Fall Prevention Month may now be behind us. But that doesn’t mean there’s no more need to pay attention to avoiding slips and falls in your home. Of course, this is especially true if you live with an older adult. The importance of paying attention to your elderly loved one’s safety doubles whenever he/she ventures into the shower.

For many seniors, taking a shower can be a nerve-racking experience. Naturally, the potential of slipping and falling, while standing on a bathtub’s slippery surface, dramatically increases. Obviously, a number of steps must be taken in order to secure safe showering experiences for seniors.

Here are three:

1. Keep a close and attentive watch.

In some cases, bathing is an activity that seniors simply can’t do alone. Even if they have the balance and strength required to bathe themselves, a little supervision may still be necessary. To ensure a safe bathing experience for your elderly loved one, keep a watchful eye. You may not necessarily have to remain in the bathroom for the entire shower, but you shouldn’t be out of earshot, just in case your help is needed.

“Provide supervision,” instructs Erica Garland on ModernBathroom.com, “In some cases, the best and most important way to protect a senior in the bathroom is through the care of a loved one. Whether it’s a relative, friend or home health aide, having someone nearby greatly reduces the chance of serious injury.”

2. Reset the water temperature in your home.

Can you control your home’s water temperature settings? If so, it may be a good idea to look into how to limit the heat that emanates from the shower used by your elderly loved one. The last thing you want is for him/her to experience a far-too-hot, scalding stream of water when turning on the faucet.

On LoveToKnow.com, Jennifer Chait advises home owners to reset their water temperatures for the purpose of protecting their elderly family members. “A comfortable temperature is around 90-to-100 degrees Fahrenheit,” she explains, “Obviously, the right water temperature depends on the individual, but water that is hotter increase the potential for burns.”

3. Take advantage of home bathroom modifications.

At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we proudly offer a wide variety of high-quality home bathroom modifications. They include night lights, widened doorways, easy use fixtures, grab bars, walk-in tubs, roll-in showers, bath lift chairs and shower chairs. The purpose of each and every one of these important solutions is to help to make every bathroom experience for the older adult in your life a much safer one. This is especially true if your elderly loved one has mobility issues.

“Increase shower safety for any household member who has impaired mobility issues,” insists Laura Firszt on Networx.com, “Purchase a stable bath chair. Curbless shower installation will permit the person to enter with a wheelchair, walker, or other support.”

If you have any questions about the home bathroom modifications offered by LifeCare Mobility Solutions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!