-Proof

The floor tiles or shower trays in certain showers have a non-slip texture. If you don’t have one, a shower mat or decals are a simple and inexpensive way to prevent falls.

Clean your bath mats regularly as well. If soap scum or mildew has built up, the suckers may not correctly connect, causing the mat to slip.

Get a Shower Chair or Tub Transfer Bench

Using a chair in a walk-in shower to mitigate falls helps reduce falls and shower comfortably for people with balance or movement challenges. In addition, bathing is safer and more manageable with these portable chairs, which have rubber ends or wheel brakes. Also, ensure that the chair has a non-slip seat.

If you’re bathing in a bathtub with a high wall to step over when you get in, you may want to consider a tub transfer bench. In addition to helping you safely maneuver your entrance and exit from the bathtub, most transfer benches double as a shower chair, providing stability and comfort while you shower.

Install a Walk-In Shower/Bathtub

Stepping into and out of a high-sided, sloping bathtub is a typical cause of injury. Showers with walk-in doors eliminate this risk and are perfect for people with restricted mobility. In addition, shower chairs are simple to slide in and out, and they’re also easier to clean. You can also install a walk-in tub, which is much easier to use for many individuals at risk of a fall.

Install a Handheld Showerhead 

A retractable shower head allows you to sit in the shower, lowering the chance of slipping. It also reduces the amount of movement required to get the water to all parts of your body. This gives you more charge over your personal hygiene.

Health Safety Measures to Prevent Falls 

You may lower your odds of falling if you take care of your overall health. Here are some recommendations to aid you to prevent slipping:

• Keep a healthy level of physical activity by following a personalized fitness regimen. Regular exercise strengthens your muscles and enhances your overall health.
• Examine your vision and hearing. Even slight changes in vision and hearing can lead you to lose your balance. When you need glasses or contacts, always put them on. If you have a hearing aid, make sure it fits correctly.
• Learn about the potential adverse effects of any medication you’re taking. For example, tell your doctor or pharmacist if a medicine makes you sleepy or dizzy.
• Make sure you get enough rest. You are more likely to fall if you are tired.
• Reduce the amount of alcohol you consume. Alcohol can impair your balance and reflexes, even in small amounts.
• Always slowly stand up. Getting up too rapidly can result in a dip in blood pressure. You may feel shaky as a result of this.
• If you need assistance feeling stable while walking, use an assistive device. Falls can be avoided with the proper usage of canes and walkers. If your doctor recommends that you use a cane or walker, check sure it is the appropriate size for you and that the wheels are smooth.
• Wear rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes with non-skid soles or lace-up shoes with non-skid soles that provide full foot support. The soles must not be excessively thin or thick.
• Even if you aren’t wounded when you fall, always notify your doctor if you have fallen since your last exam. A fall may alert your doctor to a new medical concern, as well as medication or vision problems that can be addressed.