How would you insure your bathroom safety if you have seniors at home?

Shower and Tub Safety Tips
• Grab bars
You can install grab bars at convenient angles to aid anyone with balance and stability problems entering and exiting the shower or tub. Hard plastic bars, which can be moved easily or dislodged, are better than bars fastened to bolts in the wall. A grab bar should have a slip-resistant surface. We don’t suggest using ones with glossy covers.
• Tension pole
Purchase a tension pole if grab bars aren’t an option in your shower or tub. These poles can extend to the ceiling height, and seniors can grab them while taking a shower to maintain balance.
• Shower chair
A shower chair provides stability for people with balance problems and helps those who have trouble standing for long periods relax while taking a bath. We recommend chairs with non-slip rubberized toes.
• Handheld shower head
Bathing is much easier for the seniors with a shower head they can hold in their hands, and also, being able to shower on their own brings them a sense of freedom.

Bathroom Floor Safety Tips
• Slip-resistant mats or rugs
When seniors walk out of the shower or tub, they are more prone to falling. Water will not accumulate on the floor if carpets or rugs with non-slip backings are in place. Since towels can slip on the floor or twist around the feet you should not use them for this purpose.

Toilet Safety Tips
• Raised toilets with ADA approval
Regular toilet seats are around 15 inches in height. However, several manufacturers now offer variants with raised bowls, making it significantly more accessible for seniors to get on and off the seat. A less expensive substitute is a riser that you can install on your current toilet. The height of a toilet riser varies from 2 to 4 inches.
• Grab bars
Consider installing grab bars on the toilet, just as you would in the tub or shower, to make it easier for the elderly’s use.
Bathroom Sink Safety Tips
• New faucets
Some faucet knobs are difficult to hold and turn with arthritic hands. You can replace yours with ADA-approved ones that are more senior-friendly. They also minimize the dangers of losing balance while seniors try to gain leverage.
• The temperature of the water
Reduce the temperature on your water heater’s thermostat to avoid scorching.